The Fenian Raids (1866, 1870, and 1871)

The Fenians were a secret society of Irish patriots who had emigrated from Ireland to the United States; and many members of this movement planned on taking Canada by force and exchanging it with Britain  in exchange for Irish independence. While they were never really fully organized, British and Canadian officials took the threat posed by the Fenians extremely seriously. So seriously in fact, that the British took spies that were originally planted to watch Confederate sympathizers in the United States  and shifted their attention to the Fenians. In November 1865, a small number of militia were called out to garrison points in Canada West, modern-day Ontario, including in Sarnia, Windsor, Niagara and Prescott. In March of 1866, the British believed an attack was imminent and called 14,000 Canadian volunteers for active duty. It soon became evident that nothing would happen; and the force was deactivated and sent home. A month later, April 1866 the Fenians staged a small raid against Compobello Island in New Brunswick, effectively achieving nothing other than the destruction of a few buildings. 

By May  of 1866, further evidence revealed a potential attack against Canada. According to British intelligence, the Fenians had ambitious plans to strike at several points in Canada West and Canada East, modern-day Quebec. 20,000 Canadian volunteers were quickly mobilized, while 13 small steamboats were commandeered and, under the guidance of the Royal Navy, patrolled the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Once again, nothing happened. This time it was largely because the Fenians had not recruited as many followers as they had hoped and could not requisition the vessels needed to cross the Great Lakes. 

The threat was not over, in what became known as the Battle of Ridgeway, in early June, 850 Fenians led by Lieutenant-Colonel John O’Neill crossed the Niagara River, establishing a bridgehead near Fort Erie. They then advanced westwards towards Port Colborne. Meanwhile, Major-General George T.C. Napier, the commander of British forces in Canada West acted quickly. 22,000 Canadian troops were under arms and British regiments were ordered to the area. Some 900 men from the 2nd (Queen’s Own Rifles) and 13th Battalions as well as the York and Caledonia Rifle Companies, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Booker, were sent to Dunville. Another column of troops, under British Lieutenant-Colonel George Peacocke, was en route to Chippawa. To contain the threat posed by the Fenians, Peacocke ordered Booker to Port Colborne. While moving, Booker found 600 Fenians at Ridgeway and deployed his men. The battle opened well for the Canadians, who despite their inexperience, performed well under fire. The Fenians were able to exploit an error in command and force the Canadians from the field, but not before 9 Canadians were killed and 32 wounded, while the Fenians lost 10 men killed and an unknown number wounded. 

Later during the same day, the steamship W.T. Robb carrying the Welland Canal Volunteer Artillery, landed at Fort Erie, where a fierce skirmish broke out with elements of O’Neill’s army that left 6 Canadians injured and 36 taken prisoner. The Fenians lost 9 men killed and 14 wounded. Before the Fenians could claim any more lives the remaining Canadian troops and elements of the British 16th and 47th Regiments arrived. This forced O’Neill to withdraw his forces back to the United States.

Less than a week later, on June 8, in what became known as the Battle of Pigeon Hill approximately 200 Fenians of them crossed the border near Huntington, to the south of Montréal. They easily advanced several kilometers before discovering that a large body of Canadian and British troops were converging on them. The Fenians were defeated at Pidgeon Hill. 

The Fenians would not strike again until 1871; but since their last raids - Canadian Confederation had taken place which allowed the Canadian Government to call more than 13,000 Canadians into the Militia to secure the Ontario and Quebec borders. In May 1870, O'Neil, now a hero after Ridgeway led a group of 600 Fenians from Vermont towards Quebec. Shortly after crossing the border they encountered  the 60th Missisquoi Battalion and elements of the Dunham Volunteers. The Fenians were easily defeated, while the Canadians suffered no casualties. Two days later, another group of Fenians crossed the border into Québec at Trout River, about 15 km west of Eccles Hill. The 50th Canadian Battalion, the Montreal Volunteer Artillery, and the British 69th Regiment swiftly dealt with this invasion again with no Canadian casualties. 

In what would be the final act by the Fenians came in October 1871, when O’Neill crossed the Manitoba border at Emerson and, with 40 men, took over a customs office for s short period of time. O'Neil, knowing his small force was no match for the Militia which was dispatched quickly retreated. Once they crossed back into the US, the US Army arrested O’Neill and his men, which ended the Fenian threat for good.

(The Canadian Encyclopedia)