This is one of my favorite stories from American history. I learned it independently, as it was not taught in school, and recounted it many times to people. It is a shame that so much history is neglected and forgotten.
I have a musket (U.S. Bridesburg 1864) captured from a Fenian during the raids in 1866. This Fenian was captured by a relative of mine who was an officer in the Militia.
Just fyi... The Fenians developed the modern submarine to sink the British fleet. They almost succeeded in that the German wolf packs sank 95% of British shipping prior to 1943.
@@Kitiwake I believe the first modern submarine to sink a vessel was invented during the Civil War by the Confederates in Charleston, SC and it was called the Hunley.
Wow! This is brilliant. I have studied the American Civil War era for years including the exploits of the Irish brigade. This is the first time I have ever heard of this attack on our neighbors to the North. Fascinating!
The Union was short of soldiers, so they sent recruiters into Canada. About 35,000 Canadians joined the Union, however some of those recruits were were tricked, bribed and even kidnapped by the recruiters.
Being from Toronto, we grew up on the stories of the Fenian Raids. They first of all helped a lot in leading to Confederation the next year. Also the Queen's Own Rifles is to this day called the "Quickest out of Ridgeway."😅
'97 baby here from TO and none of my friends have ever heard about it. I only know about it because of an obsession with history. I don't think its as common as you think.
Great video! There is a Canadian Monument to the Battle where the battle took place. Near my uncles cottage. I was also hearing a story from his neighbour that that his grandfather still could remember hearing gunfire from the battle
I lived in Ridgeway several years ago, there was quite the kerfuffle made when during a long over due clean-up of a disused cemetery a military grave marker was discovered from 1866 in Stevensville a village just a few miles north of Ridgeway. Through research it was discovered that the person buried there was a young militia soldier from the Toronto area. He had died on the 95 mile march from Toronto to Ridgeway.
@@TheHistoryChap - I lived in Ridgeway most of my life (and still do) about a half mile from the battlefield. Sad how many Canadians are unaware of their own history. A friend, David Owen wrote a book called "The year of the Fenian" about the raid. There is also a lot of major history in Fort Erie, (native, 1812, escaped slaves) just five miles or less down the road.
I grew up in Victoria BC on the opposite side of Canada but this was certainly taught in our history in grade 11. It is important to the formation of the country. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, mentioned in this video, was assassinated a year later in Ottawa. The man convicted of the assassination, Patrick Whelan, was a Fenian sympathizer.
McGee switched sides, he was a wanted man in Ireland as a Young Irelander for inciting rebellion against the Crown and fled Ireland taking a small boat from Tremone Bay, Inishowen to a waiting ship on route to Canada . There is a plaque to his memory at this spot still today not far from where I live . In Canada he supported the British and denounced the Fenians who labelled him a Seoinín, someone who identified with the British ruling class and looked down upon his own for which he paid the price , the Irish don’t like turncoats .
I learned this in my Canadian history class, and I grew up in Niagara. So it was literally my back door. And I ended up in the Lincoln and Welland regiment, following my father and grandfather. So the regiments history is well known to me. Thanks for this video. A little known point in Canadian history outside Canada.
I am Ex Lincoln and Welland as well. My family has a long history with the Regiment back to the war of 1812 Butlers Rangers as you know. My mother found a letter of thanks from Sir Issac Brock thanking him for services rendered. When I go back home I have to look it up and photograph it. I can hear "The Lincolnshire poacher" right now, amidst memories of the Lake St. Armoury. Cheers my brothers.
My great grandfather was on picket duty in Sandwich (Windsor) for 6 weeks in the spring of 1866. It is known that a group of Canadians were dining in a Chicago hotel where they overheard a conversation at the next table detailing Finian plans. This information was passed to Canadian authorities. With this and other information, a call to duty was sent out and an overwhelming number of farmers and rural southern Ontario citizens joined. So many joined that uniforms and especially boots were in short supply. These rural companies marched, road wagons and trains to their assigned areas to practice for a war, that for the majority, never came. By June, the farmers were eager to return to their homes for late spring planting and the summer harvest. At that time, small local papers of the region regaled readers with local soldier’s exploits. The returning soldiers continued to drill for a number of years and nationalism in Canada was given a huge boost to the point that the Confederation of Canada came about in 1867. In the 1900s, veterans were awarded a belated medal and given an option to be granted 100 acres of undeveloped land in Northern Ontario to clear and homestead. My great grandfathers war medal survives to this day.
Chris, this was a sterling and revealing video graphic moment in the historic triangle between current allies, The United Kingdom, America, and Canada. As a Canadian youth I was taught about the Fenian crossings and Sir John A. MacDonald's railway to unite the vastness of the Canadian wilderness against invasion, but only in vague and sometimes abstract ways. This presentation very cleverly pieced together why those events took place. Kudos from The Great White North.
I live near where the Battle of Stoney Creek occurred, and grew up immersed in our military history. Thanks for such a great video about the battle! We love the Rileys❤
My Great Grandfather, an Orangeman, farmed about 25 miles north of Stratford. He was called and boarded a train bound for Ridgeway. He was sent home when news arrived that the battle was over. Hard to imagine mobilizing militia so far away in 1866.
Interesting to note that rail systems existed in that region and contributed to mobilization. It should be noted that the national rail system would still be in its infancy going into the 1870s, but the rail system in Upper & Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec) had been undergoing gradual expansion since 1849. Rare history, but fascinating all the same.
