IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE FROM CANADA. FENIAN INVASION. REPULSE OF THE BRITISH WITH LOSS. SUPPRESSION OF FENIANS BY UNITED STATES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2810, 28 July 1866, Page 5

IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE FROM CANADA. FENIAN INVASION. REPULSE OF THE BRITISH WITH LOSS. SUPPRESSION OF FENIANS BY UNITED STATES.

We extract the following details from the New York correspondent of the Panama Star and Herald, June 24 :— Since the sailing of the last steamer, Fenianism has assumed immense proportions, and dwindled again into insignificance. Such seems ever to be the fate of Irish movements for Irish independence. On the Ist inst., about 2,500 Fenians, under General O'Neill, occupied Fort Porter, on the Canadian shore, opposite the city of Buffalo. They crossed Lake Erie in canal boats, towed by small tugs. Tbeir arrival was totally unexpected to the Canadians. They hoisted'the Fenian colours, and determined to hold the place against all comers. Soon the excitement from one end of Canada to the other became tremendous. The volunteers were ordered out at all points, and the "Queen's Own" marched from Toronto to expel General O'Neill's force. They were not long in getting to Fort Porter. A fight immediately commenced, and the "Queen's Own "got the worst of it, losing their colours, besides having some five or six killed and about twenty-five wounded, and finally being obliged to fall back for reinforcements. The Fenians also lost several killed and about twentyfive wounded. About this time Lieutenant-GeneraP Grant suddenly -appeared at Buffalo, and forthwith issued orders to prevent any further violation of the neutrality laws, and to suppress all Fenian movements for the invasion of Canada; and quickly United States troops were moved to various points on the Northern frontier, where the Fenians were assembling in great force. The movements of the United States troops were superintended by Generals Meade and Barry. General O'Neill, seeing the situation of affairs, decided on the 3rd instant to withdraw from Fort Porter, and gave himself and his command up as prisoners to the commander of th« United States gun-boat ' Michigan,' which was patrolling Lake Erie. % It is providential that he did so, for had he continued in occupation of Fort Porter a few hours longer the probabilities are that heaud his force would have been "gobbled up" by a large force of Biitish regulars inarching to the support of the "Queen's |own." As^itwas, about a hundred Fenians were left behind, and these were caught, and some half-dozen of them immediately tried by a drum-head court-martial and forthwith shot. The rest lire still in durance vile. As soon as the n,ews reached this city that a fight had actually taken place in Canada, that blood had been shed, and that the Canadian Volunteers had got the worst of it, the enthusiasm of the Irishmen here and in fact throughout the entire country became intense. They subscribed money by thou■ands of dollars for the Fenian cause, and almost every city and town commenced hurrying forward men to join the "army of invasion." Just at this particular juncture [President Johnson somewhat dampened their ardour by issuing the following proclamation :—: — ' ' Whereas it has become known to me that certain evil-disposed persons have, within the territory and jurisdiction of the United States, begun and set on foot, and haye provided and prepared, and are still engaged in providing and preparing means for such a military expedition and enterprise, which expedition and enterprise i»v to be carried on from the territory and jurisdiction of the United States against the colonies, districts, and people of British North America, within the dominions of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with which said colonies, districts, and people and kingdom the United States are at peace ; and whereas the proceedings aforesaid constitute a high misdemeanor, forbidden by the laws of the United States, as well as by the laws of nations : "Now, therefore, for the purpose of preventing the carrying on of the unlawful expedition and enterprise aforesaid from the territory and jurisdiction of the United States, and to maintain the public peace as well as the national lionour, and enforce obedience and respect to the laws of the United States, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do admonish and warn all good citizens of the United States against taking any part in or in any wise aiding, countenancing, or abetting said unlawful proceedings, and I 3.0 Exhort all judges, magistrates, marshals, and officers in the service of the United State 3 to employ all their lawful authority and power to prevent aud defeat the aforesaid unlawful proceedings, and to arrest and bring to justice all persons who may be engaged therein ; and in pursuance of the Act of Congress in such cases made and provided, I do furthermore authorize and empower Major-General G. Meade, Commander of the Military Division of the Atlantic, to employ the land and the uaval foi ces of the United States and the military thereof to arrest and prevent the setting on foot and carrying on the expedition and enterprise aforesaid." Previous to the issuance of this proclamation the Canadian press and people had been furious in their denunciations of the United States, but when they learned thai the Government had really determined to suppress the Fenian movement their joy and gladness knew no bounds. 