Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-16
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
YHE rEsI.N BATTLE AT RIDGEwaY.
Eurtbrr Particulars ofthe Fighting and
Losses.


The force of Col O'Neil broke camp
at Frenchman's Greek at a very early
hour on Saturday morning and moved
down the river for a distance OF two
miles, when they struck the road Lead
ing to Stevensville-six miles from
Ridgeway.
At what is called the Cross Roads
they came to halt Tor short time TO
refresh themselves, and when our ~
formant reached the spot 1T presented
and appearance suggestive OF destruc-
ton. The houses of the residents were
standing open and looked deserted.
From here they continued their line OF
march towards the village of Stevens
Vile. but before reaching that place
they took cross road, coming out on
the Stone Ridge, about one mile from
Hoffman's tavern.
AT this point they suddenly came up
on the British forces, who were march
inc down from Ridgeway, and at once
tbe FIGHT commenced. Che red coats
fired upon the Fenians, and the latter
| getting into line returned 1t with volley
| after yollev. and with remarkable quick
| ness.
The forces of the British being much
greater than the Fenians, the latter were
compelled to resort somewhat TO the
| Guerrilla mode of fighting, which they
| did with great effect. From the open
| fields they took to the woods which
skirted the fields and the orchard
| close by.
The fight continued for two hours,
with varying effect, when at last the
] Fenians under their commander, Col
| O'Neill. with the Kentucky and Indiana
troops. came into line, and just as the
volunteers thought they were gong 10
| carry the day, poured IN terrlhc Vol,
| lev and charged upon them with Ioud
veil The force OF the charge was sucn
as TO break their column and compel
them to commence retreat. Inc re
oians followed them closely beng fairly
yictors of the field.
| Our informant was told by one OF
the wounded of the British forces that
| their men numbered about two thou
| sand and consisted of regiments OF the
Oneen's Own, and one regiment OF the
Toronto University Volunteers. The
Fenians numbered only about elght
hundred. The latter, 1t was sand, tonight
After the fight, the field, buildings
aud road presented very desolate and
sickeninc appearance, the houses were
| 1eearted by their owners, and the
Grounds strewn with coats, KNAPP sacks,
| 9uns. bayonets and provisions; whlle
/ little squads of men were gathering up
| the wounded and the dead.
The iolliest person met on the held
was a little boy who was on horse-oack
with gun in hand and still brlmfnl Oh
fght To him it seemed to be all a
| matter of finn. His name is Billy NOR
rison, from Chicago.
Wbat was the exact number lost on
| 10th sides we are not informed, but as
far as can be ascertained at the time
we should nudge it to be about sixty
| f;va-6fty on the British side and fifteen
on the side of the Fenians. Our lniof-
mapt assisted in getting some INTO TIE
houses. To see them lying together III
one house, patiently suffering from tleiI
wounds, without medical ald' was sac
sight. One of the Cincinnati boys said
"Remember that we fought bravery
After pursuing the British forces, as
we were Informed by Col. ONell, some
four miles. word reached him that more
British troops were concentrated al
Fort Erie. He called his men to malt
and at once forming them into two col
umns. the one taking the road anu the
/ other the railroad track, commenced 8
4 ouick movement for the Ferry, which
they reached at about three o'clock.
| Our informant says that no words can
/ express his surprise when he saw them
4 coming over the hill and fall upon the
/ Welland Battery, under command oI
| Cant King. of Port Robinson. As they
appeared upon the hill deafenlng
! shont was sent up from the thousands
of men, women and children Whc
crowded the river banks on tins SIDE.
| The Fenians, without either stopping
to learn the number OF opposing forces,
OF even TO form In line, at once COM
menced the fire of musketry, which was
returned by the Welland forces. Down
the hin rushed the Fenians, about one
| hundred and fifty strong, and away
4 uUWn the road went the BRUSH on a
| run, the most of them taking to the
house of Mrs. Lewis, holly pursued by
| the Fenians, who, on reaching the
house, were received with a volley from
| the windows, which was at once re-
turned, when they rushed III and COM
PEELED a surrender.
The fight lasted only about ten min
utes, but was exceedingly brisk as well
as exciting. Col King commander of
the Welland Battery, and Capt. Bailey,
of this city. both brave and gallant men,
fell in the very onset of the fight. Capt.
Bailey was leading his men down the
road when he was wounded. He Is now
on this side of the river, aud although
seriously injured being shot clear
through the body--it is thought he will
recover. Col. KING wak wounded IN the
leg. He was also brought over the Iiv-
Ell and taken to the house of DIR. Miner,
and yesterday it became necessary to
amputate his leg to save his life. What
was the number of the killed and
wounded IN this fight we have not been
able to ascertain.
After the skirmish, numbers of our
citizens went over the river and render
ed every assistance they could. Among
those we saw employed were Doctor
TrowbIidge, j. L. Taleott, Esq, Mr..
Cook the school teacher, and MIR. Ives.
Immediately after the skirmish the
Fenians under their commander We're
instructed to rigidly respect the rights
and property Of the citizens, and this
order, we are much pleased to state,
was carried out, as acknowledged by the
villagers.
What number was wounded in the
skiImish we could not, even yesterday, |
learn. Two Fenians, we were informed, |
died soon after the fight was over.
About five o'clock Colonel O'Neill, |