As a life long resident of Fort Erie. Ive seen re-enactments of this battle. Ridgeway is a small community encorporarated as part of the town of Fory Erie. This area is rich in military history taking in the war of 1812. Many battlefields surround southern ontario. Many canadians have never heard of the fenian raids. Distant relatives on my dads side fought in the civil war. As an irish canadian im proud of my rich heritage
I am from Niagara Falls and raised in Youngstown and Wilson New York! All three I could see on your maps of Western, N.Y. I had forgotten about this tidbit of Irish lore in my childhood backyard so to speak! Lots of stuff happened out that way!
My daughter lives on Campobello Island (note my image!) and I live over the bridge in Lubec, Maine. Just last week, I was selling raffle tickets at the grocery store, when I spotted the Fenian T-shirt on one purchaser. We had a nice chat about the events on the Island. This man seemed all ready to sign up with the cause. Time has enhanced the romance of the episode and smudged out the logistics.
Please do more on Canadian military history as a Canadian there isn’t many sources on it yet there are many fascinating conflicts most people have no idea about such as the Fenian raids great work!
Like the story of the man in World War II from Montreal, who captured entire towns in Holland while liberating the Netherlands. His name escapes me now, but he is the stuff that movies are made out out of. He also helped hold off 10,000 Chinese troops with a few other men in the Korean war he lost an eye and kept on serving as a sniper in World War II an unsung hero if I've ever heard of one.
The Fenian invasion of Canada, I have not ever heard of this incident. It feels like sucker punching your little and younger brother, imagine the surprise when he hits back hard. I realize enjoyed learning about this historical experience. Well done, amigo.
We were taught about the Fenian invasion , and the Battle of Ridgeway, in Canadian history classes both in elementary and high school back in the 60s. Now do they teach this? Not sure. Enjoyed the video.
@@AdamBachman-w9j what are you talking about? all three invasions were repulsed. is this the usual American idea of ''success'' where despite being massacred you managed to actually shoot back and kill a few of the enemy? yeah, that's not what normal people call success...
Your selection of stories is like listening to the deep cuts on albums. I love when you post, bc it's always something a bit off the beaten path, and presented so well!
As a reenacter of the American Civil War here in the states I am very attuned to history stories. I have always been familiar with the Metis uprising up in Canada but this was a new story to me and I thank you for the information.
My home town is Fort Erie. We have heard the recounting of the Fenian raids since we were children. The Irishmen "took" Fort Erie. Which was easy, since 1914 the "tiny fort" was mostly rubble anyway. Since American forces all but destroyed it when they too, retreated back to the US across the mighty Niagara. Thank you for this presentation.
As a matter of interest the Queen’s Own Rifles was one of the Canadian regiments that were in the first attack waves at Juno Beach on D-day in the Second World War. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry participated in the failed raid at Dieppe. They had over 80 per cent of the regiment killed, wounded or captured. The “Riley’s” were rebuilt and fought in the Normandy campaigns. Both regiments stayed active until the end of the war.
Just to clarify: It was not a US/Canadian conflict. The US government did not want the Finnians invading Canada. Part of the reason the 1866 invasion failed despite winning at Ridgeway was that the US Government would not allow reinforcements to enter Canada from Buffalo. I don't care how Irish you are, 1500 Irishmen is not enough people to conquer Canada. It was a Finnian/Irish/British conflict. Canada just happened to be the closest piece of the British Empire to the Irish Americans.
Bollocks to that buddy, they were ex unions soldiers, americunts and kicked the fuck out of like they did in 1812.. Say what you want about 1776 but facts don’t lie.
I was tought this back in grade 8 . For those of you watching, the battle in Toronto took place right where Maple Leaf Gardens 🍁 now stands. I think this would make a great movie 🎬
That was so interesting and informative. I had never heard of the invasion of Canada following the Civil War. It was never mentioned in any of the US history classes that I have taken
I am a former member of the Queens Own and though Ridgeway is a sore point for us. The QOR has proved itself time and time again in battle after battle in the defence of Canada from Ridgeway all the way to Afghanistan . I participated at Ridgeway in a reenactment of the battle on the very farmers field where the battle took place IN PACE PARATUS ( QOR regimental moto) IN PEACE PREPARED
My grand-father had a farm not far from Eccle's Hill. Many years ago while cycling we stumbled across a monument to the battle you mentioned. Since I always enjoyed history, it was a pleasant surprise. It is at the end of a country road (Eccle'sHill Rd) a former border crossing, now a dead end. Few know about it. Your explanations informed me of the background. I thank you for that.
Thank you so much for your very informative presentation. I grew up outside of nearby Stevensville and attended High School in Ridgeway. Being a local, I knew of the raids and the Battle of Ridgeway, but had never been filled in on all the details. Thanks again!
Thanks for the video. I had never heard about that. Reminded me of the raid from Canada on St. Albans Vermont, by a group of Confederate soldiers. The only battle of the Civil War fought in New England!
Make sure to hit the 1859 pig war in the San Juan Islands as well - another stellar chapter in BNA/US relations. Future Confederate Major General George Pickett was a US Army Captain involved during the “war.”
