Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-07
The Fenian Invasion under Gen.
OsNeil.

command OF Gen. O'Neil, have been so
confused and conflicting, that a connect
ed and Ineligible account will be of in
terest. The following account is as
clear and truthful one probably as can
now be made.
OCCUPATION OF FORT ERIE.
On Thursday night last party of Fe-
mans, gathered from Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Indiana, Ohio and New York and
said to be picked men, slipped away from
Buffalo, crossed the Niagara in canal
boats, drawn by tugs, and effected a
landing on the Canadian soil. Fort Erie,
Gan old redoubt thrown up by the Brit
ish in the war of 1872, which was unoc-
cupied by Canadian troops, was taken
possession OF and the green flag I'M
furled.
THE BATTLE NEAR RIDGEwAY. FEM
AN VICTORY.
On Friday night, the Fenians evacua-
ted Fort Erie and started west for Port
Colbourne. They numbered 1000 strong
and were commanded by Col. or Gen.
O'Neil. They had marched about ten
miles and had nearly reached the little
village of Ridgeway, when, at a. m,
on Saturday, their scouts announced q
force of Canadian volunteers. The num-
Der Of the latter is variously estimated
at from 800 to 400 men. They were in
command of Col. Buchanan and had left
Port Colbourne at half past 5, Saturday
morning, to meet the invaders. AS soon
as the news of their approach reached
the main body of the Fenians, they
rushed into an adjoining field and formed
in line of battle, Gen. O'Neil being as
sisted in making disposition of his
troops by Coils Starr and O'Brlen. The
volunteers, with the Hamilton and st.
GATHERINGS companies and the Toronto
"Queen's Own" in the front, advanced
upon the Fenians and the action at once
commenced, the skirmishers on each
side exchanging brisk fire. The order
was then given for the Fenian skirmish-
ers to fall back.
The main bodies on both sides fired
Fenians advanced on the double quick
with fixed bayonets; but as the vol
unteers were ranged in an orchard on
the other side of a swamp, and separated
from the Fenians by thick brush wood,
Gen. ONiel deemed charge useless
and gave orders to halt and tall back.
The volunteers believing this a retreat
advanced from their shelter on a run.
They were met, however, by the Fe-
mans with counter charge and in an
instant put to route, the Fenians pur-
sding them for two miles when ONeil
ordered halt. The volunteers COM
pletely demoralized, continued their
flight to Port Colbourne. The Fenians
fought bravely, and in their excitement,
some threw off their coats, vests and
even shirts, going into the fray half
naked. After stopping the pursuit,
which was done from the fear that the
Canadians would meet reinforcements,
the Fenians turned out to return to Fort
Erie, leaving guard over the wounded
on both sides.
The Fenians lost 6 killed and Is
wounded, and the Canadians 20 killed
and wounded.
CANADIAN REINFORCEMENTs MINUS.
There were Canadian troops enough
within fifteen miles of Ridgeway, when
the fight there was going on, to defeat
and capture the entire Fenian army.
One force, organized at Port Colbourne.
consisted of 1000 men. infantry and ar
tillery and another large one was in
command Of Col. Peacock of Crimean
reputation, now commanding the 18th
British regulars. Col. Peacock's force
marched to Black Greek, Saturday
morning, but being misled as to the
whereabouts of the invaders, Git is sup
posed by Canadian Fenians), started for
Port Colbourne as hastily as possible,
All the information they received on the
road was greatly contradictory. The
march was so trying to the men that
numbers Of them fell out of the ranks,
Frustrated by sunstroke. Col. Peacock
was finally obliged to halt and go into
camp. Reports then came in that the
Fenians were driving the volunteers at
Ridgeway, and Peacock deemed it pru-
dent to get into communication with
the other column, referred to above be-
fore proceeding. Nothing further was
accomplished. The 10th regulars have
many 1rishmen among them, who,
though protesting loyalty, are suspected
to be Fenians. Perhaps this accounts
for the 'sun-stroke."
sKIRMIsH AT WATERLOO. JOHN BULL RUN.
A party of Fenians numbering so or
100, while on their way back to Fort
Erie, encountered, at half past o'clock,
a Canadian company of so volunteers,
under command of Col. Dennis. Gen,
O'Neil, who was with the Fenian party,
ordered them to charge with fixed bay
onets upon the volunteers, when the
latter, after single volley, broke and
ran in every direction, throwing away
their hats, belts, cartridge boxes, &c.
By 3 O'Clock the field Of Waterloo was
in possession of the Fenians Col. Dem
mis- and five or six of his volunteers were
wounded. Two Fenians We're killed.
THE RETURN TO FORT ERIE. ANOTHER
FIGHT AND ANOTHER FENIAN VICTORY.
The Canadian tug Robb carried to
Fort Erie from Dunville 40 of the Fenian
prisoners taken at Ridgeway, and was
lying at the Fort Erie dock at o'clock,