106 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
down the streets toward the landing place, a tug and two scows were 
provided and the excursionists getting on board were taken across the 
river to Fort Erie. 
They were the advance party for the invasion of Canada. 
During all this period the garrison of the United States Federal 
Army at Fort Parker at Buffalo was maintained at only 50 men and 
no orders were given for their interference with the Fenian movements. 
The United States revenue cutter “Michigan” was also in the port. 
That this steamer did not get out early enough in the morning of the 
lst to prevent the Fenians crossing, was next day accounted for by the 
commander saying that his engineer was on shore and so the delay 
occurred, but it is also to be noted that again on the morning of the 3rd 
she did not arrive at the river in time to prevent the tug and barges 
going across again to Fort Erie to bring the Fenians back, nor until 
after they had returned to American waters. 
The peculiar relations existing between the central government of 
the United States and the militia of a State was also evidenced. 
General Grant in command of the Federal Army issued orders on 
June 2nd appointing General Barry to the command at Buffalo with a 
reinforcement of 200 men and also requested that “The State Authori- 
ties” should call out the Militia on the frontier to prevent hostile ex- 
peditions leaving the United States. 
These orders for “prevention” were not given until after the 
Fenians had been driven back out of Canada. 
The barges with about 500 Fenians on board had been brought to 
anchor close to the American shore under the charge of the “ Michigan.” 
At an interview held on board the cutter on the 3rd between Col. Lowry 
and General Barry as “no demand for the return of the Fenians was 
made,” so little guard was kept over them that during that night they 
slipped over the sides, took boat to the shore and next morning there 
were only 200 left. These were released on their own recognizance 
to appear in court and on the 5th all were discharged on their own 
parole. 
Not until the 6th of June did President Johnstone issue his procla- 
mation declaring the intervention and position of the United States. 
Meantime parties of Fenian reinforcements kept coming into 
Buffalo and on the 7th June a body of 1,200 Fenians advanced at the 
eastern frontier from St. Albans and were repulsed by the Canadian 
forces at Pigeon Hill. 
The numbers of Fenians in Buffalo still continued to increase, 900 
being reported to have arrived on the 8th and it was estimated that there 
were then between 3,000 and 4,000 in the city. These became so trouble- 
some and a menace to the citizens that the United States Government 
