without stirrups; and all had rope bridles. We concluded it must have been a poor day for horse equipage. Patrolling Getting information.-Squads of men were marching up and down the banks of the river for the purpose, as they told us, of "picking up stragglers" from the army. The officers were very reticent. From none of them could we get a satisfactory reply to our questions as to the number of men, the reinforcements expected, the contemplated movements, &c., &c., and were consequently obliged to depend entirely upon our own observa tions. The general in command.-The officer in command of the Fenians across the river is General O'Neil, formerly of the Union army, and we believe from Memphis, Tennessee. We did not happen to see him, but we did see one or two gentlemen in the garb of officers with whom we had previously had the pleasure of an acquaintance on this side. General Sweeny.—We asked several questions as to the whereabouts of General Sweeny. But the only answer that we could get was that "he was in the right place." It was intimated by some that he was in Toronto; others were of the opinion that he was "at Ogdensburg, and probably fighting already." People leaving for this side.-Although there does not appear to be anything like a panic among the people on the other side, still many of the females and children have come across the river, bringing a portion of their effects with them. Some shooting. Mr. Lewis, the postmaster at Waterloo, entered a small boat early this morning and started for this side. He was ordered to return, and not doing so immediately was shot at by some of the men, but, fortunately, not hit. He came back, and it is said that those who did the shooting were afterwards placed under arrest by the officers. We heard that a man belonging to the Canadian rifles-a squad of which is said to have been at Fort Erie-was shot at on the supposition that he was starting for Port Colborne as a bearer of despatches, or of information hostile to the interest of the Fenians. Appearance of the troops.-The troops are not uniformed, though some of them have military caps, some coats, &c. Once in a while something like a grayback" dress is seen, and we observed several belt-plates with the initials "C. S. A." on them. The supplies. From what we could see and learn we are inclined to believe that the Fenian army is deficient in supplies. We saw no "commissary stores," and it would seem that no provision has been made for feeding the troops. Soldiers, to fight, must eat, and an empty stomach is not calculated to inspire confidence or courage. But we suppose those in authority know their own business best-at any rate it is no funeral of ours. The two sides of the river.-As matters stand at present there is more excitement on this side than in Canada. Crowds are gathered on the banks of the river at all points where a view of the opposite shore can be obtained, and there is a continuous stream of people going towards Black Rock. The street cars are thoroughly filled. The wharves and piers at the Rock are also crowded. Will there be a fight ?-We dunno.-It looks to us as if there must be a fight at no distant time across the river. The Canadian authorities must, of course, be advised of what has been done, and will lose no time in bringing forces to meet those who have gone over. If this is done we expect to hear of a "scrimmage" in a very short time, probably to-morrow. No. 37. Mr. Jones to Mr. Seward. No. 15.] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, but the disposition it will make of those invaders now in its possession calls forth some discussion, and not unfrequently very severe and uncalled for remarks. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, United States Consul. Secretary of State. No. 17.] No. 38. Mr. Jones to Mr. Seward. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report the following recent occurrence in this consular district. At an early hour yesterday morning a party of sixteen persons, citizens of the United States, were taken from the cars of the Great Western railway at Hamilton and placed under arrest. The case having been reported to me by parties knowing to its circumstances, I proceeded to the city in ques tion in order to obtain the facts connected with the arrest, for the purpose of laying them before you. Upon my arrival there I learned that the men had been set at liberty, and, being then at the station prepared to proceed on their journey, I obtained the following statement of facts from them, and from the military and civil anthorities of the city. The men arrested were formerly soldiers in the volunteer service of the United States, most of them having belonged to the 18th New York cavalry, and, having received their honorable discharge therefrom, were en route from the State of Texas to their homes in various parts of New York. At New Orleans all purchased tickets for Albany, it being the nearest point to their various homes to which through tickets could be obtained. They were nearly all native Americans, well dressed, clean and orderly men. The fact that they were all destined to one point in the United States led to the suspicion that they were Fenians, and the conductor of the train on which they took passage at Windsor telegraphed the authorities at Hamilton to such effect and they were thereupon immediately arrested on their arrival in that city. The arrest was made at half-past two o'clock in the morning, and at that time the majority of the men were asleep in the cars. They submitted to the arrest quietly, and manifested no anxiety as to their