About midnight two steam tugs, with a couple of canal boats in tow,
quietly slipped out of Buffalo Creek, and escaping the vigilance of
the American authorities, headed for the Canadian shore. These boats
contained about 500 reinforcements for the Fenians, but when about half
way over the river the transports were met by a messenger in a rowboat
with an order from Gen. O'Neil, directing them to return to Buffalo,
disembark all the troops, and immediately proceed back to Fort Erie
to carry off the remainder of his men. The order was obeyed, and at 1
o'clock on the morning of June 3rd all in the camp were shipped on board
of the canal boats and started back across the river. When about half
way over, and in American waters, the retreating army was hailed by
the armed tug "Harrison," under command of Acting Master Morris of the
gunboat "Michigan," who demanded an immediate surrender to the United
States authorities. The order not being promptly obeyed, it was repeated
with a threat to sink the canal boats if not immediately complied with.
Gen. O'Neil, realizing that resistance was useless, then surrendered the
remnant of his command. The "Michigan" was signalled, and having steam
up and anchor tripped, came alongside, and taking the tug and canal
boats in tow, proceeded down the river to a point opposite Black Rock,
where she dropped anchor in mid-stream and placed a guard over the
prisoners. Gen. O'Neil and his principal officers were taken on board
the "Michigan," while the rank and file were left huddled up on the
canal boats for the night.

When the main body of the Fenians evacuated Canada their movement was
executed so hurriedly that the officers did not take time to notify
their pickets and patrols, who were still faithfully performing their
duties, so that about 150 of these "patriots" were deserted by their
comrades and exposed to the halter. Great indignation was manifested
by these men at being left as they were on outpost duty without any
notification of the proposed withdrawal of the Fenians from Canada.
Had it not been for the approach of Major Denison's cavalry, which
encountered their picket line at Bowen's Farm and caused their retreat
to Fort Erie, none of them would probably have learned of the evacuation
in time to escape. As it was, a large number of these men were captured
by the Canadians the next day and consigned to prison, while the
remainder managed to get across the border in various ways.

Com