Well, so much for that. The eventual fate of the prisoners is going to be interesting, definitely. If the punishments are too severe, British-American relations are liable to get even worse, which at this point would mean more shooting and more death. If the punishments are mere slaps on the wrist, it would anger many people in Britain and especially Canada.
It's a fine line for the Anglo-Canadians to walk. In Britain the fate of the Fenians deemed pirates will be seen as straight forward, but there's going to be a significant chunk of the Irish-American (and American in general) population who view them as heroes fighting in a just revolutionary cause. The other Fenians will have mixed reputations. Anyone captured after debacles will get slightly less attention, but those who fought at Black Creek will be seen as heroes who fought in a valiant last stand for liberty. As ironic as that is.
Canadians want them to hang, Americans want to hang laurels on them.
The last paragraph seemed odd to me, unless as I believe the highlighted mention of Keogh is supposed to be of the Shannon? Or am I not understanding something?
Good catch! Thank you for that!