The principal points of rendezvous for the Fenians who were intended to
operate on the St. Lawrence frontier were Ogdensburg, Watertown, Malone
and Potsdam, in the State of New York, and at these places large bodies
of men began concentrating during the first two or three days in June.
General Sweeny was in personal command of the troops of the Irish
Republican Army in that department, and had made every arrangement to
invade Canada along that line, in accordance with his original plan of
campaign. He made his headquarters at Ogdensburg for a time, and from
there directed the mobilization of his columns for the contemplated
attacks on Prescott, Cornwall and other points on the Canadian border.

Meanwhile Gen. Michael J. Heffernan, Gen. Murphy, and Gen. O'Reilly,
were at Malone, N.Y., perfecting the military organization of the column
which was intended to attack Cornwall. These officers were all old
soldiers, who had held commands in the United States service during the
Civil War, and were well posted in the business they had on hand.

While the Fenian leaders were thus employed in getting their forces
ready for the movement across the line, Major-General Geo. Meade (the
commander of the United States troops) was equally active and vigilant
in his determined efforts to stop the promised invasion. He ordered the
seizure by the United States officials of all arms and ammunitions of
war intended for use by the Fenians that could be located on American
territory, and forbade the railways and other transportation companies
from carrying further supplies of such material to the frontier. These
orders were rigidly complied with, and seizures of arms and ammunition
were made at Rouse's Point, Malone, Potsdam, Ogdensburg, Watertown, St.
Albans and other places, which considerably disconcerted Gen. Sweeny's
plans and thwarted his whole scheme. The presence of United States
troops, which had been moved north from various military stations to
support Gen. Meade in his efforts to prevent another breach of the
Neutrality Act, also had a deterrent effect on the Fenians, and they
became disheartened.

On the afternoon of the 4th of June, Major-General Meade ordered the
United States Marshal at Watertown, N.Y., to intercept, seize and hold
two carloads of Fenian war material which were on the way from Rome to
Potsdam Junction and Malone. On arrival of the train at Watertown the
Deputy Marshal was in waiting and promptly carried out th