The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-15
The Fenlan War.


near Pigeon Hill Previous TO cross
ing the line Gen Spear addressed his
command telling his men in substance
that they were about to march into
,he territory of the mortal enemies of
Ireland. "You must" he said "spare
the women and children; but the men
/ leave in your hands The head
quarters of the commanding officer
were established in the house of a
person by the name of Eckels. The
opinion of competent judges is that
the entire force of Gen Spear was
not over 1900 Of this number 300
were armed with Enfield and Spring
field muskets, and $50 with carbines.
The rest were without arms, although
preparations were being made to sup
ply them if possible The sons of
Erin were quite enthusiastic when
they touched British soil, and cheered
Hastily.
iiuic sklrmish
There was running fight Thurs
day near Frclighsburgh, which re-
suited in victory to the Fenians,
who lost two or three horses and had
one man slightly wounded. We do
not learn that there were any other
casualties. A British flag was OBJ
tanned from the Custom House ut
Frelighsburgh, which was triumphant
ly carried to headquarters.
The following is an official account
of the fight which we find in the Bos-
toa Joeynal:
The advance Of the Fenians consist
ed of fifteen men we'll armed, under
Captain O'Hara. They entered Slab
City, or Frelighsburgh, at 7 o'clock
on Thursday night and encountered
force of so or 60 Canadian volun-
teer cavalry under Captain Kemp.
The Fenians fired the first shot from
pistols. The Canadians returned it,
wounding one Fenian slightly in the
finger, and then fled. The Fcnians
being in weak numbers did not pur-
sue, but returned to camp at 10
o'clock. On Friday, 100 infantry un-
der Col. OConnor advanced and met
Swo companies of Canadian cavalry
one of them from Durham, under
Capt. Kemp. Nollos were ex-
changed at 200 rods, and the Cana
dans retreated. They were pursued
and running fight kept up until 4
O'Clock, when the Fenians returned to
Slab City by order Of Gen. Spear, hav-
ing driven them for five miles beyond
Three Fenians were wounded, one
badly in the leg, who was removed
in wagon, the other slightly Their
names have not yet learned From
the best information at the Fenian
headquarters, the British had twelve
wounded, and Capt. Kemp MORALLY
from n shot in the side. He was seen
to fall from his horse The Fenians
held Slab City last night, and helping
themselves to what they liked most,
the inhabitants having fed They ar
rested and afterward paroled the
sheriff and custom house officer, cap
tured the custom house flag and staff
also cavalry guidon and two othei
flags, one belonging to the residen
military company and the other to tn
town, which they still hold.
Pniaging.
Notwithstanding the determinatio
of the leaders to prevent the wanto
destruction of property, the men di
yidcd themselves into squads an
wandered about the country dom
great damage. They stole cattle an
sheep and pigs in large numbers
slaughtering and cooking them on tn
spot A party paid their respects I
MIR. Toof, gentleman well and favor
ably known to many of the readers c
the TRANscRIpr and slaughtered TWEEN
ty OF his sheep, several of his cattl,
and appropriated everything of n
edible character that be had in hi
house. Entering stores they stol
everything they could lay hands tc
and the result is that many an oil
coat and hat gave place to new
Farm houses Were entered and butte
and cheese were taken with the lea.
possible ceremony. The men woul
pierce the cheese with their bayonet
and shouldering their guns proceo
ON their way with evident satisfaction
When the stock was larger than the
could conveniently bear of, the
would roll the cheese into the yard
OF roads and use them as foot ball
Several houses were badly damaged
aud among them the hotel of NJ
Carpenter. Probably the deprcdf
tons committed will. in all, amount t
near ten thousand dollars. Some
the officers inform as that these de,
relations were not committed by III
Fenians proper, but by the bun
mers' who followed them. And "
are inclined to think that this ws
generally the cass.