, 1866-06-07

Details Of The Battle of Ridge
way.
AFENiAR visFoRY---rHE f'ouEEH's
OWh"UTTERLr ROUTED.
Exciting Foot Race from Ridgoway to
Port Colborne.
MOVEMENTS OF THE RIGHT WING,

From Our Own Correspondent
BuFrAto. June 5, 1865.
The Arst battlc Of the Fenfau war on this
continent, was fought on the morning Of Sal
utday, june ?, on what Is known a. Lime
stone Ridge, about two miles north Of Ridge
way railroad station, and eight miles west OF
Fort Erie. have seen many accounts Of
that light, but all fail to give the faintest ap-
preach TO correct account Of the character
and results Of tho contest. was present
during the fight, and inside the British lines,
md was probably the only Yankee thus fu-
vored- What shall tell you, saw with my
own Eyes, or obtained from British sources,
and Of the truth Of which there can be no
mistake. d.
The Fenfans, numbering from the best fntor-
nation could obtain, soy seven hun Ired, ar
rived from Fort Erie, and took position on
the battle ground about O'Clock In the
morning. The point occupied was on the
north side Of the Fort Erie road, about one
hundred rods east OF where the road turns
sharp corner to the south leading to Ridge
way. The position they occupied was well
chosen, being slight elevation, with fence
running lengthwisc Of the line and IN open
field IN 'front.' The Feniaus were formed in
two lines Of battle, one on the first elevation,
and the other short distance to the rear.
behind u Virginin rail fence.
In the meantime information was conveyed
by scouts to the headquarters of the British
forces, located at Ridgcway, OF the position
and condition Of the *'bloody Feutans,"
ard an advance WIS Immediately ordered, the
Hr1 hnfr T1f
Hamilton, / believe of the Regulars. The
iorce numbering at least one thousand, con-
sisted almost entirely OF the ''Queen's Own"
body Of volunteers made up of young men,
drawn from tho elite OF Toronto, and some
other leading towns, and from the style OF
their conversation, and that Of their friends,
before they marched on the eoemy's works.
supposed to be inyinclble. They advanced
quietly and With steady tread, omitting the
very necessary precaution Of protecting their
Hanks Rith sklTmishers, mill they reached q
point directly in front Of tho enemy's llue,
and abont two hundred yards distant, when
the Fcn!ans opened rakins fire all nlonc the
line. The discharge did little or. no dam
nge. Us the bullets passed harmlessly over the
hcads Of the British. The Inter Immediately
returned the fire, and three or four Fenlans
bit the dust. The front and expos
ed line Of the Fcnians then tell
back, seemingly in disorder, when
,de British, suppoting they were giving
away, advanced, and received CALLING fire
from the second line Of Fenians, posted be-
hind the Virginia fence. The fire was return
ed by the British, and another yolley came
from the Fenlaus, followed by promsscuous
discharges, which drove the British back some
distance, still maintaining their line.
AT this moment, the commanding officer OF
the British discorered two or three horsemen
10 the rear Of the right flank Of the enemy,
in patch Of woods, and magniyiug them
into considerable cavalry force, immediate
j. ordered the formation Of hollow square,
TO receive cavalry charge. The Feniaus
watched this movement, and knew
just whera they had them.
The moment tho square was formed they
opened upon Them with their scyen.ehootcrs,
shot after shot in quick succession. This
was enough. Col. Booker ordered the re-
treat sounded, the gallant Colonel, unlike bis
position when advancing upon the enemy,
taking the lead, and making excellent time to-
ward Ridgewny and Port Colbornc. A scene
VI u'ts' eon'ueio1 ano demofatlzatton tol.
lowed, compared With which the historic
Bull Run sinks into insIgnifleancc. First
went the guns; knapsacks followed, belts,
coats anu boots IN quick succession; and
when the confused mass reached the railway
TRACK AZ hldEc#ay, Who could have believed
tnat TINS qnlck motioned dtbrtf was all that
remained OF the gallant, wr1l-d1essed and
idolized Queens Own.
2At this point, Lieut.. Col. acf1ivcrn, most
ga'iaht and accomplished oitcer, assumed
command, Col. Booker mol being present, and
ufa"ln< his revolver ordered halt, threat
ehang 10 shoot down the first man that crossed
the Track lie succeeded in measure In get
ling tie confused mass into line; but at this
momcat, the pursuing fenians appeared on
tue brow OF the hlll-sonc fifty or sixty rods
distant. This was enough. AL OF the log
cha,ns ever wrought by Old Vulcan, could
not have kept the Queens Own confused mass
together. Every man took to his heels, and
lie 'bloodS disils' Of Fenians take the hind
most Some took the fields, some kept to
the railroad track, While larg. numbers
deemed Lie woods tho path Of safety-each
'aee befne turned ior Fort Colborue, the
point whence they emerged, q proud and con-
naent army, but a few hours previous.
Large numbers reached the train, which
"as "mtins at some distance, IN the direction
" 1o1t toloo3nc, "Alle quito number trod
lhcH weary way 1oot-sore, hungry, thirsty,
ana bowed down with shame, grief and Woe.
4ney continued to arrive at Port ColboFne
uhlA 1nfce or Jour O'CLOCK on Sunday morn-
'ns, anu several Wctc picked up By the train
on inc came morning, while proceeding to
loaded down with over one thous-
anu men iof second attack,'wh was c1-
pec'ed'
= need not describe to yon the appearance
oI these men "nen they reached Fort Col
oorne' IN many instances tacir best hicnda
'aaled 10 recognize them-hntless, coatless
shoeless' anu, IN man? instances almost sans
'a1"tes, fsslau's historic army would be |
eounteu Us h1ummels anu fFlnce Georges, In |
comparison Win them.
ANU tnis days history Of the |
Qucens o"n, maae up OF INC pet chill
afen Of Canaoian aflstocraey. ineed hardly /
Jay 10 you that the paltry inefhclencJ-to
use no nafshef tefm-oi the Qncen's Own,
'Se1tes the deepest mortMeatlon and sorroW
lmons tne canadian people, They admit
,ne'l 1o'al ocleat oy IN fnterlor 1orce, aud IN
1isefphne-a mere mob The blame for thlrr
l.scomhtafe aad dlsgracc Is very generally
9iacea upon Tue shoulders Of Col. booker,
Snom they charge with ignorance and cow
@folce. Ihefe IS no doubt that he will have
Q pass lne oraeal Of Court Martial, with
nc strong presumption TINT be will bc dis
n'ssed Inc service nj least II nc meets With
10 sesefef punishment
Altcf Inc dispersion Of the queens own,
ne remains renamed ID hd3e"ay Tor a brief
'clioa, ana then took their way back TO the
,a.tie-held, ana during the night to Fort
.rlc, as mas already been publlshed'
Inc people nero tell nc that the fenians