THE FENIAN RAID 1865, 1866 and 1870

The Fenian movement sought to bring about Irish independence from Britain. At the end of the American Civil War, Fenians in the United States determined to recruit veterans of the war, invade and capture Canada, and force Britain to negotiate the independence of Ireland. There were a number of alarms in 1865, 1866 and 1870.

By 1865, the Lincoln Militia had been reorganized into the 19th Battalion of Volunteer Militia and the 20th Battalion of Volunteer Militia. Both regiments provided men to protect vital points in the Niagara Peninsula during the alarms in 1865 and March 1866.

On the night of 31 May/1 June 1866, a force of Fenians crossed the Niagara River, with an assumed objective of capturing or destroying the Welland Canal. The 19th and 20th Battalions were among the regiments called out for duty, and became part of Colonel George Peacock's force which moved from St. Catharines towards Fort Erie Although a battle between the Fenians and Canadian militia troops took place at Ridgeway, Peacock's force did not make contact with the enemy, and reached Fort Erie after the Fenians had withdrawn back to the United States.

One result of the raids was a reorganization, and the 19th and 20th Battalions became the 19th "Lincoln" Battalion and the 44th "Lincoln and Welland" Battalion. Both regiments were called out in 1870 when another Fenian scare swept the country.

Photo of Lieutenant Colonel Sydney Barnett, VD, first CommandingOfficer of the 44th "Lincoln andWelland" Battalion. Note the regimental title. He commanded 1866-1892



Men who were called out on Active Service during the Fenian Raids were granted land and awarded the Canada General Service Medal. Three bars (1866, 1870 and Red River 1870) were issued. Three hundred and thirty six men of the 19th received the 1866 bar, while 39 were issued to the 44th; 108 men of the 19th and 87 men of the 44th received the 1870 bar; eight men of the 19th and six of the 44th received the Red River 1870 bar.

The Fenian Raid Diplay

A sample of both the land grant and medal are in the display.

Fenian Medal

 

1865 December 20: Canadian militia called out for security on the border against possible Fenian attacks from the US.

1866 March 7: Ten thousand militia men were placed under arms as a percausion against anticipated attacks on St. Patricks Day after the Fenians held a mass meeting in New York and threatened to invade Canada

April 10: A group of Fenians massed at Eastport, Maine intending to invade Campo Bello Island, New Brunswick. They withdrew in the face of the Canadian Militia, British warships and American authorities

May 31: About 800 Fenians under John O'Neill crossed the Niagara River at Buffalo into Canada. They occupied Fort Erie and cut telegraph lines. The Buffalo and Lake Huron railroads were also cut before the Fenians proceeded inland.

June 1: Much of the Canadian Militia is ordered out

June 2: Canadian forces under Alfred Booker were driven back by the Fenians at Ridegway, Ontario with the loss of 10 dead and 38 wounded. Fenians retreated to Fort Erie where they were engaged by another Canadian milita force under the command of John Stoughton Dennis. The Canadians were forced back with the loss of 6 wounded an 54 prisoners.

June 3: Over 20,000 milita men had taken arms and been called out. The main Canadian force commanded by George Peacocke entered Fort Erie. O'Neill and the Fenians had already escaped back across the border to the US and given a hero's welcome.

June 7: About 1000 Fenians commanded by "General" Spier crossed the Canadian border and occupied Pigeon Hill in Missiquoi County, Quebec. They plundered St Armand and Frelighsburg but retreated to the US when American authorities seized their supplies at St Albans.

August 15: The right of Habeaus Corpus suspended for one year in the case of persons suspected in complicity in the Fenian invasions.

August 30: New Brunswick votes for confederation and provided for construction of the Intercolonial railway.

1867 February 7: Draft to unite the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia into the Dominion of Canada introduced in the House of Lords by Earl of Carnavon.

March 8: The British North America Act (confederation) is passed by parliment.

March 29: The British North America Act is given royal assent.

May 22: A royal proclimation decrees Dominion would come into effect on July 1st 1867. Sir John A Macdonald becomes the first Prime Minister of Canada.

1868 April 7: Thomas D'Arcy McGee, an MP and Father of Confederation is shot in the head while returning to his Ottawa home. It is Canada's first political assasination. The Fenians are suspected of being the assasins.

1870 May 25: Fenians under John O'Neill and Spier who had marched into the vicinity of eccles hill were driven back by the Canadian militia commanded by Osborn Smith. There were no Canadian causulties. The Fenian leaders were arrested in the US.

1871 October 5: Fenians under William B O'Donoghue crossed the border from the US and seized the Hudsons Bay Company post at Pembina, Manitoba. They were followed by US troops and arrested.