The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-06-17
SKETCHES OF THE FEN1AN LEADERS.

O'Neil is now about thirty five years
of age. He was born in the town of
DungannOn, Tyrone county, Ireland, in
1885, and came to America when quite
a boy. He received a good education,
but his military instincts led him into
the American army long before the war.
He served for eight years in the old I'd
Dragons, under Col. Robert f. Lee.
At the breaking out of the rebellion
O'Nel took the Union side, and, in COM
mand of a mounted infantry company,
fought with Mcclellan from Yorktow
to Malvern Hill. He also served under
Hunter at the first Bull Run. After the
retreat on Harrison's Landing, O'Neil
was transferred to the West, and OBJ
tanned command of a company of cav
airy, distinguishing himself by several
daring acts, for which he received high
commentator from the commanding
officers. He was detailed to drive John
Morgan, the famed guerrilla, from Ken
lucky. This O'Neil accomplished in the
| spring of 1864, receiving the sword OF
Morgan upon his surrender in May of
that year. The remainder of the war,
| O'Neil served under Gen. Thomas, par
| ticipating in the battles of Franklin and
Nashville. At the latter place the fu-
ture Fenian General was wounded Sc
Verely, and was laid up in the hospital
this he was not heard of until one sultry
day in the beginning of June, 1866,
when the news came over the wires that
Colonel O'Neil had invaded Canada at
Fort Erie. Then came the news of the
| fight at Ridgeway, in which he severely
whipped superior number of Canadian
Volunteers. After accomplishing this
feat O'Neil retired on Fort Erie, where
he was again attacked by the British
| from Fort Colburne. This force he also
thrashed, capturing nearly 200, and COM
pelling the remainder to flight. On the
same night, finding that he was not sus-
tanned by Gen. Sweeney, who had the
chief command, O'Neil recrossed the
river under the noses of the British,
Col. Peacock's three batteries of artillery
and $500 regular troops, the English
officers being hoodwinked by weak
picket line which was thrown out by the
/ Fenian leader to cover his retreat. In
the midst of the Niagara the returning
Fenians were captured by the United
States authorities, and for that time the
movement was at an end. On the re-
tirement of Col. Roberts from the Fe-
MAN presidency in 1868, John O'Neil
was elected president, and since then
has laboEed hard for the movement
which he lately made on Canadian
territory.
Gen. Spear, aged SO years, was in the
Fenian raid of '66. During the rebel
lion he commanded a brigade in the ar
my of the Potomac. He is pronounced
one of the most efficient officers in the
lFenian army. fa
i Gen. Gleason also commanded brig
ade in the army of the Potomac. Col
Lewis had q regiment of Vermont cav.
alry under his command, and he is BY
birth an American. fl
Gen: Donnelly was q native of Ire
land, and about So years of age. During
the war he commanded the 18th Michi
gan volunteers. Since he came East b,
had resided in Providence, II. l., anl
Utica, n. Y. He was Civil Engineer il
the locomotive works at Utica. He wa
considered one of the abiest members o
i pointed Speaker of the Fenian Congress
at their last session, and has since BEEF
appointed Chief of Staff IN the presen
Fenian organization. 1iaflI go 6
L., Col. Boyle O'Riley was formerly Ser
geant-Major in the British army, but OF
account of his connection with the Fe
MAN movement he was transported t.
Australia in 1868. He made his escap
to San Francisco, and recently came {.
this city.
Col. ii. LIE Caron is young man, an,
/. ne was 1AdJoF III &a 1IlEOlS reg llaS!l
during the war. He has seen service il
the Southwest
Col. Cosgrove is an old United State
soldier of much ability, and he serve
under Sherman in the West. He is abou
43 years of age, and is looked on wit
confidence. a1, g
Col. Starr served in the rebellion in
Kentucky regiment. He took activ
part in, the Fenian raid of 1866. and he
, generally considered an able soidiel
'sHis only weakness is love of women,
say his friends. Chicago Republican.