There was a Union ship commandeered by Confederates in Nova Scotia. The British authorities returned it to Union hands but didn't return the Confederate s.😂
Thank you for doing these great videos! One of my ancestors was the son of an Irish immigrant who fought for the Union in the civil war. He was one of 16 men that I’m descended from who fought to save the Union. Some of whom still had most their families living in Canada at the time
This battle made the British government realise that they needed to give the colonies more independence and responsibility for their own defence. One of the fallouts was that in 1866 the Wellington Rifles had a battery of artillery attached to them on a permanent basis. This battery eventually became the 11th Field Artillery Regiment. It is Canada’s oldest artillery regiment. I was a member from 1991-2000. There was a guy you might have heard of who was a gunner in the Regiment when they deployed to South Africa for the Boer War. John McRea. After his service with us he went to McGill and became a doctor. In the Great War he wrote some poem that you might have heard of. And yes, until the 1970’s Guelph and Wellington County were predominately Orange.
I suppose given that the British and American government are pretty much settled up who was getting what in terms of territories they didn’t think they would need many troops on the border. Without Canadian regiments to fight, especially in the Great Wall and the Second World War, we would’ve been up the creek without a paddle.
As an ex British soldier living in Canada, They are the nicest peaple you can meet. But when the bugle calls them to arms they become an unstoppable force. So lucky to live here. Saul Hiiginbotham
As a Canadian we like to praise ourselves. We brag about never losing a war, sometimes sounding too much like 'little man syndrome'. It is good to hear a friends honest opinion. Thank you.
@@SomeGuy-hd4cn Yeah. It's become fashionable on the internet for Canadians to even brag about being responsible for the necessitating of the Geneva Convention - as if that is actually something to be proud of (if it's true).
Very interesting! I just looked up the Battle of Ridgeway and apparently not just Irishmen that fought for the Union participated but some former Confederates as well. Among the former Confederates were Irishmen from New Orleans that had been in an infantry unit called the "Louisiana Tigers." They wore a French style zouave uniform during our Civil War. Today the mascot of Louisiana State University is a tiger in honor of them. Thanks for posting!
Back in the day so many canadian regiments had a connection to Scotland.All the famous scots regiments like the Black watch pretty sure the Gordons were represented along with so many others.Always good to hear you speak about these historical events ,i wonder why they never just went back to ireland to fight for freedom maybe they were good historians also 😅.I will bet many Canadian Orangemen would have relished getting to grips with fenians and setting right about them .
Canadians don’t often realize how much Confederation was a consequence of the realization that Mother England would not be willing or able to assist should the powerful and modern US Army decide to invade Canada again. The War of 1812 was in living memory of some in 1866. Thank goodness their American cousins had had enough of war by 1866. The Fenians thereby helped birth the Canada of 1867, the Canadian militia structure, and the beginning of one of the greatest friendships in the history of nation states.
The first international cricket match, between Canada and the USA, took place at the St George's Cricket Club's ground at what is now 30th Street and Broadway in NY city. Canada won.
Greetings from Tampa-grew up near Detroit & have always been fascinated by the history of the region during the colonial through the War of 1812 eras. Ta muchly!
@@TheHistoryChap oh, aye, mate - a balmy 79F on the way to 86F. Was just over in Liverpool late May/early June w/ Detroit mates to visit my Scouse mates & play the Cavern; and spent a week + in Sept with mates in Spalding, Lincs. Will probably be back after the winter - all the best & keep up the great work!
Hi Chris, I’m originally from Port Colborne and grew up between the new and old Welland canals in a place called Dain City. Drove by and stopped a few times at the Battle of Ridgeway monument. Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls, Ontario and with Queenston Heights, Ontario were also famous battle sites. Queenston has Brock’s monument and is home to Laura Secord. Great piece of history.
@ Read through most of the comments from Chris’s video. Didn’t realize so many people were from around the area. Left Port Colborne 20 years ago, make it back once, twice a year; some things never change.
I actually do know this bit of history because The warship USS Michigan (later the Wolverine the first iron clad ship in the US navy) home port was Erie, Pennsylvania, my hometown. I actually have the largest privately owned piece of the USS Michigan/Wolverine. The bow is in the Erie Maritime Museum.
I first learned of this conflict looking through an Osprey booklet on the Enemies of Queen Victoria. The Osprey series often shows illustrations of combatants and under the enemies of North America I saw an illustration of a soldier wearing what looked like an American Civil War uniform. It turned out it was an American Civil War uniform repurposed for the Fenian Uprising. The Fenians by and large used surplus American gear leftover from the war.
My great great grandfather was part of The Fenian Brotherhood. John James Clancey. He raised 13 kids, and took in my grandfather after both his parents died. He had a job in his 90’s. Amazing guy
You've found another interesting patch of history that I think many people will not have heard of, including me. Thanks Chris, you shine a light on little known events.
I grew up near Ridgeway, and they had this little diner called Tammy’s I believe (great Chicken Finger sandwich) and they had a painting of the Battle of Ridgeway in there
Canadian of Irish ancestry, my surname is Reilley. They emigrated from Belfast in late 1700s, were presbyterian, Republicans. But decided to leave to the new world for a better life. Given a chance to go to Canada. Settled around Spencerville, Oxford Mills, Ontario. Other side of fan is Catholic from cork, immigrated during the famine. Great great grandfather was a farmer apart of the Canadian militia and defended border. I have a Fenian raids medal from 1867. Unfortunately we all know the history of fellow countrymen fighting each other whether it be because of denomination or political belief. Mustve been an awful feeling fighting your fellow countrymen across the pond in your new home. My great great grandfather wrote that he was not happy and did not agree with his homelands situation but was thankful for being able to prosper in his new country that helped our family prosper and would defend it as a proud Canadian, confederation had just happened. Could only imagine how he felt at the time. Weird.