'J lie proclamation was not relished by the Irishmen in this country at all, and particularly-by the Eoberts and Sweeney Fenian«, who determined, come what would, happen what might, that the "movement" must and should go on. Consequently they issued ear-nest appeals for more men and. more money, and these were promptly furnished, and matters began to look rather squally for the Canadians. Fenian troops gathered at Ogdensburg and Malone, in this State, at St. Albans, Vermont, and at other points bordering on the Canadian frontier, causing the greatest consternation to the Canadian people in these vicinities, who fled in all directions. Meanwhile the tocsin of war was sounded throughout Canada, and every man capable of bearing a musket was called out. Gold at Montreal rose to two hundred per cent, premium, and dismay, confusion, and disorder prevailed on every side. General Sweeney, Commander-in-Chief of the Fenian forces, now appeared on the field of action at St. Albans, Vermont, after issuing a most spirited and warlike address to the "People of British America." From St. Albans, General Sweeney sent a force of 3,000 Fenians, under General Spear, into Freligh--burg, where they routed a British force and captured a large British flag. General Spear then pushed on to a place called Pigeon Hill, and routed some British cavalry there, capturing three more flags, when he deemed it prudent to retire, and which Tie was ordered to do by General Sweeney. The whole Fenian invasion has culminated in the active interference of the United States authorities. General Sweeney and nearly all his officers have been arrested for violation of the neutrality laws. President Roberts is held in limbo at the Eldridgestreet prison in this city. He sternly refuses to give any bail to keep the peace against Canada and declares that the moment he can regain his freedom he will again bend his energies to the continuation of the movement which has begun, and which, so far as he is concernedj shall never end until the independence of Ireland is achieved. It cannot be doubted for a moment that the Fenian cause looks very badly at the present moment. Their leaders are under arrest ; their arms and ammunition have been seized by the United States troops ; their officers are completely disheartened, and their forces are altogether demoralized. 'J he Irishmen of this city intend to hold a mass meeting during the coming week to denounce the .Administration for interfering with their efforts to gain the independence of their country. It will be a very large gathering. The Canadian Parliament convened at Ottawa on theStkinst. The Governor-General sent in a message congratulating the people of Canada on the spirit they had shown to repel the invaders, thanking President Johnson for his proclamation, and recommending the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. A. bill suspending the writ was immediately passed by both Houses and signed by the Governor General. This has been done to reach all disaffected persons in Canada. There are now thirty-five thousand Canadians under arms. A Fenian Council of War was_ held at Buffalo on the Bth inst., and it was decided to order all the Fenian troops bade to their homes, the Council thinking it useless to continue the invasion movement without arms and ammunition, all of which had been seized by the United States troops. Head Centre Stephens is still travelling about the country. He opposes the invasion of Canada, saying that •• Ireland is the proper place to fight in," and that if the Irishmen in the U nited States will give him the aid they have promised, n telling blow for the independence of Ireland on Irish soil will be ■truck during the coming year.

The Fenian movement against Canada is about played out. "iestet.lay, June 11, a Brigade of British Regulars charye.l upon a small portion of General Spear's force that had remained at St. Armands after he had given orders to withhtaw, and after a brief skirmish mxten Fenians were killed and several captured. Tho skirraiflh took place on the boundary line of Canaaa and Vermont. The British troops drove the Fenians across the boundary line, and upon United States •aoil caotured a number of tho retreating Feniani. The affair has been reported to General Meade, who is now investigating it. There are now about one hundred Fenians in prison at Toronto, exclusive of those arrested on suspicion, it is said that the- feeling in favour of hanging them all has subsided with the excitement and terror occasioned by the invasion. Only the Canadians found in arms and the leaders will be put to death. President Roberta states, notwithstanding the adverse news, that it is a miatake to suppeae that the Fenian movement is crushed — that it must and shall go on to the bitter end. He is to be brought before the United States Commissioner for examination to-day.