, 1870-05-30
Tho 6 battle Of Trout Riyer.s,
3fdienc {Eay 81 Correspondence Of the Sero To-

Malone {Eay 81 Correspondence Of the Sero For
Sun
AS predicted in my last letter, tho Feniar
Army stationed in Trout River : hamlet tilal
lies on the boundary line, twelve miles north Of
Malone, to-day carried out their determination
to give battle to the Canadian Volunteers. The
Penians hare been for some days preparing
that could be collected were hurried to thei,
camp in Trout River. Az customary With
them, but little regard was paid to tlisci-
pline. They did not drill or, in fact engage II
any preparations for the conflict further than
to agreo among themselves, to march against
the enemy, completely die1egarding and ffgnor-
ing all tho regulations which have heretofore
governed the movements Of military bodies.
They wero not cucumbered with the services
OF qunttetmaster, q coulmissa1y, an eugin-
Ger, or even surgeon. That they arc ns
brave and enthusiastic body OF men as eYer
Hhouidered mnsket cannot be disputed, but
their ideas Of military tactics, as the sequel
demonstrates, differ somewhat from those
generally entertained By most people.
'Iheto were but comparatively few private
soldies or non-cummissioned officers among
them. Almost evety other man vas either i
Colonel, Captain, or at tho lowest Lienten-
ant: All grades mingled together in the
rank and file Of some sort. General Starr, Of
Cincinnati, . man who to-t1ny proved himself
coward and au iEnoramus, waa looked up to
as tie leader Of this so-called army. Dy his
orders tho camp was removed yesterday from
STovo to an open field By the highway, in
strict watch On nl their movements.
The officers tenaciously persisted in
naisIerresentlng tho number Of the
Fenian troops, aud 1900 was the low
eat figure at which they estimated them In
The Fenian camp the use Of tents was dis
h7Hn tFxtS$$ fzf
the cold nights either on the bare ground or il
m adjoining stable, without 80 much az
blanket to wrap aro1nd them, All were well
armed, with new bfeach-loading muskots.
Their ammunition Was abundant, but through
gross mismanagement they had no supply Of
provisions for twelve hours preceding the
tight. AL they ate was couple Of crackers
per man. AS for uniforms, they had none.
Some wore green Jackets, others blue pants.
Some had green caps, and most OF them were
poorly clad in ragged citizens dresB. This
was the condition OF the GOO Fenians en-
camped at Trout River.
It is daubtful whether the Fcnians would
have given the enemy battle AZ soon as they
did ii one circumstance had not occurred. The
Canadian volunteers, not daring to cross our
lines and capture the raiders. which they could
caeily have done, determined to induce them
to come over into the British territory. To
accomplish this end they had recourse to STRAIT
anH: who prowled tho Canadian sol; for four
miles north Of Trout River, came into camp
and reported that the te1-coats wera
advancing against. them. The Fenians,
not knowing the number Of their
enemp, remained in their camp this side
Of the lines. Very coon they ascertained that
the Canadians only numbered fifty strong
Preparations to meet them we're at once made,
hut before their arrangements were completed
the Fenlan scouts announced that the Canad-
iAns had retreated back to Huntingdon. At
hearing this the Fenians became highly elated.
They then concluded that the Canadian force
WIS very small and that fear had induced them
to retreat. The men clamored for immediate
t,attle, aud it WAS with considerable difficulty
that they could bc restrained from starting in
pursuit. It was, however, resolved to
take up thu ine OF march in the
morning. Words was sent to the bands
of Fenians in Malone to conc to camp, as
. battle was to be fought on the morrow. Tho
result urs that the road between Malone and
front River was lined With Feniana through
out the entire night ane the mostof this morn
lnE.,
tain the intention Of the Fenians, and accord
pected TO Colonel Bennett, OF the sixty-ninth
british Infantry, who commanded the Oala-
dian volunteers. Therefore, while the
Fenians were preparing to attack the
Canadians, the latter were likewise pre-
pairing to give the Fenians . w1rm recep-
,ion. Shortly after o'clock this morning the
Fcnian skirmish line composed OF eix men,
followed ~ about fifty more, left tha camp
and marched in crowd up the road leading to
Huntingdon. No officers led or instructed
them. The remaining $50 lett the camp in the
same disorganized condition soon Afterwards.
They resemhled, to use the expression Of one
Of tho officers, ''an armed mob" Gereral
Star waa brave enough to follow q respectful
distance in the rear. After proceeding
mile and bali up the highway, tie red
coats we're seen marching down in three
So solid eolumns. They numbered LOO strong.
The Feniant; at this unexpected sight, vera
somewhat astenished. stifl they continued to
advance. When the opposing. forces stood
half-mile from each other. General Starr or
dered retreat His order was not obeyed,
eomc Of the men reniarking that they wore
bound to have ehot at item anyhow. The
Eenian Grief, although still accompanying his
men in the far rear, now began to halloo.
" Retreat b0ya, come back"
While Mrangling with soma infuristed F. :
Aps Nho charged him Eith eo1ardice ar -
competency, the Canadians. now qu4n ..
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