I wish you mentioned more about General Otter, as he was in charge of the internment of WW1 POWs in Canada from 1914 onwards, and he headed the Otter Commission after the First World War (which was a series of meetings where the CEF Battalions of the First World War would be re-integrated with the pre-existing militia units in Canada). This may be a superfluous detail, but without him Canadian Military units would not have been able to connect their Great War experiences with that of their pre-existing "home unit" histories.
@@TheHistoryChap You're welcome, I thoroughly enjoyed what you made! Also, complete side bar, but I had the opportunity to meet your family when they were visiting Kingston Ontario a year ago (I was working at the Hochelaga Inn as the Concierge, and they told me all about you). Fantastic content as always!
My husband's great-great-grandfather was a Captain in the Queen Own in 1866. The battle always seems so far away when I first learned about it, but it's literally an hours drive away!
Not quite. The 13th Bn Volunteer Militia was raised in 1862, after some name changes it became the RHLI in 1927. The Wentworth Regiment was originally the 77th Wentworth Battalion of Infantry, again after a few name changes it became the Wentworth Regt in 1920 and amalgamated with the RHLI in 1927 to become The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) The battle honour came from the Rileys not the Wentworth Regt.
During the Fenian Raids, the Wellington Rifles formed in my hometown of Guelph. In addition, a battery of Artillery formed as well. That battery eventually became the 11th Field Regiment RCA. A unit I served in.
Dont think i ever heard it mentioned in schoool in Ireland ,the irish brigade in union army get a mention but not the invasion of canada,id recon we all like canada and to be seen attacking might be shameful,
@greyfox3303 it's likely not seen a high point in the fight for independence. Particularly given how poorly it all went, and lead to the British having a stronger and more independent dominion in North America.
It was absolutely delusional that they thought that there was even a chance of the US joining them in a war against Britain. After 4 years of brutal civil war, there was absolutely no way the US would start another war against the world’s premier superpower, even if all their original plans had gone perfectly according to plan. The resolve of those Irishmen was admirable, but this endeavor was doomed from the start.
I believe both parties at that point wanted better relations with the other, besides the British at times trying to play both sides in the Civil war. Besides that they knew each side didn't want it and felt diplomacy was better. Plus why fight a war for the Irish over Ireland?
I tend to agree with you. The "civil war " was the bloodiest war in American history. There was a lot of war weariness in America at that time. After the battle of Appomattox General Robert E. Lee told his troops who wanted to keep fighting in a guerrilla type war against the north to stand down and accept the defeat because he knew it was not only useless but no good could come from it, but only make things worse. General Lee does not get enough credit for this. Who knows how long a guerrilla type war would have gone on? Parts of the country had been devastated especially in the states of Virginia and Georgia.
The Fenians were always delusional. As was the slightly more elitist Wolfe Tone rebellion 60 years earlier. As was the doomed 1916 rebellion. But its that level of dreaming /delusion/ ambition that has us relatively free today.
aside from a small historical marker in Sheldon VT, this bit of history was unknown to me. Thank you for the most comprehensive account I have resd so far.
@TheHistoryChap I have maintained that every attack from US territory into Canada has seemed to end in a disaster. ROGERS Rangers and others during our war for independence, attacks in the war of 1812, Fenian raids, and others. It is good we are allies now.
I once heard a Major of the Queen's Own Rifles giving a lecture on his regiment's participation in the battle of Ridgeway. He described the decision by the Fenians to seize Canada as bargaining chip in the fight for Irish freedom as "a quirk of Hibernian logic". 🤣 Fascinating video. My great-great grandfather served in the Ridgeway campaign with the Toronto Field Battery who, as I understand, had their field guns mounted on barges which were towed up and down the Niagara River to provide floating battery support against the possibility of any further crossings by the Fenian forces.
Americans might find this interesting. The Fenians attacked Canada in the 1860s. But it has been claimed over a quarter of the British army serving during the Crimean War 1853-6, were Irish volunteers. When the Irish Easter Uprising occurred in 1916, some three to five thousand rose up against the British Empire, but over 200 thousand Irishmen volunteered (no conscription) to fight for the British Empire during WW1, at least one holding the rank of general, and some 35 thousand of whom lost their lives. How many more, and their descendants, joined colonial regiments from other parts of the Empire, where they too wanted to protect that Empire, who knows. Americans often don't realise, hundreds of thousands of Irish moved to Great Britain, married locals, and their kids are proud of both their Irish and British heritage. It is also good to see that the often mentioned animosity existing between the Irish and the English is about as solid as mist. On a more lighthearted note, I'm not the only person to find the English, Irish, and Australians seem to have a very similar sense of humour, and different from American comedy. I think it was an Ancient Greek navigator that coined the 'British Isles', one thing is certain, our islands have a long history of fighting each other, but when we work together......... wow!
The number of people in the Easter Rising was probably around 3,000 to 5,000 or so but the majority of the fighting was in Dublin. The only significant fighting outside of that was at Ashbourne. Depending on what you judge Irish to mean you could argue there were a significant number of World War generals who were Irish.
