The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-08
The Fenian Invasion.


rection was removed on Friday morn
ing, when the train from the south .
landed at st. Adams about three hun /
dred Fenians from Boston and the
towns in that vicinity. The men left
the cars in quiet and orderly man
ner, and in groups of from six to
twelve scattered about our village,
some to find food to satisfy their APP
petites which were sharpened by their
long and tedious ride; others to view
the sights of the strange locality in
which the fortunes of war had
placed them. After wandering about
for few hours they commenced leay-
ing in the direction of Fairfield, Fair
fax and Georgia and before night had
pretty much all disappeared. The
G o'clock p. Nj. train brought sixty
and the Saturday morning train about
two hundred and fifty. Since which
time they have continued to arrive IN
large and small parties until the num-
Der, as near as we can ascertain, that
has landed at St. Adams, is near fif-
teen hundred A good portion of the
men were provided with knapsacks,
canteens, and blankets; while some of
the squads were provided with rations
for two or three days. The men for
the most part were quite young in APP
pearance, there being comparatively
few over thirtyfve years of age. A
large per centage have seen service
and wore portions of the Z. S. uni
form.
The Feeling among the Men.
As n general thing, the men ex-
pressed themselves hopeful and conf
dent of success, Others expressed 4
contrary feeling. We had quite q
lengthy conversation with several
from Boston who seemed to possess
far greater intelligence than the ma
jority. They said they were told be
fore learning that five thousand haC
arrived here and were well armed
On informing them that this was no
true they expressed great surprise
One of the number, who was i'll tn
battles of Antietam, Gettysburgl
Fair Oaks, &c, said 1--WE Irishmen ar
determined and ,ciU fight, but We cal
not do anything without an abui
dance of arms, and where are we
get them ?" Some of the regular SO
diers passing by, he remarked; "If Y
only had on that uniform and Il
Government to back us, we won
clean out Canada in no time b
there's the trouble"
Brigadicr-Gen. Spear.
Two or three days before the ar
val of the first lot of Fenians gentl
man registered his name at the Tr
mont House MS Mr. Spear of Phil
delphia He attracted but little attic
ton until the appearance of his 81
Man brothers. when the question W
asked by many "who is hep" Sol
of our town authorities paid the &c
tleman visit and he kindly inform
them that he was here for his healt
that he expected large number
his friends for the same purpose, a
that our village stood in no dans
from them. At later hour he bo
ly announced that he was "Brig-G
Spear senior commander of the re
wing of the Fenian army" This S
tied the matter and our citizens the
after addressed the gentleman as "G
Spear" Gen. Spear is a man,
should judge, about fifty years old a
of rather commanding military I
pearance He is graduate OF W
Point aud commanded brigade
cavalry during the war He claims
have been in the service thirty yeai
Other Fenian Notabilitie-~
Several other Fenian notabilii
arrived on Saturday and Sund
among the number, were Bryce
John w. Mahan, formerly maior
the 9th Mass, and the present c,
inander of the Massachusetts Fenii
Gen. Michael Murphy, late of the |
Brigade; Col. Z. A. Sinott, the adult
OF the troops; Col. Bannan, of the ]
Conn. Fenians, and Capt. JAS.
ons, of New York city. These Il
tary gentlemen were in frequent
snltation among themselves and N
the acquaintance OF many Of our
zehs, but were very reticent conc
ing the invasion of our neigh
''across the line"
Arrival Of 4. =. Troops.
The intelligence Of the presence
large number of Fenians IN cur Il
WAS immediately communicated 1,