190 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



states. This idea seemed especially popular in Massachusetts. The 

 Edinburg Review of April, 1868, l says that before the Civil War broke 

 out, the Fenian secret army in the United States was 30,000 strong. 

 This, no doubt, largely over-estimated the Fenian strength at this time 

 yet other sources seem to indicate that the number of Fenians that 

 joined the militia in order to acquire efficiency in military tactics was 

 considerable. At the call to arms in 1861, members of the Brotherhood 

 enlisted in large numbers in both armies. In order to keep "green" 

 the final mission of the organization, many Circles were formed in both 

 the army and navy of the North, 2 the connection with the southern 

 Circles having been necessarily severed at the outbreak of the war. 



With the progress of the Civil War there was aroused in the United 

 States a feeling of dissatisfaction with Great Britain because of her 

 attitude toward the southern Confederacy. This discontent grew into 

 bitter resentment and irritation. War was imminent. This attitude 

 of hostility furnished ideal conditions for the growth of the Fenian Brother- 

 hood. Among the Irish the old antipathy toward the English was 

 aroused anew and the prospects of war between the United States and 

 England offered a rare opportunity for launching a revolution for the 

 independence of Ireland. Elated with the prospects of success, the mem- 

 bers of the Brotherhood contributed liberally toward the fmanciaL 

 support of the venture. A general desire to embarrass Great Britain 

 elicited contributions from the northern people generally and opened the 

 columns of the papers to the propagation of Fenian doctrines. 



The first National Congress of the Fenians was called to meet in 

 Chicago in November, 1863. Three hundred delegates, 3 representing 4 

 thirteen states, seven British Provinces, and many army and navy organi- 

 zations, 6 assembled at the appointed time. The meetings of the con- 

 vention were secret and none but delegates and "Centres," unless by 

 j p. 518. 



' Proceedings of the First Fenian National Convention, p. 8. 



3 So reported. Only ioo signed the resolutions, however 



* Proceedings oj the First Fenian National Convention, pp. 5, 6, 43-48. 



s Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Wisconsin, 

 Missouri, California, Kansas, and the District of Columbia. 



6 Army of the Potomac; Army of the Tennessee; Army of the Cumberland; Circle of the Rappahannock; 

 also delegates from the Irish Legion, 69th N. Y., the 84th Pa. Vols., 23d 111. Vols., roth Ohio, 4 2d N. Y- 

 Vols., 97th N. Y., 14th U. S. Infantry, 35th Ind., Phoenix Brigade, N. Y., and the Circle of U. S. Engineers. 