Crimean war starts 6 years after black ‘47 in the Great Famine in Ireland. It’s no wonder it’s the century where there’s the greatest emigration and uptake of jobs in the British military. The overwhelming reason a huge percentage of the 200,000 Irishmen joined the war was to show loyalty to Britain for two very different reason. For loyalists it was obviously their way of saying Ireland is as British as any part of Britain. For nationalists it was evidence that it was safe to grant Ireland the home rule that for 40 years the IPP had been pushing for. Which the third attempt at a home rule bill was just postponed due to the war. Greeks initially gave the islands a name but upon finding out they were named by the natives individualised the islands to their native populations names. British isles was revived by imperial minded individuals to show the ownership of the islands rested squarely with the Anglo-Scottish entity created to merge those kingdoms.
"Well done, Canada"? I would say quite a mishmash. It's lucky the US was smart and worked to avoid war. At that time, those Union troops still in service were either occupying the South or Out West fighting Indians (General Sherman and Colonel George Armstrong Custer come first to mind).
@@TheHistoryChap Lived in Fort Erie for a few years. Had never even heard of The Battle of Ridgeway before moving to Ontario although I grew up in Buffalo. Tried to get a summer job as a "British Redcoat"/tour guide at Old Fort Erie (didn't get it) and chatted with my future not-boss about the War of 1812. He had never heard of the Battle of New Orleans, which made Jackson's reputation but had no effect on the war. It became a popular song in the 1970's (?): "In 1814 we took a little trip / Along with Colonel Jackson down the Mighty Mississip. / We took a little bacon and we took a little beans / And we caught the Bloody British in the town of New Orleans."
You've confused the Village of Fort Erie with the old military fort which had been abandoned after the War of 1812. The battalion-sized invading force landed at Frenchman's Creek, about 3.5 miles north of the fort ruins. They secured the village and camped. They moved on Ridgeway the next morning. The engagement at Fort Erie occurred after the Ridgeway battle as O'Neill's men were trying to get back to the U.S. and as Peacocke's troops were descending upon them They were met by a contingent of the Welland Canal Field Battery and Dunnville Naval Brigade who had arrived by tug from Port Colborne (not Fort). They fought in the streets of the village which is about 1.5 miles north of the fort ruins. I'm not sure where the figure of 23 deaths figure into, but 11 Canadians were killed at Ridgeway proper. It maybe total deaths of all combatants. There were two civilians also killed by Canadian troops. They were mistaken for Fenian stragglers as they tried to join up with the Canadians after traveling in from Thorold.
You saved me some typing, thanks mcloutier5!! Also the Fort at Fort Erie was in ruins at the time so was hardly a challenge to take and occupy when the Fenians initially moved into the area.
One of the earliest commemoration of the Canadian war dead is the Canadian Volunteer Monument at the University of Toronto by Queens Park and is the oldest free standing monument in the City of Toronto erected in 1870 to those that gave their life in 1866 defending in what one year later would be Canada.
Good work as always. Those Canadians can hold their own in a fight no doubt about it. Every military should have competent leadership. Sir Garnet Wolseley was also in Canada at the time of the raids. He would prove to be a good trainer of men besides being a skilled commander.
My Great-Grandfather, at age 16, mobilized at Warwick village near Sarnia. I have a tin-type picture of him in uniform and still have the bayonet he was issued.
First "action" of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry was fighting against Fenians. Years later the Regiment would fight at Dieppe & help liberate the Nederlands
Good stuff I knew about this from my father who was a child during the Irish War of independence in Cavan. The name O’Mahony is pronounced like O’ Ma (rhymes with Baa like a sheep) hun-knee. It was the late comedian Dave Allen’s real surname but he got so fed up with it being mispronounced he changed it. Cheers!
This is one of my favorite stories from American history. I learned it independently, as it was not taught in school, and recounted it many times to people. It is a shame that so much history is neglected and forgotten.
I hope that you enjoyed my video.
Same. I remember reading about it in military history magazine back in the early to mid-90s. had forgotten all about it since.
I believe that the militia was from the Orange Lodge primarily.
@@gfcu- Think you have it the wrong way around
Canadian history as well. Fought here. So we own it lol.
Being a Canadian of British and Irish descent. I appreciate history being presented in a historically accurate way. Well done sir!
Thanks for watching my video
I must have been sick that day and missed it. Or, Canadian history is taught in such a boring way, I tuned it out.
@@pageyjjj Your loss honestly
Canada handed their arses to them.
@@chamberpot969
Yeah no
I have a musket (U.S. Bridesburg 1864) captured from a Fenian during the raids in 1866. This Fenian was captured by a relative of mine who was an officer in the Militia.
Daaaaamn... that's cool!!!!! 🍁
Thanks for watching & for sharing your family story.
Just fyi... The Fenians developed the modern submarine to sink the British fleet.
They almost succeeded in that the German wolf packs sank 95% of British shipping prior to 1943.
@kitiwake really? Sources please. 95% ??
@@Kitiwake I believe the first modern submarine to sink a vessel was invented during the Civil War by the Confederates in Charleston, SC and it was called the Hunley.
Wow! This is brilliant. I have studied the American Civil War era for years including the exploits of the Irish brigade. This is the first time I have ever heard of this attack on our neighbors to the North. Fascinating!
Irish Brigades were help in a lot of respect from what I have read.
