The New York herald., 1867-09-13
THE Battle OF RIDGEwiY.

| The Celf and saxon Again ia Arms-Jomes
| Wood the scene of the Confict-shooiina,
shouting Dancing, and Good Time
Generally.
During the last few years there been many large
gatherings at Jones' Wood, and all have been DIS
tinguished by remarkable and unique feature OF
these gatherings may be mentioned the Heenan barbo-
| cue, the Blondn receptions, and last but decidedly
not the least in point Of numbers the
! monster Fenian meetings convened under the
| auspices OF o'Mahony and James stephens
| Yesterday another representative gathering TOOK
| place at Jones' Wood. The hand bills modes,ly
announced that be civil aud military picnic
the proceeds OF which applied towards free
ing Ire and Additional attraction promised In the
shape OF arevew OF The Fourth regiment Of the Irish
republican army, and the festivities to be still fur
tner enhanced by sham gh or representation Of the
Battle Of Ridgeway.
A bill OF fare attractive could not fail to draw
good house, and the Fenan exchequer
siderab'y enriched by the fifty cent admission
fee paid by nearly three thousand persons
large number OF Fenian notabiIities pres
eni, among whom were many military mcn The Fourth
regiment OF the l R. A. turned ou. about 600 men
under the command OF Lieutenant Colonel Lennon for
meriy OF the Thrtyseventh Irish Res) regiment The
uniform consisted Of blue regulation pants green Jacket
The mon were armed with Tower muskets and the
officers wore uniforms similar TO those o: the United
States Army There were two tags borne at the head
Of the reglmentone being United States nag and
the other large green in the middle of which was
golden harp and on one side was the motto ssWea or
Woe, no Compromise with the Saxon Foe'
About three O'Clock the line formed and the spec
tators took positions TO witness the evoulons of The
nucleus OF the army which is to liberate Ireland On
the hills in the trees, in groups on the stand and
wherever II thought that good view of the coming
contest could be obtained the curious spectators were
clustered. General Spear. accompanied BY his Chief Of
stan Colonel John Dunn riding about the field with
horses speed. Finally he took up a position in
front oi the man stand, and the regiment
before the General 70 the tune of "Pop Goes
the weasel the men then double quicked 1t rouna the
1elda feat which roused the enh Of the spec.
stors TO tue cheering point and laborng the IN.
preston that the men charging an invisible foe
the spectators rewarded them with rounds OF
hearty applause
Preparations for the sham fight were commenced by
dividing the regiment into TWO companies OF hun
dred men each which represented respectively tho
Fenian and English armies General Spear took com
mand OF the Fenian host, and Lsutenant Colonel Len
non, by taking OF his regmcntal coat, displayed q
red flannel shirt, and with the addition OF
white plume stuck in tue band Of his black
slouched hat supposed be an exact resembance
OF British army officer and rs such assumed command
Of the men who were 10 represent the English army
All OF his dvcsied themselves OF their green iacS
cts, ana many Of them then appeared In red flannel
Shirts These we're sent forward skirmshers ana
the balance white shirts were held in reserve and ra
presented the main body OF his army. General Spear
with the greatest gsantry led Ls skirmish line i'm
person. and the oomostan's beng placed the sides Of
the hills, with oniy the open space in front of
the main stand between them, baxei away with
greater cooness. indifference rapidity than
rebellion. Gradually the lines approached each other
General Spear constantly front waviag his sword
British clnmander Lieutenant Colonel Lennon, was no
less active and daring IN tue hckest of the fray his
white plume was dancing about ike o cork on mil
race. The skrmishers finally got 10 close quarters
and the reserves were ordered up and came
into ln.o seton q the double quick The British
ter, shooting, struggling, cheering and running
the Saxons were driven from the field Again, with
their national stubbornness they rallied and the Feniaps
fell back when there ensued terrific hand to hand en-
counter during which General Spear very quietly got a
large number OF his together and forming them
into line and directing them 10 fire volley he ordered
the charge and without having any bayones fixed thew
rushed on the foe and In few the English were
all captured and the battle OF Ridgeway was won
During the day dancing indulged n by ar',e nam,
very ENJOYABLE affair.