Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-02
The Battle of Richards Farm.
INCIDENTS.

INCIDENTS.
We publish below a description of the
battle of Richards Farm and incidents Of
the campaign, culled from the Burling-
ton Free Press and the st. Adams Messen-
ger:
The battle field of Wednesday presents
quite different scene to-day. All the
| Fenian troops fell back in the most disor-
gained condition last night. From their
late camping ground above Franklin VII
| lage they dispersed in struggling sqauds
of dozen or less each. A large portion
went to st. Adams, and others in the di-
rection Of Fairfield.
Gen. Donnelly and about fifty men
! who remained at Richards Farm house
after the fight yesterday came near being
surrounded and captured by the enemy
last night about shutdown. Discovering
the movement, the General ordered his
men to fire. They rushed for some ad-
Joining woods on the east. In trying to
make his escape Gen. Donnelly and Capt.
Chas. Carlton were wounded under the
terrific fire which was poured into them.
The wounded were brought to the top of
the hill by their comrades, and taken to
the Franklin House in the night. Gen.
Donnelly was kindly conveyed to the hotel
by two Canadian officials, whose names
we omit by request. These wounded men
are now at the Franklin House, with the
exception of Carlton, and doing well.
Donnelly was struck just above his hip,
aud the ball passed up and lodged in his
chest. 1t is bad wound, and was at first
thought to be fatal, but he is comfortable,
and his comrades are hopeful. Gen. Dom
nelly is commended by all his men as a
brave and efficient officer. Capt. Carlton
is also highly spoken of for his bravery.
1t should be remembered that previous
to the fight of Donnelly's party, the only
field piece of the Fenians was finally put
into working order and fred few times
from the brow of the hill. It failed, how
ever, to do any execution. 1t was left by
the Fenians, and was taken by the Cana
dians next morning.
THE CANADIAN CAMP.
A visit to the heights occupied by the
Canadian troops discloses the fact that
they held an impregnable position for
direct attack in front. They are fully
protected by natural breastworks of rocks
and lodges. At the opening of the battle
the defence was made by forty Canadian
civilians, and a dozen soldiers from the
Durham and Stanbridge militia COM
panies. The operations were directed by
Col Chamberlin of the LIST battalion of
rife infantry, and who is also member
of Parliament. The main body of troops
in this section of the Province are at Stan
bridge, to the number of 1900 men, com
manded by Col. Osborne Smith. Two
companies of men from this body came
forward this morning, but too late for any
service. During all the firing not one
Canadian was I'M ured, the Fenians firing
quite too high. The Canadians acknow-
ledge that if the movement of their enc
my had been better generalled, and a
flank movement TO the northwest had
been attempted, the heights which they
occupy might have been easily carried.
This was what Gen. O'Neil was intend
ing to do when he was arrested.
Captain Murphy, from Troy, and two
other Fenians were taken prisoners Wed
nesday evening and taken to Stanbridge.
Murphy is said to have been intoxicated,
and came in there, supposing it to be
O'Neirs camp. The three prisoners will
probably be shot. The body of John
Rowe, of Burlington, who was the first
man killed on the field, was buried by the
Canadians on the side hill, Just east of the
heights. His body is covered by a few
inches of earth and four feet of stone. A
brother of his from Burlington went on
Thursday morning TO recover the body,
and we learn that he was taken prisoner.
The body of O'Brien, who was killed at
Richards hill, was buried by his comrades
in grove near by.
-
their success. They are firm in the be-
lief that they never again will be troubled
by these invaders. The people from the
surrounding country have turned out en-
masse to-day to view the scene of battle
and secure trophies. Large quantities of
arms, ammunition and stores were seized
by the CAM dams and carried across the
lines. 4 good many rifles were picked
up by private citizens and appropriated.
Some cases of arms are supposed to have
been taken to Fairfield. The balance of
arms and ammunition were take charge
of by United States Deputy Marshal
Flanagan, who has placed them in safe
keeping.
COVERING AN ESCAPE.
A little after six last evening the Fem
iaHs breech loading steel gun, and from a
position some fifty yards west of Richards
house fired one shot at the Canadians
The latter Immediately advanced and the
Fenians left the gun in their hands. 1t
has been taken to Pigeon Hill. After
capturing this trophy, they discovered
that it had been brought up to divert at
tention from the house, from which quite
a number of Fenisns escaped under cover
of the ruse.
A capture was made by the Canadians
this morning of two Fenians who, under
the influence of liquor, carelessly wander
ed across the line. They were taken to
Frelighsburgh. One of them said he be-
longed in Skowhegan, Me.
Arms and equipments were hastily
abandoned on the field and for a long dis
lance this side, and many others were
sold by Fenians for 50 or $3.50 to any one
who would sbuy. The main bulk which
were at Hubbard's Corner, became scat |
tered during the night, but to-day Deputy
q. S. Marshal II. 3. Flanagan, of Bur |
lington, has been there and officially mott !
fed all concerned that he seized them in |
the name of the United States.
Gen. Sam. Spear came in here to-day |
about noon and has been in consultation |
with several officers and has addressed |
some of the men. He urges them to go |
to Malone, but if they viii not go there,
then to some point on the Vermont from
tier. We have been unable to learn the
result of the consultation and at present
all their intentions are involved in mys-
terry. The general opinion is that they |
swami to go home"
ARRIVAL OF q. S. TROOPS.
Last evening Co. G. 9th U. S. Battery,
Al officers and men under command of
Gen. Richard Arnold, arrived and en-
camped in the Park, where they will be |
likely to remain till all the Fenians get
away. This afternoon Cos. l., E. and L. |
of the same Battery, about 175 officers
and men, under command of Brevet Lit. |
Col. George A. Kensel, arrived from