The Union was short of soldiers, so they sent recruiters into Canada. About 35,000 Canadians joined the Union, however some of those recruits were were tricked, bribed and even kidnapped by the recruiters.
Being from Toronto, we grew up on the stories of the Fenian Raids. They first of all helped a lot in leading to Confederation the next year. Also the Queen's Own Rifles is to this day called the "Quickest out of Ridgeway."😅
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.
'97 baby here from TO and none of my friends have ever heard about it. I only know about it because of an obsession with history. I don't think its as common as you think.
@@trugeld that sadly is likely a generational issue.
@@captainjoshuagleiberman2778 I assume they began prioritizing other things, important to our history or not.
not to mention the Q'Yrangs Queen's York Rangers, 1st-Americans who were Yanks that chose to fight for Canada
Great video! There is a Canadian Monument to the Battle where the battle took place. Near my uncles cottage. I was also hearing a story from his neighbour that that his grandfather still could remember hearing gunfire from the battle
Wow, that's a great story. Thanks for sharing.
I lived in Ridgeway several years ago, there was quite the kerfuffle made when during a long over due clean-up of a disused cemetery a military grave marker was discovered from 1866 in Stevensville a village just a few miles north of Ridgeway. Through research it was discovered that the person buried there was a young militia soldier from the Toronto area. He had died on the 95 mile march from Toronto to Ridgeway.
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
@@TheHistoryChap - I lived in Ridgeway most of my life (and still do) about a half mile from the battlefield. Sad how many Canadians are unaware of their own history. A friend, David Owen wrote a book called "The year of the Fenian" about the raid. There is also a lot of major history in Fort Erie, (native, 1812, escaped slaves) just five miles or less down the road.
The barn in Stevensville on the west side of Stevenville Road beside the unused RR tracks is marked 1866. It was built by soldiers in return for food.
@@susieq9801now that’s a bargain
I grew up in Victoria BC on the opposite side of Canada but this was certainly taught in our history in grade 11. It is important to the formation of the country. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, mentioned in this video, was assassinated a year later in Ottawa. The man convicted of the assassination, Patrick Whelan, was a Fenian sympathizer.
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
there were 6 invasions of canada 1690 1777 1812 1847 1866 1870
@patrickmulroney9452 ... we're overdue!
Or... maybe we're experiencing one right now!... which will spell the end of our once great country
Think of it like the Pig War.
McGee switched sides, he was a wanted man in Ireland as a Young Irelander for inciting rebellion against the Crown and fled Ireland taking a small boat from Tremone Bay, Inishowen to a waiting ship on route to Canada . There is a plaque to his memory at this spot still today not far from where I live .
In Canada he supported the British and denounced the Fenians who labelled him a Seoinín, someone who identified with the British ruling class and looked down upon his own for which he paid the price , the Irish don’t like turncoats .
I learned this in my Canadian history class, and I grew up in Niagara. So it was literally my back door. And I ended up in the Lincoln and Welland regiment, following my father and grandfather. So the regiments history is well known to me. Thanks for this video. A little known point in Canadian history outside Canada.
Thanks for watching my video & also for sharing your
family story.
An ex Link myself, 65-67, I wonder did the regiment have troops at Ridgeway?
I am Ex Lincoln and Welland as well. My family has a long history with the Regiment back to the war of 1812 Butlers Rangers as you know. My mother found a letter of thanks from Sir Issac Brock thanking him for services rendered. When I go back home I have to look it up and photograph it.
I can hear "The Lincolnshire poacher" right now, amidst memories of the Lake St. Armoury. Cheers my brothers.
@@steveweatherbe As in Weatherbe Road?
@OscarLimaMike There's a Weatherbe Road ?
My great grandfather was on picket duty in Sandwich (Windsor) for 6 weeks in the spring of 1866.
It is known that a group of Canadians were dining in a Chicago hotel where they overheard a conversation at the next table detailing Finian plans. This information was passed to Canadian authorities. With this and other information, a call to duty was sent out and an overwhelming number of farmers and rural southern Ontario citizens joined. So many joined that uniforms and especially boots were in short supply. These rural companies marched, road wagons and trains to their assigned areas to practice for a war, that for the majority, never came. By June, the farmers were eager to return to their homes for late spring planting and the summer harvest.
At that time, small local papers of the region regaled readers with local soldier’s exploits. The returning soldiers continued to drill for a number of years and nationalism in Canada was given a huge boost to the point that the Confederation of Canada came about in 1867.
In the 1900s, veterans were awarded a belated medal and given an option to be granted 100 acres of undeveloped land in Northern Ontario to clear and homestead.
My great grandfathers war medal survives to this day.
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Hey. Guy from Buffalo here. I was totally unaware of this part of my hometown's history. Thanks for the great video!
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Chris, this was a sterling and revealing video graphic moment in the historic triangle between current allies, The United Kingdom, America, and Canada. As a Canadian youth I was taught about the Fenian crossings and Sir John A. MacDonald's railway to unite the vastness of the Canadian wilderness against invasion, but only in vague and sometimes abstract ways. This presentation very cleverly pieced together why those events took place. Kudos from The Great White North.
Thanks for watching,, glad you enjoyed it.
And now I think MacDonald has been getting some bad press , wonder who that be from , he was the first pm and they cannot undo that ,
I live near where the Battle of Stoney Creek occurred, and grew up immersed in our military history. Thanks for such a great video about the battle! We love the Rileys❤
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching my video.
