ON THE VERMONT BORDER--FENIANS GATHER IN LARGE NUMBERS--THE FIZZLE AT
PIGEON HILL--ARREST OF GEN. SPIER.
During the night of the 31st of May a general movement of Fenian troops
was commenced from different towns and cities in the New England States
towards their point of concentration at St. Albans, Vermont. This force
was designated as the "Right Wing of the Irish Republican Army," and
was commanded by Gen. Spier, with Gen. Mahon, of Boston, as his Chief
of Staff. By noon of the 1st of June over 800 men had reported to Gen.
Spier, and during the following twenty-four hours their number had
increased to about 1,800. Like their comrades who had assembled at
Buffalo, they travelled in small squads and companies, unarmed, and
were reticent as to their intentions while in American territory.
They quietly scattered about the town in groups and made no disorderly
demonstrations, as they seemed to be under some sort of military
restraint or orders. Every train that arrived from the east or the south
brought in fresh contingents, who on arrival received their orders and
silently distributed themselves among the small towns and villages along
the Vermont border. For some time previous cases of arms and ammunition
had been shipped to convenient points where they would be ready for
distribution, and staff officers were busy looking after this war
material and getting everything ready for the equipment of the
expedition. For a day or two matters looked very promising for Gen.
Spier. Thirteen thousand troops had been promised to him by Gen. Sweeny,
with an unlimited supply of arms and ammunition, and his hopes soared
high. But alas for human reckoning! The fates proved unkind, as
subsequent developments proved.
On the 4th of June the Boston contingent of Fenians, about 400 in
number, arrived at St. Albans, without arms. Of this command about 200
were sent to Fairfield, Vt., a village eight miles east of St. Albans,
and quite close to the Canadian frontier, where a column was being
mobilized to cross the border.
At East Highgate, Vt., the Fenians established a camp and made
preparations for an advance into Canadian territory from that point.
All along the border of Missisquoi County, in Quebec, the invaders
gathered in groups, companies and regiments, awaiting their arms and
orders to move. Finally a sufficient force was equipped to make a
forward movement, as the men were getting impatient, and on the 4th
of June Gen. Spier led his advance guard across the frontier into St.
Armands, where he established his camp and set up his headquarters at
Pigeon Hill, from the summit of which he flaunted a large green flag.
There were about 1,000 men in this brigade, which was officered by
several old soldiers who had achieved distinction in the American Civil
War, among whom were Gen. Mahon, of the 9th Massachusetts, Col. Coutri,
and others of prominence.
The only Canadian force in the vicinity of St. Armands was composed of
three companies of infantry, consisting of nine officers and about 100
non-commissioned officers and men, the whole being under command of
Capt. W. Carter, of H. M. 16th Regiment. These troops were all raw
volunteers, who were very deficient in drill or military experience,
some of whom had never handled a rifle before, but all were willing and
anxious to contest Gen. Spier's advance, and were brave to a fault.
As soon as the Fenians appeared in force at St. Armands, Capt. Carter
hastily withdrew his force to the interior, as he said he was under
the impression that it was not intended that he should bring on an
engagement until he was properly reinforced, as his command was only an
outpost. For his action in retiring so early he was severely criticized
and reprimanded for his "error in judgment in retreating without
sufficient reason," while his troops never forgave him for what they
considered an exhibition of cowardice.
The main body of Gen. Spier's forces had advanced about a mile into
Canadian territory, and took possession of all the houses and barns in
the vicinity for their quarters. Their scouts and pickets were thrown
out three or four miles in advance, and for some days they were in
complete possession of the country. During this time the Fenians
conducted themselves in a most lawless manner, robbing and stealing, and
wantonly destroying property. All of the citizens and farmers residing
in the neighborhood were the victims of pillage, being robbed of horses,
provisions, valuables, etc., while cattle, sheep, poultry and other live
stock were confiscated and slaughtered for the use of the raiders.
As the days passed by and the promised arms and reinforcements for Gen.
