The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-05-02
The Late Gen. Foster and the Fen ian
Raid.

lkHlus
The death of Gen. George p. Foste
calls for more than passing comment
for 1t was to his management, coolnes
and courage more than to any other caus,
that the last Fenian raid came to a sat
factory end. Gen. Foster was at the
time of the outbreak serving his frs
term as United States Marshal i'm tha
district. lie learned ofthe approaching
disturbance and quietly repaired to st
Albans, remaining domiciled at the
Weldcn House, from which he sent
daily dispatches TO the department al
Washington. Fenians arrived singly
and by couples every day, but as they
made no open show of violence, Gen.
Foster took no step towards dispensing
them. On the morning of May "a,
| 1870, however, Gen Foster found Il al
their numbers were increasing so rap
idly that il was necessary for him to Sc
cure the aid of government troops, and
dispatches to that effect were sent.
Unfortunately, the contents of these dis
patches became known to the Fenian
leaders,s and prccipitated an attack
which had been planned for the follow
ing Saturday.
Wednesday morning, May c5th, the
Fcnian force had reached two hundred
men, and there were no troops in town.
In Struggling bodies they proceeded to
Franklin 0ourteen miles distanD
where they rendezvoused, and m arcbed
towards the line. II was eight O'Clock
in the morning before Gen. Foster
learned what had taken place. He Sc
cured carriage, and with no other es.
cort than that of DR.. Woodbury., Yer
mont surgeon and the writer, he drove
rapidly TO the scene. His progress was
uninterrupted until he reachedThe Fe-
nian torcest picketed four miles from
the line with barricode across the
road. The sentinel refused 10 permit
The party TO proceed:
Gen. Foster (raising himself to his
full height, his eyes flashing, and every
word weighing pound)-B what
right, sir, do you stop the progress ofl
United States citizens on a pnbjic HIGH.
way?
The Corporal-By command of Major
Taliagher, an officer of the Army ofthe |
Irish Republic.
Gen. Foster.-Send Mr.. Gallagher
here.
Major Gallagher approached, and the
Iieneral, speaking SO all could hear, ex-
claimed: ''Do you take upon yourself
The responsibility of resisting the gov
ernment of the United States? DO You
know that | am United States Mar |
shall, and that your barricade is that of |
1ighwaymen, unlawful and to be pun-
shedW
Major Gallagher-We act under or
lers, sir.
Gen. Foster (determinedly)-Actun-l un- |
Ter mine, sir. Remove this blockade. |
,r, by the Eternal, / will drive Won
through it, and your resistance will |
,ost you something.
There was whispered consultation.
Turing which the Fenians seemed very
IL at ease. The General impatient, |
started up his horses, when the line
broke and the men huddled together in |
groups at the side of the road. The
blockade was not only removed, but the |
tenian forces had received their first
shock, and the Generalization had be-
run. And all this by the moral cour-
lge and intrepidity of one man.
Gen. Foster rode across the line 10
he Canadian side, unmolested, and re-
W ~ ", Juot III tiuic ~ lllcGU lIC rlulcu- |
ously small army of the invaders who
we're about to capture the entire Do
ninion. The story of the fight is quick
y told. There was one voley, several |
ieaths, general stampede, and, fol- |
owing, a few scattering shots from
barns and behind trees. This contin-
ned for half an hour. Gen. Foster, in |
he meanwhile, had driven to a SPOT
half mile from the line, and by the |
roadside waited patiently the progress
IF events. Finally single man, short |
and thick set, was seen to walk down |
lhe hill towards the carriage, and when
he reached it, announced his intention
Of giving himself up.
'Who are YOU" was asked.
81 am Gen. O'Neil, commander ofl
The Fenian forces"
Gen. Foster.-'r don't know any
such person, but if you are the Mr..
O'Neil whom take you to be, shall
place you under arrest. Get in"
The subsequent trial and imprison-
ment of O'Nei is too well known to be
recapiiulated in detail. Enough has
been said to show that ii was the work
of one man-Gen. George p. Foster
unaided by anybody, that eflectually
squelched the Fenian raid of IS7O.-
Boston Traveller.