Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-06-13
Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.
THE FENIANS.
INVASION OF CANADA.


On thursday last companies OF armed Fe-
mans could have been seen marching
through the city. They paraded up one
street, and down another, through another,
until the Black Rock and Fort Erie ferries
were reached, where one company after an
other arrived. From this point, which is
some three miles below the city proper, they
marched up the stream, a distance of half q
mile, and at the International ferry landing,
found two canal boats with tugs ready, upon
which to cross the river. This movement
was accomplished between 10 and II o'clock
on Thursday night, each Of the boats making
two trips, and carraying across, it is estima-
ted, $500 or 5000 men. They affected o
Judgement without any difficulty, and i'm
mediately encamped in the vicinity of the
old fort, Erie, memorable in the history Of
the war of 1872 and 1914 Piekets were
thrown out in all directions, but the main
body of the army retired to rest About
o'clock yesterday morning the
LINE OF BATTLE
was formed, extending from the fort nearly
a mile northwardly. The Amy maintained
this position until nearly noon, when Col
ONeiIl, of Nashville, ordered an advance.
Moving in a northwardly direction, the col
umn halted and again took up a line of bat
tie, the right resting on Frenehman's creek,
about three miles below Fort Erie. Shortly
after the line had been formed firing was
heard in the direction in which the picbets
had been thrown out, and Col. O'Niel at
once ordered general advance, and the ar
my started in the direction of the Welland
Canal, winch we learn upon good authority
is the real
OBJECTIVE POINT.
The mouth of this canal is some Is miles
from Buffalo, on the Canada shore, and is
commonly known as Port Colborne. Across
the land from this city the distance can
scarcely be greater than u or Is miles. 1t
is unquest1onably the object of the Fenians
to reach this canal and destroy all the locks.
this done, their cause would be greatly aug
mented, and the English Government would
be put to an immense amount of trouble.
THE sKIRMIsH.
The forces encountered by the Fenlans at
Ridgeway had come down from Port Col
borne, and were Joined by the Toronto Uni
versity company, the whole under the COM
mand of Col. Boxer. The Fenians were
found encamped in the bush, and were i'm
medIately attacked, the 'tQueen's Own"
firing the first volley. The fight at once be-
came general, both forces fighting with des-
peration, and both sides loosing several men
in killed and wounded. At this writing,
Saturday, 8 P. NJ, nothing decisive had
been learned in regard to the battle, but it
was supposed that the Canadians would be
able to hold their own until reinforced by
the regulars and artillery, which were said
to be near at hand.
FIGHT AT FORT ERIE.
This afternoon about o'clock fight took
place at the Fort Erie ferry, between 300
Fenians, who had come up the river from
the direction of Chippewa, and IS regulars.
The battle lasted some fifteen or twenty min
utes, and resulted in the rout of the latter
Three Fenians were killed and five wounded.
The column, after marching to Ridgeway,
some six or eight miles back of the river,
bivouacked for the night.
AT o'clock on Saturday morning the
reveille was sounded, and the column start
ed by oircuitous route in the direction Of
Port Colborne, 16 miles above this city on
the lake shore.
During all this time, however, the Canadi-
an troops had not been idle, and the Fen
ians on reaching Limestone Ridge encoun-
tered the Canadian column, composed of the
4th, 5th, and 9th Battalions Of. volunteers
from Toronto, the Sd and 4th from Hamil-
ton, and the Kings Artillery from Fort
Robinson, making a force altogether of l.
400 men, under command of Col. Buchan.-
The Fenian force numbered nearly 1000
men, under command of O'Niell.
1t was at this point, the Limestone Ridge,
that the
FIRST RATTLE
of the Canadian war was fought. The op-
foroac kO,,afhor oh0uf q o'nIOar
The Fenians speedily threw up brsastworks
with rails and branches, and formed their
line of battle behind it. The Canadians had
a natural protection from the ridge and
there established their line.
SkirE,ishers were thrown out BY both ar
mics, but after firing one or two rounds they
fell back under cover Of the breastworks.-
The fight then became general, both armies
firing six or seven rounds. The Fenians
then, with terrible yell, rushed out of their
and with fixed bayonets, chaFg.
ed on the the ridge and hrushwood, behind
which the Ca nadians had their line. UpI
the hill they went, but when within fifteen
feet of the ledge, the Canadians poured
fearful volley of musketry into their ranks,
and the Fenians fell back in great disorder.
The Canadian forces then advanced out Of
their works; but the Fenians having rallied,
they were driven back with some loss, and
again took refuge under cover OF their works.
The Fenians followed up the advantage |
gained, and drove the Canadians back dis |
lance of nearly three miles, where they had |
strong Entertainments. The Fenians, hay-
ing no artillery, Withdrew and marched |
back in the direction of Fort Erie.
In this fight, which, although short was
desperate, the Canadians, as near as can
earn, lost % men killed and wounded, and
.he Fenians IA.
THE RETREAT.
The Fenians as mas already been stated,
lad no artillery, and marched back TO their
orner camp at Fort Erie, where they ar
lived at o'clock on Saturday night.
FIGHT AT FORT ERIE.
While the above battle was being fought,
ome two or three hundred Fenians, who
lad come up the river from the direction of
creek, attacked party of sew
,nty-fve Canadian volunteers which had
.ome up to guard the International ferry