eneral
Foster (United States Marshal), with a couple of his officers, stepped
forward and arrested O'Neil for breach of the Neutrality Act. At first
the Fenian General was very wrathy, and threatened to use force if he
was not released, but on Gen. Foster placing a revolver at his head and
intimating that he would shoot if he did not submit. O'Neil's courage
quailed, and he surrendered. He was shoved into a covered carriage and
driven off to St. Albans under guard of two men, very much dejected.

By this time a contingent of about 500 Fenians had arrived from St.
Albans, and were being armed and equipped at the Fenian camp for the
purpose of making another dash. As O'Neil had been so unceremoniously
whisked away by Gen. Foster, the Fenian army was now without a leader.
So a Council of War was held, all of the leading Fenian officers in the
field being present. Reinforcements were now arriving hourly, and strong
efforts were made to induce Gen. John Boyle O'Reilly (a noted Irish
patriot) to take command and again lead them on to glory. The Council
convened in an open glade near the Fenian camp, where, surrounded by
their troops, the leaders pleaded with Gen. O'Reilly to assume command,
but he could not be prevailed upon to accept the risk, and the spirits
of the raiders sank as they began to realize the hopelessness of their
position.

Early next morning Gen. Spier arrived at St. Albans and endeavored to
bring order out of chaos, and continue O'Neil's plan of invasion. But
by this time the golden opportunity had slipped by, and all chances of
success had vanished. A strong force of Canadians had arrived at the
frontier, determined to resist every foot of advance into Canadian
territory, while a body of United States troops appeared in the rear
of the Fenian army for the purpose of making arrests for breach of the
neutrality laws. Being caught between two fires, they thought discretion
was the better part of valor, and fled in dismay. And thus the grand
"Army of the Irish Republic" melted away in disorganized mobs.

At Malone similar conditions existed, and the large number of Fenians
assembled there were quickly dissolved by the United States troops and
all their war material seized by the United States authorities.

A description of the fight at Eccles' Hill, as viewed from the Canadian
side, is given in the succeeding chapter.

CHAPTER IV.

OPERATIONS ON THE MISSISQUOI FRONTIER--THE BATTLE OF ECCLES'
HILL-