falo.

As the Niagara frontier possesses many attractions for an invading force
(as in the days of 1812 and 1814), it was decided to again make that
historic territory one of the arenas for hostile operations. Gen. Sweeny
fondly nursed the hope that while our forces were busily engaged there,
that he would be able to make crossings at two or three other points
along the border. As the scene of the first active operations was
presented on the Niagara Peninsula, I will relate those events first,
and then return to a description of what was occurring on the St.
Lawrence and Vermont borders.

For some days previous to the 31st of May large numbers of mysterious
strangers were noticed to be gathering in some of the towns and
cities adjacent to the Niagara frontier. In Buffalo particularly this
mobilization of men with a purpose was observable, but so reticent were
they, and so careful of their movements causing comment, that suspicions
were partially disarmed. Yet these strangers were all Fenian soldiers,
who were silently and quickly gathering from various States of the Union
with a determined intention to make a quick dash on Canada, which
they hoped to capture, and set up their standards upon our soil. All
preparations for the _coup_ had been made, and yet the people of Canada
seemed to dream not of their peril.

Towards midnight on the 31st of May those strangers in Buffalo were
noticed to be assembling in groups, squads and companies, and moving as
if by a pre-arranged programme in the direction of Black Rock, two or
three miles north of the city, on the Niagara River. Suspicious-looking
waggons and furniture vans were also moving in the same direction.
These were loaded with arms and ammunition for the use of "the Army of
Conquest," but no attempt was made by the United States authorities to
stop the expedition, although it was a clear breach of the Neutrality
Act then in force between the two countries. At the hour of midnight,
when the peaceful citizens on the Canadian side of the Niagara River
were slumbering in their beds, the Fenian hordes were steadily gathering
on the other side of the shimmering stream and making preparations to
effect a crossing. Two powerful tugs and several canal boats had been
chartered to convey the Fenians across to Canada, and these were quickly
and quietly loaded with men and munitions of war, As the grey dawn
of day was breaking on the morning of the 1st of June, the Fenian
transpor