@sirisaacbrock798 Hi Neighbour! Me too, but the Rileys were mentioned 😉
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, yes... Also The Lorn Scots and of course Cpl Cerrilo's Regt. The Argiles ... memories. Bitter sweet.
My Great Grandfather, an Orangeman, farmed about 25 miles north of Stratford. He was called and boarded a train bound for Ridgeway. He was sent home when news arrived that the battle was over. Hard to imagine mobilizing militia so far away in 1866.
Interesting because I've always wondered why the militia in lincolin or welland weren't in the battle
Yes a lot of Ulster Scots in Canada would have stood up.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your family story,
Interesting to note that rail systems existed in that region and contributed to mobilization. It should be noted that the national rail system would still be in its infancy going into the 1870s, but the rail system in Upper & Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec) had been undergoing gradual expansion since 1849. Rare history, but fascinating all the same.
The Orangemen were always the first to stand against the pernicious rebels.
As a life long resident of Fort Erie. Ive seen re-enactments of this battle. Ridgeway is a small community encorporarated as part of the town of Fory Erie. This area is rich in military history taking in the war of 1812. Many battlefields surround southern ontario. Many canadians have never heard of the fenian raids. Distant relatives on my dads side fought in the civil war. As an irish canadian im proud of my rich heritage
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I am from Niagara Falls and raised in Youngstown and Wilson New York! All three I could see on your maps of Western, N.Y. I had forgotten about this tidbit of Irish lore in my childhood backyard so to speak! Lots of stuff happened out that way!
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My daughter lives on Campobello Island (note my image!) and I live over the bridge in Lubec, Maine. Just last week, I was selling raffle tickets at the grocery store, when I spotted the Fenian T-shirt on one purchaser. We had a nice chat about the events on the Island. This man seemed all ready to sign up with the cause. Time has enhanced the romance of the episode and smudged out the logistics.
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Yeah the romance of it , as if there isn't enough going on these days
Please do more on Canadian military history as a Canadian there isn’t many sources on it yet there are many fascinating conflicts most people have no idea about such as the Fenian raids great work!
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it. Will add your request to my ever growing list.
Like the story of the man in World War II from Montreal, who captured entire towns in Holland while liberating the Netherlands. His name escapes me now, but he is the stuff that movies are made out out of. He also helped hold off 10,000 Chinese troops with a few other men in the Korean war he lost an eye and kept on serving as a sniper in World War II an unsung hero if I've ever heard of one.
Great to hear the story of the Fenian raids. My great great grandfather served in Canada in the 1st Battalion of the Rifles, between 1866-1870.
Thanks for watching & for sharing your family story.
Wow! I had never heard of this before. I knew of supporters in the US for Irish independence, but I had never heard about this invasion. Thank you.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
The Fenian invasion of Canada, I have not ever heard of this incident. It feels like sucker punching your little and younger brother, imagine the surprise when he hits back hard. I realize enjoyed learning about this historical experience. Well done, amigo.
Hi Harry, glad that you enjoyed it.
US attacking Canada has never turned out well lol
We were taught about the Fenian invasion , and the Battle of Ridgeway, in Canadian history classes both in elementary and high school back in the 60s. Now do they teach this? Not sure. Enjoyed the video.
@@greg_4201not true. America had success against Canada in the war of 1812 after the first initial invasions were botched
@@AdamBachman-w9j what are you talking about? all three invasions were repulsed. is this the usual American idea of ''success'' where despite being massacred you managed to actually shoot back and kill a few of the enemy? yeah, that's not what normal people call success...
Love your channel . Kudos for telling this little known story .
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Thank-you so much for this great video. It provides more detail than I’ve yet encountered about the Fenian Raids.
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Congratulations once again. Your safe and precise exposition always illuminates for us a forgotten and unexpected sector of military history.
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Your selection of stories is like listening to the deep cuts on albums. I love when you post, bc it's always something a bit off the beaten path, and presented so well!
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thanks for posting this and keeping the history alive, 1866 dont seem a very long time ago but generations do forget or are not aware.
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As a reenacter of the American Civil War here in the states I am very attuned to history stories. I have always been familiar with the Metis uprising up in Canada but this was a new story to me and I thank you for the information.
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I have enjoyed learning about military history my entire life and never heard of this one. Thank you sir
My home town is Fort Erie. We have heard the recounting of the Fenian raids since we were children. The Irishmen "took" Fort Erie. Which was easy, since 1914 the "tiny fort" was mostly rubble anyway. Since American forces all but destroyed it when they too, retreated back to the US across the mighty Niagara. Thank you for this presentation.
The fort was largely destroyed when a store of explosives caught fire and blew up during the siege.
As a matter of interest the Queen’s Own Rifles was one of the Canadian regiments that were in the first attack waves at Juno Beach on D-day in the Second World War. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry participated in the failed raid at Dieppe. They had over 80 per cent of the regiment killed, wounded or captured. The “Riley’s” were rebuilt and fought in the Normandy campaigns. Both regiments stayed active until the end of the war.
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Very brave men, and I am sorry to say that few of us Yanks realize how many British and Canadian forces were at Normandy.
