The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-06-07
FENLAN WAR.

on canal boats towed by tugs on the
night of Thursday May 81, surprised
Ft. Erie, placed guards at the Fort, levi
ed on the Canadians for horses and ra-
tons, and cary in the day advanced two
miles to Frenchman' Creek, where they
halted and threw up slight field works
and constructed huts of bushes. They
remained here all day Friday. Friday
night General ONel, learning that a
heavy force of Canadians was marching
against him, ordered an advance, and
accordingly Saturday morning at three
O'Clock, the Fenian camp was struck. and
the column marched west, parallel with
the line of the Buffalo and Lake Huron
Railroad, but by circuitous roads, de
stroying the track in places. The object
of this movement could only have been
to meet the Canadians half way, and
was not the least plucky feature of the
raid The Fenians left camp about 200
strong and after march of five hours
reached a locality called Limestone
Ridge, where the Canadian skirmishers
were encountered The Irish force by
this time had been reduced by struggling
to 900
The Canadian troops engaged in the
fight were the 4th, 9th and 9th Battalion
of Volunteers from Toronto, the Sd and
4th from Hamilton, and the King Coun
ty Artillery, from Port Robinson-alto
geshcr about |, 400 men, under com
] mand Of Colonel Buchan.
OF the fight, have heard at least a
hundred accounts from as many persons,
and conclude that there were so many
minds store up on the occasion that a
correct detailed account will never be
p1fh uiI Cd
vances, (calcd charges in the newspa-
pers. and 'sgrand old rushes" by some
of the Fenian officers, and as near as
can he determined, both sides fell back
after sharp, but confused and desulto-
ry engagement, lasting less than half an
hour. The Fenian loss in killed and
wounded was fourteen, and the loss Of
the Canadians is estimated at twenty
three-which latter is guessed at, but
probably not far out of the way.
Tie Fenians retired to Fort Erie
which in the meantime having been found
empty at daylight, was reoccupied by
about eighty Canadian militia. These
were completely surprised by the reap
pearance Of the green flag, and after q
slight resistance were made prisoners,
with the execution Of 4 few who fled to
the woods, AMI n party of twenty who
reached a Canadian tug and escaped.
After the battle yesterday, the Fcnian
camp was re-established in the ruins of
Fort Erie. The situation had now be
come threatening. The fight accom-
plished nothing. The Canadians were
receiving heavy reinforcements over the
Grand Trunk Railroad, and on my ar
rival at IL o'clock last night, | found
plenty of prophets who We're convinced
that the jig was up with O'Neil and his
men-that all of them would be bagged
to-day inevitably The Fenian leaders
appreciated the perils of their position.
Their first move was to reinforce o Neil,
and at eleven clock last night, three
hundred and fifty men were quietly con
gregated at the foot of Genesse street,
in this city. The departure of this force
for Fort Erie was delayed until midnight
through tardiness in the arrival of arms
and ammunition. but by that time it was
on its way across the Niagara River
One of General Sweeny's staff officers,
however, approached in small boat
with orders for the reinforcement to re
turn to Buffalo and disembark The
situation had so alarmed the Fenian lead
ers. that they decided to withdraw their
entire force from the Canadian shore,
and not risk another engagement.
At l:15 this morning the work of
evacuation began At given signal,
two tugs with canal boats in tow, steam
ed across the Niagara river, and Colonel
. Neil and about nine hundred and six
" of his band started for the American
shore. When about half way across
and outside of British waters, the tug
Anderson, under charge of an acting
Master of the United States steamer
Michigan, ordered them to round to and
haul alongside. On the reception of this
order, accompanied with q threat to
sink them, Colonel Q Neil surrendered
his command to the United States att
thoritics. The steamer Michigan was
soon alongside. and taking the trans
ports in tow dropped down to Lower
Black Rock. where the captors and cap
tured arc anchored in the stream, as al
ready alluded to.
Probably not less than hundred of
O'Neils force fell into the hands of the
Canadians. All those on picket last
night were left to shift for themselves
cruel measure for the safety of the
main column, but showing the urgency
OF the situation and the alarm of the
leaders Some of those on outpost du
~, finding the army of occupation gone
made their way to the river, and escaped
in small boats. Most Of the pickets,
however. are prisoners, and SO are the
wounded.
Sr. ALBANs. VERMONT, June >.
This village has had another day of
excitement and suspense. The mixed
crowd here was increased by the arrival
in the morning train, of five more loads
of Fenians from Boston and the minor
New England cities, and several humid
red more United States troops Both
detachments disappeared during the day
in the usual manner. the troops going
towards Ogdensburg. and the Fenians
joining their commands in the neighbor-
ing country
The Fenian army must be now nearly
1000 strong, and the best authorities
believe that arms enough are secreted at
hand for the entire force.
1t is understood that the whole body
y u Id