The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-18 00:00:00

Fenians.

grey."

----- -
The Federal District Attorney has ordered the
vessels guarding the St. Lawrence river to sink any
boat attempting to cross with Fenians on board.
74. The New York Times contains a somewhat con-
flicting account of the Fenian campaign :
"A largo force of Fenians, under Colonel O'Neill, landed
on the Canadian shore, at the dismantled stone fortifica-
tion of 1812, called Fort Erie, on Friday, the Ist, and at once
took up their line of march for Chippewa, intending, no
doubt, to seize that important point before the Canadian
troops could concentrate there in sufficient force to prevent
their doing so. As soon as the news of Colonel O'Neill's
successful landing was received at Toronto, orders were
at once issued for the 16th and 45th Regiments of
regulars to embark for Port Colborne. The 16th were
quartered at Hamilton, and the 47th at Toronto. In addi-
tion to these troops two batteries belonging to the Royal
Artillery were put in motion, as were the Queen's Own
Volunteers of Toronto, under Lieut.-Col. Dennison, and
also the 13th battalion of Volunteers, Col. Booker corn-
mauling. These troops were forwarded to St. Catherine's,
on the Great Western Railway, and thence to Port Col-
borne, via the Welland Canal, being rapidly pushed for-
ward. As fast as the troops disembarked from the trains
they were billeted on the citizens at the Port. The men
were full of vigour and anxious to meet the enemy.
On the 2d the Canadian column was put in mo-

from the main force, and were surrounded and captured.
Capt. King, in endeavouring to recapture them, received a

severe wound in the ankle, and was loft on the field. I
learn since my arrival hero that ho has boon brought to

this city alid the foot amputated. Tho Port Cuiborno
troops eventually reached their tug with all their prisoners,
. .

arriving at the Port about 6 oVock."

The same paper describes the appearance of the

Fenians

" From a cursory examination of these prisoners, 1 judge
them to be on a par with those brought into Port Colborne,
being a wretched-looking lot, totally deficient in uniform,
and composed of the roughest-looking specimens of
humanity. Some few of them are dressed in Confederate

Thn New /Toth Worldnuhliahes thaiall9.ll'll32 troll 4
" After tho close of the engagement, or rather series of
skirmishes, which wore wonderfully exaggerated, that took

*co yesterday, tho Fenians began to retreat towards the

river, and although the forces under the command of Col.
Peacock were in position to intercept them, they succeeded
in reaching the bank, and quietly and leisurely crossed over
in canal boats about 3 o'clock this morning. It is reported
that the United States' steamer Champion assisted several

hundreds of them whilo crossing; but the report needs
confirmation. Thp principal engagement took place at

Ridgway, a station on the Buffalo and Lake Huron Rail-
way, and began about E$ a.m. The Fenians abandoned the
fortification thrown up at Fort Erie, a point of no conse-
quence whatever, and took to the bush at this place, where
they were rather indiscreetly attacked by the Qu'en's Own,
of Toronto, and the 13th Battalion, strengthened by one or
two other corps, all raw and untried. After about an hour's
fighting, the volunteers, as they admit themselves, wero
forced to retreat for want of ammunition, after suffering a
loss of about 50 killed and wounded. The Fenians did not
attempt to follow up this success, doubtless from the fact
that the regulars, under Colonel Peacock, wero but a few
miles to their right, and might succeed in getting to their
rear. The whole of the fighting was done by the volun-
teers, and much dissatisfaction was expressed by thorn in
regard to the regulars. Colonel Peacock's command were
bivouacked within eight miles of the battlefield, from 8
o'clock the previous night until after the termination of the
engagement, and it is difficult to account for his inactivity.
Ile *as surely not properly informed of what was going on.
Much praise is due and is given to the volunteers for their
gallant conduct during the day. They acquitted themselves
with great credit, and behaved like veterans. . Some 40 or
50 Fenians were captured, who will be properly attended
to. The Fenians on leaving marched a number of priso-
ners taken in a skirmish from Capt. King's corps, of Port
Robinson, down to the river, u hero the colonel of the
Fenians affectionately bid them good by, with the assur-
ance that they would return in two weeks with a body of
200,000."

The obsequies of the Canadian volunteers slain
at the battle of Ridgway took place at Toronto
on the sth. Business was entirely suspended, and
the city draped in mourning.
The Buffalo Courier gives the following doubtful
list of Canadians killed and wounded in the engage-
ments :

"Lieut.-Col. Beaumorth, killed; Capt. Richard S. King,
Port Colborne, Welland Battery, two wounds, in the ankle
and joint, since brought over to Buffalo and leg amputated
by Dr. Climer ; John Ilaverson, of Port Colborne, Welland
Battery, in the knee ; J. Bradley, Welland Battery, in the
knee; William Tavoy, of Toronto, wounded in tho knee;
Malcolm M'Eacherg, of Toronto, killed ; Chas. Lugsden, of
Toronto, mortally wounded.; Corporal Newborn, of To-
ronto, lulled; William H. Vandersmissen, of Toronto,
through hip."
A Boston paper of the 6th says :
"The colours of the Queen's Own battalion, which were

captured by Colonel O'Neill in the engagement on Saturday,
aro now on board the Michigan. Colonel Lowery, of the
47th Regulars (British), commanding at Fort Erie, visited
the cutter yesterday afternoon, and asked to have these
colours delivered up to him. Colonel O'Neill positively re-
fused to do so, claiming to have surrendered unconditionally
to the American forces, and that the colours are in the cus-
tody of General Barry, commanding the district of Ontario.
The colours are still in our possession. A request for the
surrender of the Feuians was refused. General Barry has
removed all restrictions on travel from this city to Fort
Erie, the ferryboats now running regularly. The repairs on
the Lake Erie and Huron Railway are in rapid progress,
and trains will, no doubt, begin running by to-morrow
forenoon. The English troops are quietly encamped in
tents at Fort Erie, and the smoke of their camp fire can
be seen distinctly from this city."
On the 3d General Meade issued from Buffalo
strict orders to preserve the neutrality laws.
The Irish priests in Canada had appealed to
their congregations to resist the invaders.
Several of the Fenians shot at Fort Erie were re-
ported to be deserters.
It is stated in a Toronto despatch that Colonel
Booker, who commanded the volunteers at Lime-
stone Ridge, had been relieved from his command.
I- i e had
shipd, traHnsipmoarltaaytiaonhgardatis arrived.
resignation,athistheFenianA
but
pilta:•aarsdnwo.tasaeptead
upon.
among the
New York on the sth there was intense ex-
citement
raded in the streets which stated that 5,000 la-
bourers werewan
wanted,
Her
r Majesty's
. Quebec with her Majesty's 23d (Royal Welsh Fusi-