t, 40 men; Port Hope Rifles, Capt.
Williams, 42 men, and several other companies which arrived later.

CHAPTER IX.

HURRIED EVACUATION OF CANADA BY GEN. O'NEIL--CAPTURE OF THE ESCAPING
FENIANS BY THE UNITED STATES GUNBOAT MICHIGAN.

After the smoke of battle had wafted away from the streets of Fort
Erie, and the dead and wounded removed, Gen. O'Neil gathered his troops
together and marched up to the ruins of the "Old Fort," situated on a
point at the inlet of the Niagara River from Lake Erie. Here they went
into camp, and began to make preparations for defence, as they fully
expected to be attacked early next morning by Col. Peacocke's column and
other forces who were advancing from the interior. It was a very anxious
time for Gen. O'Neil and his officers, and they spent some hours in
earnest deliberation as to what would be the best course for them to
pursue. They were now between "the devil and the deep sea," with the
wide river and lake in front of them, and an avenging army of British
and Canadian troops, well equipped with cavalry, artillery and trained
infantry, gradually tightening the coils around their position from the
rear, in which direction there was no avenue of escape. It was indeed
a serious predicament, and the only hope of the Fenians rested in the
possibility of being able to escape across the river and abandon their
project to capture Canada, at this point at least. To guard against
surprises, Gen. O'Neil had left his picket lines extended over a large
area of country, and scouts and patrols were still on duty on the
country roads and along the river bank. Reinforcements were expected
over from Buffalo that night, and O'Neil personally felt disposed to
fortify his brigade in the ruins of the Old Fort and fight to a finish.
But by this time the American authorities had aroused, and instructed
Gen. W. F. Barry (the United States officer in command at Buffalo),
to stop any more Fenian troops from crossing into Canada, and in the
performance of this duty he exhibited great energy. There were thousands
of Fenians ready and eager to cross the border to reinforce O'Neil.
but the presence of the United States gunboat "Michigan" and several
regiments and batteries of American regular troops, prevented the
movement. Therefore the Fenians who were marooned in Canada, with
visions of a hangman's noose dangling before them, became desperate and
despondent. They knew very well that a concentration of the C