The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-22
THE FENIANS.

Great Picnic at BuffalO-Over Fifteen
Thousand Persons Present-The Cana
dIans Watching Every MOVement-An-
ticipated Attempt to Release the Fenlan
Prisoners I'm CnnRdR-MOycmentsO OF the
Fenians In this CITY, Etc.
BUFFALO, August 21.-The ong-talked-of and
much-dreaded Fenian picnic was held to-day at
the appointed place, Clinton Forest, and was
in every sense of the word, decided success
though no attempt was MADE, or Intended, to
molest the loyal Canadians. At an early hour
in the morning Buffalo was astlr, and men were
to be seen hurrying to and fro in their holiday
attire, each wearing a green bow OF ribbon or
some such token of their nationality, while the
green flag foated with the starry banner from
the housetops of several prominent members of
the Brotherhood At l8 o'clock the line began
to form on the terrace, with the right resting
on Main street, and soon a salute OF several
guns, fired bv the Fenian gun squad, announced
all 10 be ia readiness.
The procession then began TO move, and was
composed of about seven thousand men, con-
ssting OF the Veteran Corps, which is composed
of honorably discharged soldiers; the Fenians
wearing green shirts and caps, carrying rifles,
followed by the bogus Queens Own, the latter
personating that body. The veterans bore their
old battle-coloTs, while the Elevators Assoca-
tion and other civic societies carried the lllsh
and American Colors. Several bands OF music
accompanied them. ......
The route OF march was down Main to Ohio
street, thence to Michigan, to Exchange, up the
latter 10 MAIN, anu t0P0Ce 10 tQP TplueLVO Us AT
Clinton Forest.
Excursion boats left Buffalo every hour, all of
which were crowded with the FenianS and their
friends. On their way down, the breakwaIer
opposite Fort Erie, attracted much attention,
and many hearty laughs were enjoyed al the
expense of their neighbOrs, the kanuCks, who
were very busy in riding up and down along the
river bank. while the British gunboat RObb lay
close into the wharf, watching every movement
made with apparent anxiety.
At the grove the thrOn0 was immense, vet
more sober, quiet, or better conductei affair
have never witnessed. There could not have
been less than fifteen thousand persons on the
ground.
The great feature of the occasion was the
sham battle, counterpart of Limestone Ridge.
So great was the desire of all present to witness
this spectacle that it was late in the afternoon
before sufficient space could be cleared by the
soldiers for the execution OF the mannuvres,
There were about two hundred Fenians and the
same number of red-coats engaged, most OF
whom had actually participated in the fight
which they represented The affair was splen-
didly executed. The advance of the skirmIshers
Of the Queens Own, and the Fenians falling
back, then the charge OF the main body OF the
British. was made in fine or0er, and the Union
Jack carried boldly but the Fenians having
drawn them on far enough soon changed their
tactics and with wild yell threw themselves
on the reds with a force irresistible, and charg-
ing, thus drove them before them in every dl-
Tection at the point of the bayOnet. Captain
Genner, of the Emmett Circle personating
Colonel Booker was to be seen far in advance
Of his men on the retreat. The excitement then
was intense, and the rapid and regular dis
charges OF musketry produced stirring effect
and the English Jack was soon torn from the
flying standard-bearer and trampled under loot
The crowd then dispersed to the speakers
stand, when Mr.. Sherwood introduced General
ONeill to an audience of about five thousand
persons who had assembled He was received
with the greatest enthusiasm by the people;
women waved their handkerchiefs and men
cheered again and again for the great Fenian
leader
In the morning, before proceeding to the pic.
mic, General 0'Nelll, Colonies Star, Hoey, and
ten others who were taken prisoners for breach
of the neutrality laws assembled at the United
States District Court, before Judge Shipman,
for the purpose OF being discharged. Assistant
District Attorney Tappan stated that noHe
prOseqW had been entered by order of the
United States Attorney General, in the case of
those persons indicted at the past circuit of the
district held at Canandaigua for the violation
OF the Neutrality act of lsls and for their dis
charge, which was granted.