were
posted all along the river front, from the ruins of old Fort Erie to a
point below Haggart's Dock, who were instructed to shoot any person
who attempted to interfere with them. Detachments were sent to cut the
telegraph wires and destroy part of the Buffalo and Lake Huron railway
track (now the Grand Trunk), which was quickly done. A detail under
command of Capt. Geary, of the 17th Kentucky Regiment, was despatched
to burn Sauerwine's Bridge, on the railway track between Fort Erie and
Ridgeway, and tear up the rails. This was only partially accomplished,
as after the Fenians left some of the people residing in the vicinity
rallied and extinguished the flames in the burning bridge before much
serious damage was done. The railway track, however, was torn up for a
considerable distance by the raiders.

An early morning train on the B. & L. H. Railway narrowly escaped
capture by a detail of troops sent for that purpose. The train had
just succeeded in transferring its passengers to the ferry boat
"International" and was starting back westward empty, when the Fenians
put in their appearance. The plucky engineer, seeing the danger, pulled
the throttle of his engine wide open and saved the train from capture by
a narrow margin.

After committing sundry other depredations in the way of cutting
telegraph wires and destroying public property. Gen. O'Neil marched the
main body of his troops down, the River Road to Frenchman's Creek, where
they encamped in an orchard on Newbigging's Farm, about half, a
mile north of the Lower Ferry. Here the Fenians began work on the
construction of a line of breastworks and entrenchments, which kept them
busily employed all afternoon.

A detachment of the 7th Buffalo Regiment, under command of Capt.
Donohue, made a reconnaissance in the direction of Chippawa during the
afternoon, and after discovering a party of mounted farmers, who they
mistook for Canadian cavalry, fired a volley at them without effect and
then retreated valiantly back to the Fenian camp, bombastically boasting
that they had routed a strong force of British troops.

Other details had been busy seizing horses and food supplies, and
mounted scouts galloped for miles in all directions, scouring the
country seeking information as to the whereabouts of the Canadian
forces, and at the same time distributing copies of the following
proclamation:--

"To the People of British America:

"We come among you as the foes of Bri