Maryland free press., 1866-06-07

I
inhabitants, cut the telegraph lines lead
ING into the interior, tore up the track OF
the Grand Trunk railway, paid their re-
spects to the United States consul, and
cheered the American flag; assured the
citizens, through their officers, that pri-
vate property should be respected -and
then returned down the river to the mouth
of Frenchman's Greek, above Grand Isl :
and. ..,t, ....l .....r [.'.'
Here rumors of the advance of Canadian
troops and the necessity of procuring rein
foreements of their supplies and artillery,
induced General O'Neill, commanding 18th
Fenian Regiment, of which the Fenian
force was composed, to halt aud intrench.
The usual dispositions for battle were
made forthwith. At BOP. NJ. an alarm
occurred, and the Fenian troops sprang in
to line in expectation of an engagement.
Ihe cavalry pickts riding in from the front
brought reports more and more exciting
Shouts were heard in the distance, and q
wounded man, shot. as it was afterwards
ascertained, for horse thief, furnished
the sight of blood to feed the warlike en-
thusiasm. From either flank the Fenian
columns by platoons, started at the double
quick in the direction of the supposed red
coats. t,n.. ..H
The road along the river, between
Frenchman's creek aud Waterloo, was
thronged with stray Fenians moving to the
front; Fenians mounted two deep upon
horses; Fenians in lumber-wagons carry
ing boxes of ammunition; Fcnians on foot,
whisking bayonets about their heads, fran
tically leaping mud-puddlcs and shouting
"come on" ran the miscellaneous race
The river, meanwhile, was crowded with
tugs and small boats, carrying lookers-on;
the buildings along the American shore
Uttered with spectators. Crowds in bug
gies, carriages, and cars strained eyes to
see and ears to hear; Canadians in Waterloo
and in the little houses along the road
and near the scene of all this turmoil stood
with quaking knees at their doors and
gates, uncertain what might come of it
A fight was still expected. During the
entire day no effort was made to prevent
communication between the two Shores
Tugs and skiffs constantly piled to and fro,
carrying Fcnians and spectators, and in
some instances supplies, The United States
steamer Michigan steamed down to Black
Rock early in the forenoon, and lay in full
view of all these proceedings. The Cana
dians, meanwhile, were helpless and pas
sive, and crowds of spectators have lined
the American shore throughout the day,
and the excitement in the city was on the
increase, owing to the continual arrival of
Fenians on different trains, and reports of
more on the way. .rosiFS
The First Tenian Battle.
TORONTO. June Q, 1915 A. M.-This
morning a force of volunteers came up to
a body of Fenians encamped at Ridgeway.
An attack was Immediately begun, and the
fighting became general. A number have
been killed.
Ridgcway, the scene Of the reported
fight, is on the shore of lake Erie, about
ten miles west of Fort Erie. ..........
BUFFALO, June 2, Z. p. Nan eye
witness of the engagement near Ride
way, says: The Fcnians, about one thou
sand strong, under O'Neill, had reached
a small village ten miles from Waterloo
Ferry, when the scouts announced the ap-
proach of large force Of Canadians
The Fenians at once tore down tie fence
and went into an adjoining field and
formed in line of battle, O'NeiH being as
sisted by Coloncls Starr and O'Bricn in
making a disposition Of his troops. De-.
The volunteers advanced upon the Fen
ians, and the action commenced by the
skirmishcrs on both sides exchanging a
brisk fire. Orders were then given for the
Fenian skirmishers to fall back. The
main bodies on either side now fired sew
eral vollcys, when the Fenians advanced
on the double-quick, with fixed bayonets,
but as the volunteers were ranged in an
orchard. on the other, side Of a swamp
and separated from the Fcnans by thick
brushwood, General O'Neill deemed a
charge useless. and gave orders to halt and
and fall back. The volunteers, believing
this movement a retreat advanced from
their shelter on arun. They were met
however, by the Fenians with counter
charge, and instantly put to rout. the Fen
ians pursuing them for two miles, when
ONeill ordered halt. The volunteer,
were completely demoralized, and con
tinued their fight to Port Colborne. The
loss on the Fenian side was six killed ant
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