, 1870-06-01
THE FENIAN EAIN

Statement OF a Eeutnn- Eaz1ide1. -lau,
the Invaders Entered EHua&a = Iii
PFepnEcd-Thc British AtsaE. 'kea
Rapid Movement OF General tai
for n Place OF Safety -WkA.t
Thought OF E1fn hnd OF OsNetfk.
4''"s ft's ss' c'rraigeadf"es S1,a% Of til Sf'T u
! have Just obtained tho following Htatsn1,
Of the recent exploit OF the Fenial.4v from tk7e
responsible officer whose name is appended.
He Vas confined in the dungeons Of ireland
for his Fenlan prpclivities IN the Emerald Isle
1t is endorsed by all the troops.
| THE STATEMENT.
! Whether the Fenian movement on Canada
WAS nado with the special object OF rendering
the whole Affair . complete failure, shall not
take upon myself to decide, but that the gen.
erality- Of the mon believe such to be tho
case there can be no doubt. The st. Albans.
one. and other points from which attacks were
made. Lave the very same laundering charac-
tet7stic, The Same studied imbecility Was
general throughout tho whole matter. sha1r
only deal with few Of the particulars in con-
| nection with the movement in this direction.
| As soon Us the men throughout the various
States we're officially notified by General
ONcill to make Malone their headquarters
they lost no time in making the necessary pre-
parations. There was much difficulty IN OBJ
tanning transportation money to send them to
their different destinations. However, tho
difficulty VAS, to great extent, overcome, 30
that the men arrived here, As we'll Al 1T
other points. in squads OF various numbers.
When WIS en- route and when I ar
Eved here it Was told by various officers that
there Were actually encamped near the
border five thousand veterans, all armed and
equipped. In fact, the affair was exaggerated
something in tho style u three black crows be-
lore the truth was ascertajued. When ar-
t1ved at the camp there were about 500 men
VI course, others were coming in every dsy
md received their arms and appointments.
Az we're in good spirits and eager for the fray.
Cotnmander-in-Chief- Atlength General STAR |
waA chosen to that Office. He Awaited rein |
forcements for some days, but did not get |
them. At length it Was determined to crOss
the border with what could be mustered,
men, getting diegusted and lemoralized BY the |
confusion and blunderu, had scattered about |
in various directions, not knowing what to do. |
Many Of the enthusiastic would have fight,
to cross over and take up - strong position
aa he could secure, and await the expected re-
inforcements. He chose cornEeld in front
Of frame building, about quarter Of mile
distant. Tho wooden breastvorks were thrown
up. and every defensive precaution taken.
Wooden fences were levelled in front, in case
Of charge being deemed e1pedient- Prop
a1ations had hardly been completed
when, the enemy, who Was CON
m1de tnsl5 appsn'5ancea 's,, sna s
|
detachment ordered 10 cut OF our retreat.
The Canadian forces, as have since ascer-
tanned, consisted OF about 1,100 men, both
cavalry and infantry. They had also four
teen pieces Of artillery. but their use WIS un-
When the enemy appeared We
we're ordered to take cur position ii line be- |
lnnd the breastworks ard to kneel down and
take steady aim: The order was promptly
obeyed, a1'hough there was confusion and ex-
not accustomed to var or had never before
smelled powder. We we're told, however, not
10 tire until VIC were ordered-an orior We |
never receiyed-leat We might chance to Kill
ny ;1s5d OF tue eRSsmy. .Sa Ihe first shot
sas the aignal as It woro for Genera i SAT-
what bright military genius he ISL to give
he word . Double quick, retreat" Why did I
1e not first, or last, order the men to fire one
rider, OF course, vas oboyed, though the man |
,aused and desired to stand. In fact they /
yerc going to fight on their own hook ad- :,
nit it would have been imprudent to have
tood, as the men would almost all havo baen I
or taken prisoners, and in tho latter |
use we know the fato that awaited them.
sas Of the opinion that We ceItninly, under
ny circumstances, should havo waited At least
0 cover the retreat Of the picket that Was sent
onward, but the Starr paled aud grew dim.
10 could best his men at running br far, | !
Tell, We got AWAY, leaving one killed aud two I
rounded. md oDo also taken prisoner, who .
7as court-martialled and shot. Two Of the $
ow much did the hero, General O,Neill, make !
t the transaction? Ia tho query not alone /
sked By me, but many others, God help T t
he brnye-We who were duped By such hum
ugs. To-day they arc returning to their I
omcs. One othor remark. There waa no in b
a1fe1enco on the part Of the United States A
oops. Every facility WAS afforded the IN Z
alers. B. ". GUINNESS. n