The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-06-08
rEN1AN INVASION OF CANADA.


FENIAN INVASION OF CANADA.
The daily papers arc just ut this time alb
sorbe,l with details Of the Fenian war on the
border, and the invasion Of Canada. To de.
tail all the rumors and contradictory reports
now afloat, would over,in our columns, with
out materially bcncfting our readers We
mus, therefore content ourselves with giving
n bricf statement Of the matter offacts, so far
M We understand them up to Our going to
press About the LIST inst. il was found that a
large gathering Of armed Fenians were col
lectipg in and around Buffalo, N. Y. The
Fenians coming in from different directions
in companies and small squads. After n
sufficient number had arrived, were or
pnnizcd under the command Of Gen. O'Neil,
tho force being estimated by some as $500,
and by others 5000 strong. They at once
commenced making preparations for cross-
ing; and n there was no opposition they
soon succeeded in landing, and after brief
skirmish capturing Fort Erie, an old fort long
since abandoned, but recently occupied by
about 50 British regulars, most ofwhom es-
capped by such means rs they could obtain,
So nc swimming to the shore ami u few in at
tempting to swim were drowned. These
movements were watched by mutitudes on
the American side and Us the Fcnians took
possession of the old fort, shout Of triumph
rnng through the air all along the shore. Thus
tho Fenians held undisputcd sway of the neck
Of land for few hours, when finding that the
British lion became aroused, and expected re
Inducements not arriving, they struck their
colors and commenced an inglorio,ls retreat.
Those who could, took to small boats to re-
cr,ss, but in their attempt to reach our side
they encountered the U. s gun boat Michigan
sent out to enforce strict neutrality, and Gen.
O'Ncil with large part Of his command was
taken prisoner. About 100 it is reported, not
finding any means Of reaching our shore,
scattered and fled on the Canadian side, some
80 have already fallen into the hands Of the
Canadians, and great anxiety is felt by their
co,nradcs for their safety, the Fenians threat
cning retaliation with vengeance, should the
Canadians treat them otherwise than beligcr-
ants. The Canadian authorities have made
formal demand on our authorities to deliver
up to them the prisoners taken by the Michi-
gun, but this demand has not, and will not be
complied with. The 81. Adams raid is
too fresh in the memory Of our people, to
hurry such matters.
Ii was supposed that after this unsuccessful
n,id tho whole thing would end but the mis-.
guided Fcnians seem no way disheartened,
bu, arc collecting at different places along the
border in large force. Public meetings are
bcing held in most of our large cities,
panics arc being formed and pushed forward
To the frontier, and money freely contributed
to carry OH the war; while the excitement
along the Canadian frontier is said to be in
trnse; and they arc clustering all their avail
able forces to meet the invaders. AT the
sumo time our government is taking earnest
and stringent measures to enforce strict neu-
trality, and Gen. Meade and staff arrived nj
Ogtlensburg on the 9Th to perfect arange-
mcnts for the preservation Of the neutrality
laws. In the skirmish connected with the tn
king Of Fort Erie called the battle Of Ridge
way. several were killed on both sides, and
the Queens Own, volunteer regiment, acted
a mos, cowariy part, and Mt the first Of the
engagement, made prccipi,atc retreat, scat
tering their guns and equipments along their
route, and quite equaling the Bull Run retreat,
" nile tho Fcnians behaved with daring brave
y.
What is to be the finality Of these move
,nents, time will soon determine, but we arc
Of the opinion that il will soon end for there
is no possible chance Of their success, and we
are astonishcd that even the hish should be
,leluded into such misguided zeal. We be-
lieve il is for the honor Of our country, and
the best interests Of our foreign population
who are the Recipients Of our iavors, that Our
authorities take active measures to suppress
all such uprisingsL There Is no chance for
success to these would be philanthrOpists,
however honest and sympathizing they may
be towards their own oppressed country AMI
down trodden countrymen. for besides the
to be ipes with from the Unit
cd States Government, they cannot possibly
expect to succeed without the concurrent
Of their brethren on the Canada
side, and for this there is no hope; for the
whole Canadian Catholic priesthood are in
opposition OF the Fenian movements. Again,
the oMahony wing ofthe Brotherhood con-
tinnc to dlsparage the Canadian enterprise,
asserting that twill be injurious to Ireland,
ana declare that no possible good can grow