Page:History of the Fenian raid on Fort Erie with an account of the Battle of Ridgeway.djvu/87

82 On Lieut. Col. Cameron's report that the road was passable, I proceeded to a point about three miles north of Fort Erie, called Frenchman's Creek, said to be the nearest point to where the Fenians were reported skirmishing and fast escaping across the river.

Here, unloading the force from the Railway Cars, I advanced with some Volunteer Companies, the detachment 1-16th Regiment and 60th R.R. towards the Niagara River, throwing out an advanced guard and a few skirmishers in the woods on either flank. As soon as 3 Field Guns could be got out they were pressed to the front, but on opening the river, Col. Wolseley who had passed on horseback to the front found we were too late, and that Fenian Prisoners to the number apparently of some 5 or 7 hundred, were in a large barge made fast astern of the U. S. War steamer "Michigan" lying in the centre of the stream.

I reached Fort Erie at about 8.15 a.m. and found that the whole village had been abandoned.

Soon afterwards I was joined by the force under Col. Peacock, who had come up, through the woods to the right bringing in some prisoners.

The whole force was now hurriedly placed in position on the rising ground at the rear of the long village of Erie, and shortly afterwards a small steamer, having been sent from the U.S. ship "Michigan," with a proposal that I should communicate with its commander and H. B. Majesty's Consul then with him, accompanied by Col. Wolseley. Captain Crowe, R. A. and Lieut. Turner, R E., I proceeded on board, and had an interview with Captain Bryson, U. S. N., M. Dane U. S. Dist. Attorney and Mr. H. W. Hemans H. M. Consul at Buffalo, and subsequently with General Barry, commanding U.S. troops in the Erie and Ontario districts of the State of New York.

These officers, in expressing their reprehension of the infraction of international law, said, that nothing in their power had been or would be neglected to arrest such infraction, that such were their orders, and that they had prevented many reinforcements from getting across to the British Territory on the two previous nights.

In the course of the afternoon. Captain Akers, R. E. with a force of about 1000 men arrived from Port Colborne, making the number of my command about 3000 of all arms.

In compliance with telegraphic orders, I despatched to Kingston at 7 p. m., the troops as per margin , sending 22 Fenians prisoners by the same train under escort of the 47th Regiment.

Further telegraphic order's directed me to send forward to London, without delay, the detachment of the 60th Royal Rifles, the London Companies of the 1-16 Regt. and the London Volunteers.

In consequence of the difficulty of procuring the necessary railway transport, that order could not be carried out till 10 30 to-day, when