he early part of April a number of Fenians gathered in the towns
of Eastport and Calais, in the State of Maine, with the avowed purpose
of capturing the Island of Campo Bello, a British possession at the
mouth of the St. Croix River, on the boundary line between the Province
of New Brunswick and the United States. This expedition was under the
direction of "General" Dorian, Killian, who was one of the leading
lights of the O'Mahony faction of the Fenian Brotherhood. This move was
made contrary to the fixed policy of the Stephens-O'Mahony wing of
the Fenian organization, but something had to be done to satisfy the
impatient people who were providing the funds to inaugurate the war and
were clamoring for immediate action. So after considerable deliberation
and hesitation, General O'Mahony gave his consent to the proposed
invasion, and preparations were hurriedly made. A vessel was chartered
at New York, and being loaded with arms and ammunition, sailed for
Eastport, Maine. The rank and file of the Fenian force gathered quietly
at Eastport, Calais and adjacent towns, and awaited the arrival of their
armament. In the meantime the Canadian military authorities were getting
ready to meet the filibusters, and strong forces of volunteers were
posted along the New Brunswick frontier to watch events and be prepared
for action as soon as the Fenians attempted to make a landing. Three
British war vessels steamed quietly into the St. Croix River, ready for
instant service, and a couple of American gunboats were also on guard
to prevent a crossing. General Meade, with a battalion of United States
troops, arrived at Eastport, with orders from the American Government to
see that a breach of the Neutrality Act was not committed. On the same
day the vessel with arms for the Fenians sailed into Eastport harbor and
was promptly seized by the United States officials. This was "the last
straw" to break the hopes of the Fenians, and they left for their homes
without accomplishing anything, utterly dejected, hungry and weary,
and bitterly cursing their leaders, and the American authorities
particularly, for preventing them from crossing the line. This fiasco
was a mortifying blow to General O'Mahony and his supporters, and the
cohorts of Roberts and Sweeny gained more confidence and support as the
star of the Stephens faction grew dimmer.

The remainder of April and the month of May passed away quietly, and the
people of Canada had almost dismi