immediate discharge, and now complain only of the insults of bystanders at the station and en route to the police headquarters, in making such remarks as "Hang them;" ;" "Shoot them;" "You are just the men we wish to hang," &c. On being removed from the cars they were immediately searched, and finding a number of checks for baggage on their persons, an officer of the Hamilton corporation was despatched with them for Suspension Bridge, where, on United States territory, he found the baggage and returned with it to Hamilton. The prisoners were placed in the military guard-house until an early hour in the forenoon, when, having been removed to the police station, they were examined, and being no evidence against them were discharged. After being liberated they were treated with courtesy, properly entertained at an eating saloon, and allowed to proceed quietly on their journey. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, W. MARTIN JONES, United States Consul. Secretary of State. No. 34.] No. 39. Mr. Jones to Mr. Seward. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to report to you that much excitement again prevails in this province, and especially in this consular district, owing to reports relative to movements of Fenians. The anticipated gathering of the friends of the organization in question at or near Buffalo, on the 21st instant, has created much alarm, and Canadian troops are fast gathering on the frontier. The enclosed items from the Hamilton Daily Times, the leading conservative paper in this district, contain news that may interest you. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, W. MARTIN JONES, United States Consul. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches, Nos. 56, 57 and 58, with enclosures. Since yesterday morning this city and the neighboring country have been thrown into a state of great excitement by the receipt of telegrams from the military department of the government to the authorities here to call out the proportion of 10,000 men belonging to this district. The report, as I have received it from parties in the confidence of the government, is that the Fenians intend crossing over to Canada at various points on the frontier, on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of this month, to mingle with the processions of "Hibernians," which usually take place on the 17th, or St. Patrick's day. At an early hour the men were routed out of bed, and all day long there was a general mustering of the forces at the several drill sheds in different sections of the city. Late in the afternoon 150 men, armed, were in the city belonging to the country, and last night some 200 more from Simcoe county. it is reported that 600 men, comprising the York cavalry under command of George I. Denison, of "Georgian" notoriety, will be quartered in the city to-day. The guards of the 47th regulars, stationed at Toronto, have been doubled, and the 10th royals, a volunteer regiment, occupy the garrison. There was almost an entire suspension of business in the city yesterday, and the general impression was that the government would not have made such extensive preparation if there had not been serious cause to apprehend an invasion by the Fenians. The railway companies have their trains made up and engines constantly ready day and night to run off rolling stock from exposed points. Every engineer is compelled to sleep on his engine, so as to be always within call. It is reported that the Roman Catholic bishop who last year refused permission for the "Hibernians" to walk in procession on the 17th, has consented to a demonstration on St. Patrick's day, and that he will absent himself from the city to avoid complicity in any conflict that may ensue. The report and belief this morning is universal that parliament will be called together at once, and that the habeas corpus act will be suspended and martial law established. The Orangemen, who claim over 100,000 members, profess to be armed with some kind of weapon, and it is certain that many Protestants are enrolling themselves in the Orange lodges. Among so much excitement and the thousand different rumors circulating among all classes of the community, it is difficult to arrive at the truth of the various reports. That you may be enabled to form some idea of the extent and intensity of the excitement, I have the honor to enclose a copy of the Globe of this morning which contains the movements in all parts of this province. I will keep the department advised of any further movements of importance. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, SIR: The events which have occurred during the few days past on the frontier of Canada, and within the districts of Clifton and Fort Erie, have doubtless been reported to the department by the consuls of those places, but the great interest which attaches to every circumstance connected with this attack on Canada by the Fenians, induces me to present my report of the facts of this raid as coming under my own observation, and as represented to me by parties actually engaged in the affray. On Friday morning intelligence was received here that 1,500 Fenians, who had been congregating in numbers at Buffalo for two or three days previous, had seized several tugs and canal-boats, and had crossed the river and had landed at Fort Erie about 4 o'clock in the morning. The report stated that they had taken possession of the town, had cut the telegraph wires, and had destroyed several miles of the track of the Buffalo and Lake Huron railroad. The most intense excitement was created in this city