The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-06-23
I HI ION JACK.
Continued from First Page.


inhabitants for necessary supplies.
O'Neill directed receipts should be
given for everything taken; that there
was to be no pillaging, and that the PEG
Die were to be treated with courtesy and
respect. That these orders were faith
fully carried out was proved in pamph-
let published. by Colonel Dennison, aid
de-camp to the Governor General OF
Canada.
I During our encampment on the first OF
June, We we're visited by the Mayor OF
Fort Erie, and many Of the leading oitl-1
Gems Of the place, who showed no cyl
dences OF alarm whatever at our pres
ence, but who on the contrary we're KIND
enough to inform us "that we would get
q most unmerciful licking" I remember
answering That, taking our small mum
Der into consideration, that would not
be surprising; but who, I asked, was 60
ing to lick the twenty nine thousand SIX
hundred Fenians that would make other
crossings.
This question seemed q staggerer. I
don't remember receiving q reply, it any
was made.
On the night Of June l O'Neill deter
mined on making an advance for the pur@
pose of meeting an armed force which he
learned was about leaving Toronto to at
tack him, and whom he could meet on
ground better suited to the strength OF
his command and further away from the
many inhabitants Of the village OF Fort
Erie.
We marched all night, and early on
the morning of the I'd, and within mile
or so OF the pretty village of Ridgeway,
the Rubbing Of railway train coming
from the direction Of Toronto was heard.
Our little column was halted to await
developments. The latter we're not long
coming; the train which was hid from
our sight by the topography Of the coun-
try, came to q standstill, and second or
two later, as clear and distinct IS ii
blown by Levy himself, came the light
infantry bugIe call, Fall in"
Our command having individually
served an apprenticeship to war, needed
no order, but speedily changed from col
unns OF four into line, and proceeded to
perform some old time tricks inthe shape
(ut manipulating stout rail fence into q
semi respectable barricade.
Our skirm;shers were quickly selected
and the position they were to occupy
pointed out to the officer commanding
them.
When the Canadian troops came with
ia sight Of our skirmls hers our tactics,
which under all similar circumstances
are those adopted, were followed by them
and skirmishers thrown out and the
sound SO familiar to our ears the ''piz-
piiz" of tho rifle bullets broke upon the
ear.
The disparity Of the forces engaged
soon became apparent. The Fenians, as
have said, numbered four hundred.
The volunteers, which were composed OF
the Queens Own" the Hamilton Bat-
TALON and the University Rifles number
ing not less than twelve hundred men.
They we're a splendid lot Of fellows, par
ticularly the University Rifles" Their
drill seemed to be perfect and their
manoeuyres we'll performed. They
fought in two lines-one line acting as q
reserve to the one in front engaged
each Of their lines were double the length
of ours. 5.
When the front line was engaged it
could not remain 80 for more than fifteen
minutes. It would then double back to
the rear of the second or reserve. line,
while that line would double to the front
and engage us. It was very pretty, but
looked to much like drawing-room SOL
dierlug, turned to Col. Michael Bo-
land (the Colonel died only q few months
ago., who was mounted alongside OF mo,
and remarked: Colonel, if those follows
||lcome closer and fight as we'll as they per-
form tactics, we'll be licked as sure as
blazeev' Col. Boland replied: "They are
inexperienced and will not come to close
quarters. It they do not come nearer
they will lose heavily from our superior
fire, and they will surely break it many
more Of them are hit"
Ihave no hesitation in saying, had
they from the start advanced on us, not
1unked III so doing, outdanked US on
our right and LETT, which their superior
(ity in numbers permitted them to do, l
imagine we would have been whipped,
though from our superior firing it would
have been at great loss Of life to them.
It was not to be, however. and, IN conse-
quence Of their not grasping the situa-
ton, victory remained with US.
A very short time after the Canadian
skirmishers became absorbed in their
front line, it appeared to- O'Neill that
Col. Booker was making arrapgemsn to
advance on our position-the barrica De.
~. mr.. 81 On :, 30 mns Os,76ro1