St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-03-28
The Late Gen. Foster and the Fenian
Raid.
Boston Traveller.

The death of Gen. George P. Foster
calls for more than passing comment
for it was to his management, GOODNESS
and courage more than to any Other
cause that the last Fenian raid came tt
satisfactory end. Gen. Foster was al
the time of that outbreak serving his
first term as United States marshal il
that district. He learned of the ap-
preaching disturbance and quietly re-
paired to st. Adams, remaining domi-
ciled ut the Weldon House, from
whence he sent daily dispatches to the
department ut Washington. Fenians
arrived singly and by couples every day
but as they made no open show of vio-
lence, Gen. Foster took no step towards
dispensing them. On the morning OF
May oath, 1870, however, Gen. Foster
found that their numbers were increas-
ing SO rapidly that it was necessary fol-
him to secure the aid of government
troops, and dispatches to that effect
were sent. UnfoI tunately, the contents
of these dispatches became known to
the Fenian leaders, and precipitated an
attack which had been planned for the
following Saturday.
Fenian force had reached 200 men, and
there were no troops in town. In strag-
Cling bodies they proceeded to Frank
lin fourteen miles distantl, where they
rendezvoused, and marched toward the
line. 1t was eight o'clock in the morn
ing before Gen. Foster learned what
had taken place. He secured carriage,
and, with no other escort than that OF
1 IN
and the writer, he drove rapidly to the
scene. His progress was uninterrupted
until he reached the Fenian forces,
picketed four miles from the line with
il barricade across the road. The senti-
mel refused to permit the party to pro-
coed:
Gen. Foster (raising himself to his
fall height, his eyes flashing, and every
word weighing a pound) By what
right, sir, do you stop the progress of
United States citizens on public high
way?
The Coporal-By command of Major
Gallagher, and officer of the Army of
the Irish Republic.
Gen. Fostel-Send Mr.. Gallagher
here.
Major Gallagher approached, and the
General, speaking so all could hear, ex-
claimed: Do you take upon yourself
the responsibility of resisting the gov
eminent of the United States Do
you know that / am a United States
Marshal, and that your barricade is that
of highwaymen, unlawful and to be
punished
Major Gallagher-We act under or
ders, sir.
Gen. Foster observation-disclosures I'M
der mine, sir. Remove this blockade,
or, by the Eternal, will drive through
it, and your resistance will cost yoL
something.
There was whispered consultation,
during which the Fenians seemed very
ill at ease. The General impatient,
started up his horses, when the line
broke and the men hndd4blesa r s,.ss'ner in
o, gr'''D"uc was not only ro,a oiu. The
first shoe anu, ,olc t had received tb "G.
za1ion " as b asG the work of demo ,n9ir
intrepidity aud moIal courage of one
man.
Gen. Foster rode across the line to
the Canadian side, unmdested, and re-
turned, just in time to meet the ridicu-
lousy small army of the invaders who
were about to capture the entire Do
minion. The story of the fight is quick
ly told. There was one voRey, several
deaths, general stampede and, fol-
lowing, a few scattering shots from
barns and behind trees. This contipu-
ed for half an hour. Gen. Foster, in
the meanwhile, had driven to a SPOT
half mile from the line, and by the
roadside waited patiently the progress
of events. Finally single man, short
and thick-set, was seen to walk down
the hill towards the carriage. and
when he reached it, he announced his
intention to give himself up.
"Who are you ?" was asked.
81 am Gen. O'Neil, commander of the
Fenian forces"
Gen. Foster-'I don't know of apy
such person, but if you are the MI
ONeil whom l take you to be, | shall
place you under arrest. Get in"
The subsequent trial and imprison.
ment of O'Neil is too well known to be
recapitulated in detail. Enough has
been said to show that it was the work
of one man-Gen. George P. Foster
unaided by anybody, that effectually
squelched the Fenian raid of 1870.
The Connecticut House has voted +,
adopt the Virginia bell-punch registe,
for collecting revenue from the sales n
| liquors.