and vicinity on the receipt of this news, and in a very short time the volunteers had assembled at their drill sheds, and the "Queen's Own," one of the regiments belonging to this city, started off to the front and was followed in the afternoon by one or two other regiments. During the day the Fenians wandered over the country in the neighborhood of Fort Erie, levying contributions on the inhabitants, taking their horses and offering to pay for the same in Fenian bonds or scrip. They did not, however, as is the universal testimony, assault or injure any individual, and appeared, as the reports give it, inclined to be peaceable if let alone. They had thrown up earth-works, as I am informed, near the old fort, and during the night retired within them. On Saturday morning they broke up camp and marched their whole force down the river; about seven miles from Fort Erie, at a place called Ridgeway, they met the advance of the volunteers headed by the Queen's Own," in all numbering about 1,000 men, the whole under command of Colonel Booker. It seems the "Queen's Own," a Toronto regiment, with a regiment from Hamilton, and one company from York township, and one from Caledonia, had collected at Port Colborne with the design of uniting with Colonel Peacock, who, with a portion of the 47th and 16th regiments of regulars, was proceeding from Chippewa, or Fort Erie, when they were met at Ridgeway by the Fenians who had left Fort Erie early in the morn 66 ing. The Fenians commenced the attack on the " Queen's Own," which was in advance, by firing from the edge of the woods which fringed the open ground on each side of the road. After a few shots were exchanged the Fenians slowly retired, or were driven back to a rising ground about a mile from the first point of attack, the volunteers gallantly following them. On reaching a point sheltered by some trees, the commander of the Fenians, massing his reserves which were left at this point with his attacking force, charged down on the "Queen's Own" and drove them back on the Hamilton regiment; this threw them into confusion, and the cry of cavalry being raised, the retreat became general, the Fenians pursuing them no further than the first point of attack. Here, it ap pears, from some intelligence received from their scouts of the approach of Colonel Peacock with a force of two thousand men, they decided to fall back again to Fort Erie. They accordingly retraced their steps to that point. Arrangements were made during the night to attack them on the morning of the next day, and large re-enforcements, of both regular and volunteer troops, having arrived, the whole force moved, some by water and some by the Buffalo and Lake Huron railroad, towards Fort Erie at daybreak, but the Fenians had abandoned the fort during the night and had attempted to escape across the river to Buffalo. It is reported that some four or five hundred succeeded in getting possession of two tugs, and were proceeding across the river when they were brought to by the United States revenue cutter Michigan, and detained by its commander. Others escaped in small boats; some, it is said, swam across on boards; and the report is, while there are many wandering in the woods waiting for an opportunity to escape, some 200 have been taken prisoners, some of whom are seriously wounded. The returns, so far as has been ascerained, give 7 killed and 19 wounded of the volunteers; the number killed or wounded of the Fenians not yet discovered. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the whole city and neighborhood was in a state of intense excitement. Business was suspended and the town filled with people from the country, anxiously inquiring for news. Much bitterness of feeling was manifest, and the officials at Buffalo were severely censured for allowing the Fenians to cross the river, and the commander of the Michigan was charged with being a Fenian, or strongly sympathizing with their cause. When the news was published Saturday afternoon that the Fenians had fallen back to Fort Erie, men and women flocked to the newspaper offices, cheers were given in the streets, flags were raised, and the whole population rejoiced at the repulse of the raiders. A public meeting was held in the rotunda of the Exchange to express suitable sympathy for those who had fallen in defence of their country, and to organize a proper reception for the remains of the dead. Speeches were made by some of the oldest and most prominent citizens, who took advantage of the occasion to express their feelings at the manifestation of sympathy, on the part of certain citizens of Buffalo, for the success of the Fenians during the fight at Ridgeway. Large sums were offered and arrangements made to meet the steamer City of Toronto on Sunday evening, when it should arrive with the bodies of the dead. Armed patriots were organized all over the city, and a general determination was evidenced to protect the city at all hazards. In accordance with the recommendation of the public meeting, immense crowds of men and women collected on Sunday evening to meet the steamer which had on board the bodies of the soldiers of the "Queen's Own," who had fallen at. Ridgeway. The bells were tolling and a general mourning seemed to prevail among the vast crowd who were waiting the arrival of the boat. When the steamer reached her wharf and the bodies were landed, old men and women, youth and children, gave way to one universal burst of grief. Crowds followed the bodies to their homes, and it was late in the night before the city assumed the stillness of a Sabbath evening. |