THE LATE FENIAN BAID ON CANADA.

Grey River Argus, Issue 1077, 10 January 1872, Page 3

THE LATE FENIAN BAID ON CANADA.

Beyond the fact communicated by telegraph that a Fenian raid on Canada had been put down by troops of the States, we had learnt no particulars until we met with the following account copied by a Victorian journal from a Canadian paper of the 14th October. The ludicrous exploits of these would-be heroes will in time, we suppose, open the eyes of the dupes upon whose credulity, they trade and subsist:— " From parties from the scene of excitement, we learn that General O'Neil, who figured conspicuously in this city as a lecturer a short time since, was seen on the 6th instant at the head of a, body of about; thirty armed man, approaching the Hudson Bay post. O'Neil was accompanied by O Donohue, Colonel Donnelly, and Colonel Carley. An informant says that previous to the raid on the sth, considerable excitement had existed at Fort Garry, in contemplation of the Fenian movement! Early on the morning of the 6th, a half-breed informed Mr Douglas, assistant Onstom-houso officer, that a ' body of men were marching down uDon them. He went to the door, and finding the statement true, he (Douglas) started acrost the prairie to alarm the Hudson Bay - post. General O'Donogue and another man pursued him, overtook him, put a pistol to his head, and ordered him back. Douglas refused to go back unless O'Donohue gave him the authority by which he .acted. Then O'Donohue said, , * ir By the authority of the Provincial Government of Manitobar." Douglas caved, and the Fenians marched down and took the Hudson" Bay post, which was occupied by Mr Wait and clerk and an old man and his wife. The victory was complete, and the victors took possession of all the clothing, provisions, and other articles to be found, starting one cart-load of provisions down the river. The unfortunate " prisoners were allowed the liberty of the inside of the stockade, but not permitted to go- outside. A half-breed arrested by the Fenians and liberated was the bearer •, of despatches to Colonel Wheaton, nrho commanded the United forces at Pembina, who was informed of the raid, and assistance was aked. The Colonel promptly responded, and when near the Fenian * r army," sent forward a bearer to inquire of General O'Neil the object of his raid. The bearer was ushered into the presence of O'Neil as a prisoner, and held as such at. >the . point of the bayonet.; On the anriouncement of the coming of the American troops, there was a general scattering to $& rtto, and the victorious "army" was fleeing, pursued by the U.nited. States SPldieii Q'Ppnohue one of his. men from Jii» horse, mounted it and was off. Others seized the horses of halfbreeds and put across the country j others, - on foot, scampered to the bush, throwing : away their arms as they ran. The troops * fired • Volley at the retreating "warriors," ' but no injury was done, when Colonel •s Wheaton mounted a horse, drew his pistol, and punned the retreating foe for some • ;dWauc* ahead of his wen. Approaching O'Neil, Donnelly, and Qarley, he demandediheir surrender, and these officers and ten men yielded to the persuasive eloquence of Uncle Sam's power. The provisions and other articles seized by the Fenians were recaptured by Colonel \ Wheaton. The prisoners are now confined in the barracks at Fort Pembina. All our informants state that O'Neil took his arrest quite coolly, even so far as to smoke his pipe while riding, to the fort. He left' so suddenly when the United States troops made their appearance, that he forgot his sword, which was lying upon the table. O'Donohue left his rifle and cloak. Colonel Wheaton is apprised of another body of Fenians, near St. Joe, and has taken measures to either arrest or disperse them. The colonel states that if his troops had been mounted, the whole 11 Fenian s army" would have been captured. The proclamation of the Governor at Manitobar is generally endorsed by the people, and our information is to the effect that Fort Garry is sufficiently strong to resist several thousand men. The jTeniana whq accompanied O'Neil are dissatisfied with his generalship, and some even assert that he actually connived at the capture of his force, It is generally thought that the raid will amount to nothing, and that the deluded "warriors" will stray back to the places from Whence they came, <' wiser, if not better men.?' A gentleman just down from the V mfectefl pistrirt.y says that4he reports given above are all true. * Three hundred jfonpgfiejd rifles and about 10,000 rounds of Qftpuritiog were captured. The EpnitaU ! ar^ combleiely demoralised, and {here 'is np further, f par of a display of prowess.