The New York herald., 1870-05-27
Rumored Defeat Of the Brit.
ish Regulars.
Large Numbers Of Fenians En- Route
fnr NJnlnnn
Condition Of Affairs at ST. Adams
General Spear in Command There.


~. as.sss ST ALDANs, May 2a 1870.
There Is no use In concealing the fact that
Fenan hotIlities against the Dominion government
have been commenced with vigor and earnestness
which the most sangaine had not anticipated. The
intuatory OF the campaign, however, which
was fought yesterday just across the border
from Fairfield was not very auspi-
cious beginning, and where there was confidence
courage and enthusiasm there Is now little else inaa
chaarin sorrow and indigna lou Tie war is not to
be wholly abandoned, however, unless through the
Interference Of the federal authorities, although the
kceneof activity will be transferred to other points
along the border
THE DEFEATED ARMY.
The r0nt Of the Fenians az The Cook Corners bat tie
yes.erday was most complete, and by daylight this
morning the whole miniature rrmy of less than two
hAndred men was en- route to tn town, and they
ere now loungng about the streets In most pitla.
BILE condition.
y Some are dis coura cd all are indignant and few
are anxious to join the other branches OF the in
vading forces wnen the prospects OF success are
more roasonab'e. The man justly blame General
ONel for MS indiscretion IN putting them against
SUPERIOR wei intrenchcd force, ana his loyalty TO
Feniansm and devotion to the welfare OF hia COM
nand are very sharply criticized.
THE BRITISH TROOPS
numbered about 200, being composed about half OF
volunteers and the other half OF armed citizens
living in the Immediate vicinity. Tney were pro-
tocted not only by dense forest but by hundreds OF
ponderous and impregnabe rocks, and had the addI-
tional advantage OF elevated position. which, claim
many Of the Fenians, with good reason might
have been Offset by similar coign OF advantage on
Their part FL her through stupidity or ignorance
ta1
advantages Of position which he assumed and
formed his men in column of fours in the highway
NEITHER DIsCIPLINE NOR GENERALsHIp.
The freedom from restraints OF military discipline
which has characterized the movements or the
Fenian troops was most garingly exhibited in this
instance. Although the attacking party were well
informed OF the number OF their antagonists ana the
strength Of their POSITION they yet neglected to take
even tue common experience, OF military life.
The advance guard consisted Of but three men, who
marched but SIX feet In advance of the main body,
ana the entire force were huddlcd tox-tnar Ike 80
many sheep. Every available man was pressed into
activity and there were reserves on which to fail
bAck for support When all was ready for the
slaughter General O'Neill, true to his reputation,
conmi ted what was perhaps the greatest blunder
OF the Fenian campaign. Instead of dep,oying his
men as sklrmishers along the line, which afforded
every facility for employment Of such q force and
even irtrenchng them behind the rock fences, bark
piles and buildings which abounded, he gave the
order to charge IN sold column on the heights
above. The occasion reminded one forcibiy OF the
fatal movements upon Fredericksburg during the
war Of the rebellion, except that IN the present in
stance the stronger force occupied tho more forml-
dab1e position. The men slowly but steadily moved
forward, their commander deity taking himself out
OF the way and placing the whole of
big house before his body to avoid the
the danger which might arise from bullets which
were expected from the brow OF the opposite hull.
The Canadians, however. had calculated their
chances with care. Every point Of the situation had
been carefully weighed, and they were deter.
mined that whatever others might do there
should be no charges OF violation of the neu-
trality laws preferred against them. Accordingly
shey waited patiently till the last passed over
the line, and then the firing commenced. One voley
from the muskets Of the Canadian troops, which by
the way made Jonn Rowe the first victim Of the cam.
pa1gn spread CONSERVATION among the Fenian troops
ana they scattered like chickens in search Of q
shelter from the rain. Some OF them found harbor-
age behind the stone fences with which the locality
abounds. Others laid themselves down behind the
piles Of bark, while an unfortunate few,
headed by Brigadter General ]. ]. Donnelly
Of Utica sought protection within the walls of an
Old barn at the right Of the road. scattering fire
was then instituted with no effect on either side.
o'NEILL AGAIN COMES FORWARD.
Finally some OF the Fenan officers firing Of this
diiatory method OF doing business, unearthed Gen.
eral O'Neill and demanded permission to charge
upon the hill in 'front.' This request
was peremptoriiy refused. Sensible, how
ever, Of the fact that something must
be done to rouse the wanting spirit Of his
men General O'Neiii ordered retrogade march to
the top OF the hill, and here again he displayed his
utter want Of military actics, as well az total dis
regard for the lives Of his men. There
were methods OF reaching the summit which
ought to have been manifest TO the merest
novice. Even before the opening OF the
fight. But General O'Neill either could not or would
not per0sive them. This order placed his men In
the position of clambenng a steep hin with their
backs to the enemy and ct short musketry range.
Brave men they were. it is true but they
could not Withstand such terrible hail
OF bullets. Thomas Marray fell dead IN his
steps, and the rest, dreadng the future, faltered
and seemed halt determined to 1y from the field.
Then it was that General o'Neiii made the
fndammatory speech which / telepraphed you
last night. Its effect was to hasten
tho bravest OF the men; hnt after they
had reached the top of the hill they seemed
dislncined to take any further action, and looked
only for the best methods OF sefpreservatlon. Col
iSS1iiB themselves tuBetker III hoNlelultlB tnaL
looked like heap they talked over the situation.
General o'Neill however, held himself somewhat
aloof, and, In company with one Boyle, Reilly
walked siowly down the decline OF the HILL
O'NEILLs ADVENTURES.
Besides aM this It should be remembered that while
Tire ghtlng was the snarpest when the bullets were
flying the thlckest and his command were penetrat-
ing the British soil, General o'Neiii was safely
jntrenched in the upper room OF neigh.
boring brick house, from where he could
oNain an excellent view OF the exciting scene.
This Eouse was owned and occupied by muscular
farmer named Richards, and when he found The
Fenan chl.f in one OF his bedrooms, he very per-
enptory ordSred hln to leave the premises. Q'Nein