Rebels on the Niagara by Lawrence E. Cline

Author:Lawrence E. Cline [Cline, Lawrence E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, State & Local, Middle Atlantic (DC; DE; MD; NJ; NY; PA), Military, Canada
ISBN: 9781438467535
Google: lOo_DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: SUNY Press
Published: 2017-11-21T22:20:03+00:00

The Eastern “Invasion”

Sweeny considered this the most important wing of the invasion, and he personally commanded it, arriving in Malone, New York via train on June 4, a Monday. It might be noted that General Meade, commander of the federal forces intended to stop Sweeny’s advance actually was on the same train, although Meade decided to detrain at Ogdensburg, New York.1 The operational plan for the Fenians was to cross the border in two columns, one from St. Albans, Vermont, and the other from Malone, New York. The two columns were separated by the Richelieu river, and were intended to converge on St. Jean, Quebec. Because in this part of New York and Vermont there was only a land border, no water transport—problems with which had plagued both the other wings—would be required. The plan was to have more than 16,000 Fenian troops for the advance on Montreal, including five regiments of cavalry. When Sweeny arrived in the area on June 4, however, there were only about 1,000 Fenians present. While some “cavalrymen” did arrive, they were all on foot, with the intention of seizing horses in Canada. Many of them came with at least some bridles, bits, and the like, but apparently only a few had cavalry saddles.

One question might be raised about the timing of this operation. Launching it within a day or so after O’Neill’s advance would have created problems for both the Canadian and British military forces and the US authorities as they tried to respond to two near-simultaneous attacks. The greater the time gap between the two Fenian advances, the easier it would be for sequential rather than simultaneous reactions by the governments. It is quite possible, however, that the date chosen for the attack in the east had little to do with some larger strategic calculus, but was based on more practical issues. One journalist who traveled to St. Albans on a train with the Fenians argued that in his talks with them, “the majority preferring to close up their labors on a Saturday afternoon, and begin their filibustering enterprise with a new week.”2 It is easy to overlook prosaic factors in the Fenian problems with assembling forces such as simply issues for some of the troops in getting time off from work.

The same journalist noted that on the train with the Fenians, “The most surprising element in their manner to my mind, was the general reticence, and absence of that flurry and tendency to braggadocio, so common among new recruits.”3 This description is in contrast with reports issued from other Fenian movements of troops, where considerable uproar was described. Such variations were entirely plausible, based on differing levels of experience and discipline with the various units. The journalist also observed, in common with most descriptions, that the Fenians wore a mix of uniform items.

Sweeny had prepared a long manifesto to be read to the people in Canada where the Fenians were operating. Chalking in at more than1,000 words, it is unlikely that even supporters would want to go through the entire document.

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