Spier failed to materialize, he became restless and disheartened. The
United States authorities had seized all of the arms and ammunition that
could be discovered, and the fact was forced on the deluded General's
mind that if he did not leave Canada soon a strong force of British
troops would be upon him and annihilate his command. Moreover, the
demoralization of his whole army was becoming complete, and both
officers and men refused to do duty any longer. Desertions were taking
place in a wholesale manner, and in several instances Colonels marched
off with their entire commands and re-crossed the line. He therefore
convened a Council of War to consider the situation. It was of short
duration, as the officers were of the unanimous opinion that there was
no other course left for them but to retrace their steps and give up
the idea of invading Canada. The reinforcements, arms, provisions and
munitions of war that had been so liberally promised, had failed to
reach them, and weakened as they were by such wholesale desertions to
the rear, it was deemed by old soldiers to be nothing but madness to
remain where they were, as they would be wholly unable with such a small
force to make even a decent show of a fight, should they happen to
be attacked, and it was at once determined to give up the intended
invasion, leave Canada, and head back for the United States.
Therefore Gen. Spier ordered Col. Coutri and Col. O'Connor to form up
their men and march them back to St. Albans to report to Gen. Sweeny.
Both of these officers were deeply affected as they proceeded to carry
out their orders, as they wanted to stay and fight it out.
The men were formed in companies, but many went off on their own
responsibility, and at 9.30 o'clock on the morning of June 9th, all that
was left of the grand "Right Wing" were marching back across the border
to the United States. The men had a few rounds of ammunition left in
their pouches, and immediately commenced firing off their muskets and
rifles in a most promiscuous manner. Arms, plunder and everything else
that the men could carry off with them on their retreat were lashed upon
their backs or packed in satchels, and quite a number of new suits of
clothes, hats, shoes and other valuables which they had pilfered were
carried off by them. Several horses were also taken across the line by
the marauders.
Generals Spier and Mahon marched on foot among their retreating troops,
and were very much downcast. Gen. Spier said that he would rather have
been shot than have left Canada in the manner he was obliged to, while
Gen. Mahon wept with rage at the thought of having to abandon the
invasion. Most of the officers expressed themselves as being ashamed of
the affair, and would rather never go home. After all their boasting
of how easily they would capture Canada and set up their visionary
Republic, the disgraceful manner in which the whole campaign terminated,
without so much as a slight skirmish having taken place, was more than
they could bear. There were many brave yet deluded men who joined the
expedition with a determination to fight, but the majority of them were
"nothing more or less than an armed mob, roving about wherever they
pleased, robbing the houses and insulting and abusing women and
children." as stated by a newspaper correspondent.
When the retreating raiders reached United States territory they found
detachments of American troops stationed upon all the roads leading
to St. Albans, who had received instructions to seize all the arms the
Fenians might have in their possession. As the majority of them had
thrown away their muskets, sabres and ammunition on their retreat, there
was not much left for the United States troops to gather up, but what
little there was left was promptly seized.
Upon arrival on the American side of the line Gen. Spier and his staff
surrendered to Col. Livingston, of the United States Army, and were
taken to St. Albans and placed under heavy bonds to await trial for
violation of the neutrality laws.
A portion of Spier's army who were stationed at a point about eight
miles from St. Armand when the main body retreated, were charged upon by
40 men of the Montreal Guides, and in the skirmish several Fenians were
killed and sixteen taken prisoners, who were conveyed to Montreal. There
were no casualties on the Canadian side.
On the night of the 9th of June a train left St. Albans for the east
with nearly 1,000 Fenians bound for their homes, while many others were
left skulking around the country in the hope that another raid would
soon be organized, whereby they could have an opportunity of securing
more booty.
On the 22nd of June a small party of these marauders came on a
reconnoitering expedition to Pigeon Hill, and on arriving at the outpost
began firing at the Richelieu Light Infantry sentinel who was stationed
there. They were in a thick bush off the road, leading across the
lines to Franklin County. As soon as they were perceived, the Canadian
detachment made an endeavor to get between the Fenians and American
territory, for the purpose of intercepting their retreat. But the
Fenians fled through a swamp and managed to effect their escape. About
twenty shots were fired, but without effect.
This was the last episode of the Pigeon Hill affair, and in another week
peace and quietness again prevailed along the Vermont border.