British fears for Canada as the American Civil War expanded prompted the government to hire the giant liner Great Eastern as a troop transport. She sailed from Liverpool, with almost 3300 aboard including 2,600 troops, 350 wives and children, and 122 horses. She arrived in Canada without incident. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Chronicle, The Annual Register or a View of the History and Politics of the Year 1861 (London: F. & J. Rivington, 1862), p. 92.