Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-06-14
THE CANADA INVASION.

Fort Erie, of past notoriety, used to stand.
They have, however, effected strategic a.
bandonmento of their conquest, and return
ed to the American shore of the st. Law.
renee, where they all permitted themselves
to be captured by U. s. gun-boat. Thus
probably ends Major General Sweeny's
grand Campaign for the liberation of Ire.
land. The details of the affair are briefly
these About the first Of June body of
men of the Fenian persuasion, numbering
1000 or 1900, under the leadership Of
man styling himself Col. O'NE1I, crossed
over to the Canada side of the St Lawrence,
opposite the village of Erie, where once
stood the Fort of that name. Little or no
force opposed them, and war bulletins were
sent back announcing the capture of the
Fort.
From thence they moved towards the in
terror, and at Ridgway-a small town about
twelve miles from the line-they encounter.
ed small force of Canadian volunteers sent
out to meet them. A skirmish ensued in
which Irish pluck is said to have vindicated
its superiority, and the volunteers were
pressed back in disorder; several persons
we're killed and wounded The Fenians
did not follow up the victory, but loitered
about the vicinity few hours, when finding
considerable force gathering to meet them,
and no hope of help from their friends,
they decided to abandon their rash enter
prise and re.cross the river. On their re-
turn the marauders were brought to by the
U. S. gunboat Michigan, and taken in Gus
tody. Later dispatches say that the officers
have been released upon bail, and the men
upon their own recognizances to keep the
peace.
The news of this event rapidly spread,
and the patriotic but misguided Irish swarm
ed to the Fenian recruiting stations through
out the Northern cities. Thousands are re-
ported to have taken up arms and offered
their services to- the leaders but failure
of money, as well as other weighty reasons,
will probably prevent them from ever reach
ing the scene of expected conflict. Such
gathering of the clans as this little outbreak
produced has, perhaps, not been witnessed
since the great rebellion of 1796.
The Canadians, in the meantime, have
not been idle. A large force of volunteers
and British regulars line the st. Lawrence,
and will probably prevent renewal of the
scenes of the past few days. Gen. MEADE
is in command of u. S. force on the A.
merioan shore, prepared to intercept any
lawless body that may attempt to repeat the
effort of O'NEIL and his party. The Pres
ident has also published proclamation,
warning all persons from "aidiug or abet-
ting the unlawful expeditions of evil dis.
posed persons, against Nation with which
this Government is at peace" and direct
ing all magistrates and civil officers to assist
in enforcing the laws.
Upon the news of this outbreak reaching
Washington, instructions were sent to the
District Marshal of New York, to arrest
Messrs. SwEENY and ROBERTS, the &C.
knowledged leaders of the organization.-
These gentlemen we're both taken in custody,
and the latter refusing to give bail, was
committed Thus, no doubt, ends for the
time, this ill conceived and worse executed
design, for restoring Irish liberty. The
Fenians are represented as displrlted and
disgusted with the results of their late ex-
pedition.
Considerable numbers of men are report
ed to have been gathered upon the border
under the excitement aroused by O'NE1L's
party; but the U. s. authorities are in
structed to take all such into custody, and
thus, further mischief will, doubtless, be
prevented.
We regret that brave and patriotic
people like the Irish, should lend themselves
to such preposterous designs as the one
just inaugurated. That set of brawlers
such as SwEENY and ROBERTS appear to be,
should be permitted to mislead, deceive
and probably sacrifice a parcel of honest
and brave men, for mere want of common
sense, is an outrage that calls for relief A
handful of men, without arms, money,
leaders, or nationality, TO attempt to over
run Canada, and thereby rescue Ireland