Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-06-09
2 1ThclFeninn Invasion ,n canada.

| About half after Two Friday morning
last, the Fepians who had been concentra-
ting at Buffalo for . week, crossed The
Niagara river at Black. Rock, two miles
nor,ll. cf the city, and occupied Fort Erie,
which lies directly opposite on the Canada
shore. The number, crossed numbered
about twelve hundred. under the command
Of Col. ONeil, formerly of she q. s. ser,
vice. Others attempted 10 follow, but
we're prevented by the United States
steimer Michigan Fort Erie, which was
thus occupied, is not Fort at all. but a
small town of about two hundred iuhabi.
tanis, undecided by single armed man.
1t was occupied with no resistance what
ever, and in very orderly manner, During
the, day the Fenians, having concentrated
their forces, moved northward toward
Chippewa, which is on the Niagara river
fourteen miles north Of Fort Erie, and Eve
miles south of, Suspension Bridge. They
proceeded only; six miles, however, 10
Frenchman's Creek, tie bridges over which
they burned, probably to prevent the ad.
vance of Canadian troops from Chippewa.
Thence they moved in westerly dir. .ction
for few mics, and went into camp
for the night.
Meantime the British auth critics were
not idle. Volunteers were called for and
rushed to arms with sposianeous entbus-
osm. T'oops, both Volunteers and regu,
lars, were forwarded at once. Al Cbippe.
wa 2,500 were concentrated, and at Port
Colborne, at the mouth of the Welland
Canal, seventeen miles west from Fort Eric.
on the Graud Trunk Railroad, number
of volunteers from South western Canada.
eight hundred strong wsre hastily gathered.
On Saturday morning The latter body pro-
ceeded by rail 20 Kdgeway, eight miles
west frcm Fort Erie, then came upon them
about eight in The morning, aud a fight en-
sued not very bloody though apparently
for time quite doubtful. It at last re-
suited in the repnlsC of the Feniaus, who
fell back en- Fort Erie About SIXTY
Fetan prisoners we're taken and sent to
RldgexAy whence they were carried by q
Canadian tug to Fort Erie, which bed in
the meantime been occupied by company
oil Canadian volunteers from Dunnville.
AT three O'Clock Saturday afternoon, !
this garrison was attacked by what appears
to have been The advance of tbe re:reating
forces Of the Fcnians. After q brief
skilmsh the Csnadiaps; ouirumbered Two
to one, surrendered, and Fort Erie was
Ogain in the hands Of the Fenian force
The Canadian tug containing the prisoners
was not captured.
Having thus fallen back on Fort Erie. !
the Fenisn force concluded their brief two |
days campaign by a hasty skedaddle.-
Bat, like many other poor fellows, they
found it harder TO gel out of their scrspe
than to get into it. The Michigan, whose
commander had doubtless been reprimanded
for his negligence 10 permitting the Fenisns
to cross at all, was on the watch, and cap.
tnred some four or FIVE hundred who at.
tempted to get back to the American shore.
About thirty were taken prisoners by the
British forces, nnder Colonel Peacock,
Hhich advanced from Chippswa upon Fort
Erie. ONeiLis himself q prisoner Some
ucceeded in crossing to the American
hore. and some are probably scattered, de-
noralized and fugitives. Thus ends Col.
D )'Neil's campaign Of forty-sight hours.
The end Is p obably no. yet. Every
aet. seems to sustain theory that this dem
'nstranon is but feint, and has been exc.
uted 10 strict accordance with orders. c
Nhe programme seems 10 have been about !
s folloSs: Col OReil TO cross his force, !
loVe inland, draw the entire Canadian
rmy down into the peninsula between
4akes Ontario and Erie, do little fighting, 9
nd. then fall back on the American side g
nd join Sweeny the latter in the mean 4
lms.t ocoacentraie his forces along the a
't Lawrence frontier and strike Prescott.
CORNWALL orthe Isle aux Nois on Saludsy
II Sunday. 0'Neil seems to baye carried
'ut bis part Of The work we'll, save in ef- I,
ecting ASCEND crossing Of ths. Nisg.rs. I
Every fact seems to point to this. conclg- /,
non. Oertsiny po ssas nap, even II be II
we're Irish. would attempt to msks . serious
Invasion Of Canada with q fhouaaud men.
The idea is sepselsss, while such a move.
ment ss feint, would be reasopabls,-
Fort Erie, too, as q point Of attack, and r
Buffalo ~ o base, arc the last places to be
selected for genuine movement, but the
b st If intended to deceive the Canadian..
The former is OF no importance in itself,
and Is near no town OF Importance. while |
II csn easily be reached by British troops
the latter Is a large city whose papers are
on the alert for news, and in whose ports !
La onuarnmaof vnesais focfro.tod - ...s.u....