est from the river to Ridgeway. As they marched
along the latter highway in the early hours of a bright, beautiful
morning, the Fenians were in fine fettle and "spoiling for a fight."
They had some mounted scouts in advance, cautiously feeling the way.
When within a few miles of Ridgeway Station this advance guard heard the
whistle of a locomotive, and soon after bugle calls, which signified the
arrival of the Canadian troops. The scouts galloped back to O'Neil
with the information, and he at once halted his brigade, closed up his
column, and began making preparations for battle.

Gen. O'Neil's experience in the military campaigns of the Civil War had
taught him many useful lessons, which he had evidently profited by, as
his choice of a battleground on Limestone Ridge was admirable, and the
skilful disposition he made of his forces was commensurate with the
ability of a high-class tactician.

Limestone Ridge, along which the so-called "Ridge Road" runs, has an
elevation of about 35 feet over the surrounding country, and at the
point where O'Neil took up his main position is about half a mile wide,
with patches of bush and clumps of trees alternating with open fields.
On both sides the country is comparatively cleared, so that an extensive
view is obtainable from the summit of the ridge, which was of decided
advantage to O'Neil, as he could watch the approach of advancing troops
from almost any direction. Here he posted his brigade and hastily began
the construction of breastworks and barricades of fence rails and earth.
A force of sharpshooters and skirmishers were thrown out well to the
front and along the flanks of this position, and after all dispositions
for battle had been carefully made, Gen. O'Neil coolly awaited the
arrival of the Canadian troops, who were advancing from Ridgeway totally
ignorant of the fact that there was a lion in their path.

CHAPTER V.

THE SECOND ALARM--GRAND UPRISING OF THE CANADIAN PEOPLE --DEPARTURE OF
TROOPS FOR THE FRONT--GEN. NAPIER'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

Late on the night of the 31st of May, 1866, the second call to arms
was telegraphed from Ottawa, and within an hour the sound of bugles and
alarm bells was heard echoing and ringing in nearly every city, town and
village in the country. The alacrity with which our volunteers responded
to the summons on that eventful night is without a parallel in the
history of any nation. The whole country was aroused, and all were eager
to