Irish Confederates in Canada

[major bill]

The Fenian Irish Army of Liberation of 1866 is often shown in illustrations wearing their old Union army uniforms. However, the company of Louisiana Tigers from New Orleans wore their old grey Confederate uniforms.

 

[Al Murray]

Where can I learn more about ACW vets in this Fenian Army? This is interesting!

 

[major bill]

It appears some Americans of Irish decent used the Union army to train themselves for their invasion of Canada. In New York several pre war militia companies had been disbanded from the New York Militia for forming Irish American companies for the same purpose. I have seen articles from several sources to included an article in the Michigan History Magazine. I would thin a web search of Fenian Invasion or Fenian societies or Fenian Army would be a good start. This is the second plate from the company of Military Historians Uniforms in America series. By the way the Canadian militia bested them every time they invaded Canada. The Fenian army is often depicted wearing old Union army uniforms either in blue or with the jacket dyed green.

 

[Alex Scotland]

Great information Major Bill thanks for posting. The word 'fenian' is banned in Scotland because it has been used for the last 150 years as a derogatory term for people from Irish/Catholic descent.

 

[Pat Young]

Great information Major Bill thanks for posting. The word 'fenian' is banned in Scotland because it has been used for the last 150 years as a derogatory term for people from Irish/Catholic descent.

Viz the racist Rangers soccer song "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, surrender or you'll die."

 

[Pat Young]

The Fenian Irish Army of Liberation of 1866 is often shown in illustrations wearing their old Union army uniforms. However, the company of Louisiana Tigers from New Orleans wore their old grey Confederate uniforms.

I have not been by there in years, but the Erie County Historical Society in Buffalo used to have an exhibit on the Fenian raids, as did a Canadian museum I can no longer recall. Each museum took an opposite perspective on the raids.

 

[Pat Young]

By the way the Canadian militia bested them every time they invaded Canada.

I would note that the Fenians did defeat the Canadians at the "Battle of Ridgeway" near Fort Erie along the Niagara River. This was the only Irish victory of the Fenian raids.

 

[Pat Young]

The battle has been a subject of reenactment in Canada:

 

[Pat Young]

This painting makes the battle appear larger than it was. About 850 British/Canadians fought roughly 750 Irish Americans at Ridgeway.

 

[Alex Scotland]

Viz the racist Rangers soccer song "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, surrender or you'll die."

I'm a big Rangers fan although I hate all the bigotry that still exists in some segments of society today.

I had never heard of the Battle of Ridgeway before reading this post so thanks for sharing.

 

[CanadianCanuck]

As I understand it the Fenian movement post-war was comprised of both Southern and Northern veterans (though primarily the latter) when they planned for their invasion of Canada.

 

[CanadianCanuck]

The composition of the Fenian forces seems to have been thus at Ridgeway:

Overall command under John O'Neill (former officer in the US Cavalry and a Brigadier General in the Fenian command structure)

7th IRA Regiment (from Buffalo)

13th IRA Regiment (from Nashville)

17th IRA Regiment (Louisville)

18th IRA Regiment (Cleveland)

An independent attached company (from Terre Haute Indiana)

And finally two troops of scouts (maybe 50 in all).

The total force deployed does not seem to have exceeded roughly 700 men, perhaps 750 is the maximum number. The source I used here (Donald E. Graves, Fighting for Canada Seven Battles 1758-1945) indicates roughly 600 as the original crossing force and estimates the Fenian numbers as no higher than 700 at maximum.

The force is interesting as it draws on Fenian forces from the North and South which to me suggests no great divide between the Irish community on either side of the border.

 

[CanadianCanuck]

I would note that the Fenians did defeat the Canadians at the "Battle of Ridgeway" near Fort Erie along the Niagara River. This was the only Irish victory of the Fenian raids.

Yeah Ridgeway was a disaster for the Canadian militia, but it was almost a disaster for the Fenians! Had Booker's column linked up with Peacocke's column the Fenians would have faced 0ver 2,000 militia and regulars alongside artillery and cavalry, which would have been a disaster of the highest order for the Fenians.

 

[Northern Light]

A brief overview:
The Fenian Invasions
On 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.
On 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. Much of the Canadian Militia was ordered out to counter the move.

On 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 militia force under the command of John Stoughton Dennis. The Canadians were forced back with the loss of 6 wounded an 54 prisoners.

By June 3, over 20,000 militia 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 where they were given a hero's welcome.

On 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.

With that defeat the Fenian Invasions came to an end.

Bruce Ricketts

 

[Northern Light]

Yeah Ridgeway was a disaster for the Canadian militia, but it was almost a disaster for the Fenians! Had Booker's column linked up with Peacocke's column the Fenians would have faced 0ver 2,000 militia and regulars alongside artillery and cavalry, which would have been a disaster of the highest order for the Fenians.

I hardly call 10 dead and 38 wounded a "disaster", and where were they going to go after that, anyway? Ill conceived and foolish bravado on the part of the Irish Americans, the attack was doomed before it started.

 

[Pat Young]

I hardly call 10 dead and 38 wounded a "disaster", and where were they going to go after that, anyway? Ill conceived and foolish bravado on the part of the Irish Americans, the attack was doomed before it started.

Or the John Brown's Raid of the Irish. Depends on your perspective. From this point on there was constant Irish American assistance to the Irish Republican movement.

 

[CanadianCanuck]

I hardly call 10 dead and 38 wounded a "disaster", and where were they going to go after that, anyway? Ill conceived and foolish bravado on the part of the Irish Americans, the attack was doomed before it started.

Disaster in the sense that it exposed the serious weaknesses in the Canadian militia organization at that time, and severely embarrassed the Canadian government and the British military. By no means was it a 'great victory' like the Fenians enjoyed claiming, but it was an excellent example of why military readiness was important and how the Canadian government lacked it.

Also I should add a caveat that the entire militia force did not break, only two companies (which were in disorder after having attempted to form a square) broke upon seeing the Fenians charge. The remainder withdrew in good order, with the whole force marching into the village of Ridgeway and withdrawing as the Fenians advanced.

I'm also personally a defender of Booker since he seemed to have realized most of the deficiencies his forces operated under as well as the tactical blunder he engaged when ordering a square. His overall handling of the battle was steady, personally courageous, and not bad for an unprofessional officer. The smear campaign carried out against him by his own officers in the aftermath was a travesty.

I take a more dim view of Colonel Dennis personally.

 

[major bill]

I should not be surprised at the knowledge displayed by the members of this forum, but the amount of information they know is considerable.

 

[major bill]

Does anyone know if Irish Americans were much involved with the earlier Hunter Lodges during the Patriot War?

 

[Chattahooch33]

Viz the racist Rangers soccer song "We're up to our knees in Fenian blood, surrender or you'll die."

What race is it referring to?