Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-07-14
Vermont Daily Transcript.
Fenianism on the Vermont Frontier.
ST. ALBANS, VT:
TUESDAY, july IA, 1868.

gives his personal observations and his
impressions concerning Fenianism, and
the probabilities of movement against
Canada. The same gentleman also visit
ed Pittsburgh, Malone, Ogdcnsburgh,
etc., and took look at the situation
from each point. The Ne,Cs, by the
way, has not been of the frightened
class of Canadian papers, aud does not
"give to airy nothings" all the impor-
lance which some of its neighbors have
sometimes done. AS the correspon-
dence from this place will be of interest
to all our readers, we give it entire.
ST.. ALBANs, July 9th, 1868.
There il much less talk of Fcnian
movements here than on the Canadian
side. Whatever the cut-throat Brother
hood may be doing, or intending to do,
they keep it II secret. The mass of the
Fenians themselves. | am convinced,
know very little of the real intentions
of the leading spirits. They are eX-
tremely reticent, and are rs suspicious
of the American as of the Canadian au-
thorities. Consequently, it is exceed
ingly difficult to arrive at any decided
opinion respecting Fenian movements.
All l can do is to point out certain indi-
cations of their movements, and relate
certain facts which have come within
my knowledge, from which your read
ers can draw their own conclusions.
First, then, it is fact that there is now,
and has been for the last few days, an
unusual cOmmotion among the 'Broth-
er-hOOd.o What the nature or extent
of that commotion is L cannot say
whether it means n real raid on Cana
da, or is only a feint with a view to en-
chance the success of an actual raid on
the pockets of chamber-maids and hod-
carriers, or whether it means anything
mt all or not, are questions which l am
also unable to answer. The Fenians
may be deceived by their leaders on this
occasion, as they have frequently been
on former occasions, but that there is an
unusual stir amongst them just now,
and that they expect a speedy move of
some kind, is sure. Military drill, to a
certain extent, has been carried on in
this neighborhood of late. Squads of
Irishmen without arms have been OBJ
served drilling in the evening in an UNI
frequented place near this town. | have
been unable to learn whether this drill
is carried on regularly. The place is
quite retired. The few farmers who
live there are Irish, and there might be
regular evening drill there without
attracting general attention. In fact
the majority of Americans in this vicin
ity pay no attention to what the Fenians
may be doing, and are utterly indiffer-
ent about the matter. Fenian officers,
who have never been seen in st. Adams
since the last raid, have turned up with
in the last week, staying day or two
at st. Adams then going on to Malone,
md Othar r,lacau of Enpian nntoriaf "
The results of these mysterious visits
are of course unknown, farther than the
fact of their being followed by unusual
cOmmotiOn among the "brethren" to
which allusiOn has already been made.
l have received some additional infOr-
nation respecting the Fenian arms late
ly removed from st. Adams. Some of
these were sent South to Troy, and there
secretly distributed among the Fenians,
but the most of them were taken by
night in farmers Wagons into the hill
ly country east of st. Adams, inhabited
almost wholly by Irish. The most Of
these arms are known as the Harper's
Ferry musket, somewhat improved, but
are, ! learn, greatly inferior to the
breech-loaders used by the United States
troops and the Canadian volunteers.
Learning that little village called
Fairfield Centre, situated about eight
or ten miles east of st. Adams, was one
of the hOt-beds of Fenianism in this
State, and, moreover, the place to which
some OF the arms were supposed to be
taken, determined to pay it personal
visit, with view of learning what
could from observation, and from con-
versatiOn with the people. According
ly, on Saturday afternoon, started, and
after rough ride over an exceedingly
high hill, almost worthy the name of
mountain, and winding around two or
three smaller elevations, reached Fair
field Centre. 1t consists of little two
story frame tavern, two stores, one of
which included post office, three
dwelling houses and "A Catholic Chapel.
The region round about is undulating
and picturesque. The predominant
population is Roman Catholic Irish.
Very little grain is raised; butter, cheese
and wool are the staple products. Hay
ing had just commenced, and labor being
scarce, the farmers were very busy.
They chiefly depend upon French Cana
dian labOrers for assistance during the
busy summer months, but this summer
the demand for laborers is greater than
the supply. 1t would require strong
inducement or strange infatuatiOn to
make these men leave their farms to en-
gage in the wild-goose chase of invading
Canada. But all their sympathies are
with the Fenians, and they would read
lily grant them assistance in the way of
cOncealing arms, supplying them with
provisions, or in any other way that
would not involve the necessity Of their
leaving their farms, shouldcring rifle,
and marching to the front. Sunday af-
ternoon some thirty of the neighbors
gathered together at the tavern, loung-
ing on the benches under the piazza,
talking of business and politics, and oc.
casionally making remark about Fe.
nianism, though it seemed to me that
subject was studiously avoided. One
young man, taking stool into the mid.