The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-18
NO SIGNS OF WAR YET
LOCAL IRISHMEN'S BELLIGERENCl
IN 1866 RECALLED.
Captain Haggerty Took a Company to
Help Capture Canada-Its IgnO-
miniOus Defeat.

A band passed along Washington street
yesterday afternoon, and someone an
nounced that il led the Irish organizations
of this city which were going forth to
strike blow for Ireland. But the band
led such belligerent aggregation, being
simply on the return from a funeral. There
was much jocular inquiry during the day
regarding the preparations being made for
the war, and some one called up Superin-
tendent Powell by telephone and asked if
his police force was going TO enlist as a
body. The report from New York, calling
attention to the claim that it is time to be-
gin fighting, caused much speculation.
There were no noticeable signs of war
preparations, however, and at war head
quarters in the Statehouse nothing was
known of any. To some the reports from
New York, as we'll as the resolutions passed
by the Irish-American Club Of this city,
recalled the famous Fenian invasion of
June, 1866 when twenty-three gallant sons
of Erin marched north from this city un-
der the command Of Captain Haggerty, to
be marched back a few days later pris
oners of the United States government.
Those who remember the incidents of 1866
will remember the Fenian invasion. 1t was
a blow for Ireland, aimed at England, by
an invasion of Canada. The "Fenlans was
an organization of Irishmen. who contribu-
ted much TO their native country. Previous
TO that time, the memorable June or 1906,
all was harmony in the camp. a split oc-
Cured and two factions resulted, one called
the .O'Mahony and the other the Rob
erts." Each tried to Guido the other In
devotion to Ireland. and the aspirations of
each finally became so great that both
rushed TO the front anxious TO fight. There
was a Fenian convention at Buffalo on
May 80 of that year. About twelve hundred
war-loving Irishmen were present, repre-
senting each faction. An invasion had been
suggested, and when one company took
the lead the other started, crossing into
Canada and striking at the British govern
ment of the Dominion. But a few of the
Indianapolis men who were members of
that army are living in the city now But
one blow was struck for Ireland, and that
was at the memorable battle of Limestone
of the talked-of invasion, became alarmed
and maSSed the Canadian troops across
from Buffalo. The date of the battle was
June i, and on the same day General Grant
arrived at Buffalo and directed General
Barry to stop the exit of warriors from
this country. The FenianS were defeated in
the battle, and, being without ammunition
and provisions, they attempted TO come
back to the American shore, only TO fall
in the hands of General Barry. All the
Irish soldiers signed pledge TO return
home and furnished bond to keep the
peace of the two nations, so they were
given transportation to their homes by the
United otates government. Since the inva-
sion, which lasted but forty-eight hours.
the cause of Ireland has slumbered from
all indications.
There are no armed Irish military or
CARNATIONS in this city at present. Some
of the members of the Irish-Amercan Club
say the resolutions passed as coming from
that organization are the work of few,
and that the great majority of Irishmen
have too much judgment TO attempt a war
with Great Britain.