The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-04
AFenian Generals statement.

b
General O'Neil, one of the Fenian Of
fcers who has been, errested and i'm
prisoned at Burlington, Vermont, gives
the following narratives:
General O'Neil remarked: This move
ment on the Canadian frontier has long
been contemplated, and have carefully
considered the subject for two years.
You remember the attack and battle at
Fort Erie, in 1866, in which the Fenians
were victors. saw ut that time that
Irish troops on Canadian soil would fight
with desperation and courage, and that
carefully organized and properly disci-
plined, they would prove valiant soldiers.
At that time we failed because our men
did not have arms and ammunition; that
was all they lacked; 80 since that time I
have been busy collecting 10000 stand
of arms and perfecting the organization
of the brotherhood, to get the entire
order throughout the country to under
stand that we must have troops, means
for transportation, and quick, decisive
movements up to the invasion. All the
territory was carefully mapped out, and
every projected movement was so timed
that tho occupation of Canada was to be
simultaneous and general along the line.
I expected on Tuesday last to have 1,6OO
men at Franklin; by Wednesday noon
over 1000 more were to report there.
Every precaution had been taken to i'm
pose secresy, and though the country is
flooded with q sen of British spies. not
one detail of the plans was divulged.
Thus both Governments were blinded.
1t was as much our object to evade the
United States authorities as it was to
battle with the Canadians. The asser-
&c
tended to compromise this country with
England is therefore untrue. We had
no such object. most Of us having fought
was simply to liberate Ireland, through
Canada as base of operations. I was
to begin tho assault OH Canadian terri
tory with the 1,60O troops. Even if 500
arrived, foresaw that they would be
ample to take position, and this was all
we wanted at the outset, as many of the
promised troops were veterans. I knew
that they would make good beginning.
This, you see, was all we wanted. Once
established, n permanent foothold in
British America, and entrenched in q
strong position, and 100, 900 Fenians will
rush to the front. It was my duty to
form tho nucleus, and the service was
very critical, and the slightest mismove
would prove disastrous. This foresaw,
and planned accordingly. To begin q
military enterprise of this kind. ono
thing should be kept in mind-the in
fiuence of the results upon the public
sentiment. A brilliant beginning pro-
missed us much from the American pco-
pie, who have generally been very friend
ly to the movement then decided to
move on franklin with 1,600 men, this
point to be the main objective one. Mi
nor and supplementary movements were
to be made ut Malone. and they wero
simply decoys. The Red River detach-
ment was included in the campaign, un-
der my direction. Well, on Tuesday last
the Fenian Brotherhood began to send
men forward, and the country was soon
aroused. Instead of the 1, 1000 men ex
pected at Franklin, from Boston, 14O
came; and instead of the 600 from North
ern New York and Vermont, only sixty
five reported for duty. In time the local
authorities offer various explanations and
excuses for being dilstory. They say
that they could not transport the men.
The troops did not come as they should.
Instead of 5000 on Wednesday, I had
800. With these men (emphatically) I
had to move forward, for the United
States authorities were at my heels, and
Marshal Foster was in my camp watch
ing me closely. Iplanned an immediate
advance. The marshal came into camp,
but he dare not undertake to thwart me.
Surrounded by my soldiers, would not
have submitted to an arrest. Iregretted
very much the necessity of having to
net with such an Insignificant force, but
I could not help it. The men were not
at hand, and before me was a hostile
country with hostile troops, and behind
me the United States authorities, each
waiting to overthrow us, and here you
see the fault Of the entire expedition.
We have had the opportunity during
the present week of inspecting the
printed roll of citizens of Abbeville,
liable to militia duty. Tho list is made
up in large proportion Of our colored
fellow citizens, with sprinkling of
whites to remind them 1--WE suppose) that
their race has still some claim to the
rights and immunities and burdens of
American citizenship. After the taste
| they hayo had ut Ntha i'm minant deed1v