Thankyou for another excellent video, and for expanding on the US / British Canadian conflicts.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
Just to clarify: It was not a US/Canadian conflict. The US government did not want the Finnians invading Canada. Part of the reason the 1866 invasion failed despite winning at Ridgeway was that the US Government would not allow reinforcements to enter Canada from Buffalo. I don't care how Irish you are, 1500 Irishmen is not enough people to conquer Canada. It was a Finnian/Irish/British conflict. Canada just happened to be the closest piece of the British Empire to the Irish Americans.
Bollocks to that buddy, they were ex unions soldiers, americunts and kicked the fuck out of like they did in 1812..
Say what you want about 1776 but facts don’t lie.
I was tought this back in grade 8 . For those of you watching, the battle in Toronto took place right where Maple Leaf Gardens 🍁 now stands. I think this would make a great movie 🎬
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That was so interesting and informative. I had never heard of the invasion of Canada following the Civil War. It was never mentioned in any of the US history classes that I have taken
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It wouldn’t have been, probably because the US lost, like they did in 1812
From all perspectives this is so sad. Great presentation.
Many thanks for watching.
I am a former member of the Queens Own and though Ridgeway is a sore point for us. The QOR has proved itself time and time again in battle after battle in the defence of Canada from Ridgeway all the way to Afghanistan . I participated at Ridgeway in a reenactment of the battle on the very farmers field where the battle took place IN PACE PARATUS ( QOR regimental moto) IN PEACE PREPARED
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My grand-father had a farm not far from Eccle's Hill. Many years ago while cycling we stumbled across a monument to the battle you mentioned. Since I always enjoyed history, it was a pleasant surprise. It is at the end of a country road (Eccle'sHill Rd) a former border crossing, now a dead end. Few know about it. Your explanations informed me of the background. I thank you for that.
Thank you so much for your very informative presentation. I grew up outside of nearby Stevensville and attended High School in Ridgeway. Being a local, I knew of the raids and the Battle of Ridgeway, but had never been filled in on all the details. Thanks again!
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Thanks for the video. I had never heard about that. Reminded me of the raid from Canada on St. Albans Vermont, by a group of Confederate soldiers. The only battle of the Civil War fought in New England!
Ah, that little story is on my hit list. Watch this space (or make sure you subscribe to my channel)
Make sure to hit the 1859 pig war in the San Juan Islands as well - another stellar chapter in BNA/US relations. Future Confederate Major General George Pickett was a US Army Captain involved during the “war.”
There is a movie made about it called 'The Raid'. Lee Marvin in one of his first roles played a Confederate Soldier.
There was a Union ship commandeered by Confederates in Nova Scotia. The British authorities returned it to Union hands but didn't return the Confederate s.😂
Thank you for doing these great videos! One of my ancestors was the son of an Irish immigrant who fought for the Union in the civil war. He was one of 16 men that I’m descended from who fought to save the Union. Some of whom still had most their families living in Canada at the time
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your interesting family history
I'm descended from irish confed
Irish confederates were in the fenian raids too actually
This battle made the British government realise that they needed to give the colonies more independence and responsibility for their own defence.
One of the fallouts was that in 1866 the Wellington Rifles had a battery of artillery attached to them on a permanent basis.
This battery eventually became the 11th Field Artillery Regiment.
It is Canada’s oldest artillery regiment. I was a member from 1991-2000.
There was a guy you might have heard of who was a gunner in the Regiment when they deployed to South Africa for the Boer War.
John McRea.
After his service with us he went to McGill and became a doctor.
In the Great War he wrote some poem that you might have heard of.
And yes, until the 1970’s Guelph and Wellington County were predominately Orange.
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Yes mcrea & the demon worshipper.
I suppose given that the British and American government are pretty much settled up who was getting what in terms of territories they didn’t think they would need many troops on the border. Without Canadian regiments to fight, especially in the Great Wall and the Second World War, we would’ve been up the creek without a paddle.
As an ex British soldier living in Canada, They are the nicest peaple you can meet. But when the bugle calls them to arms they become an unstoppable force. So lucky to live here.
Saul Hiiginbotham
Nicest people on earth till you piss them off then they become your worst night mare.
@yugster78 Because of Canadians, we have the Geneva Checklist. Because it's not a war crime, the FIRST time.
As a Canadian we like to praise ourselves. We brag about never losing a war, sometimes sounding too much like 'little man syndrome'.
It is good to hear a friends honest opinion. Thank you.
@@SomeGuy-hd4cn Canadians were renowned shock troops in both world wars
@@SomeGuy-hd4cn Yeah. It's become fashionable on the internet for Canadians to even brag about being responsible for the necessitating of the Geneva Convention - as if that is actually something to be proud of (if it's true).
Very interesting! I just looked up the Battle of Ridgeway and apparently not just Irishmen that fought for the Union participated but some former Confederates as well. Among the former Confederates were Irishmen from New Orleans that had been in an infantry unit called the "Louisiana Tigers." They wore a French style zouave uniform during our Civil War. Today the mascot of Louisiana State University is a tiger in honor of them. Thanks for posting!
I live in Ridgeway.
Back in the day so many canadian regiments had a connection to Scotland.All the famous scots regiments like the Black watch pretty sure the Gordons were represented along with so many others.Always good to hear you speak about these historical events ,i wonder why they never just went back to ireland to fight for freedom maybe they were good historians also 😅.I will bet many Canadian Orangemen would have relished getting to grips with fenians and setting right about them .
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And my father said to me...
Thay make a good song about it
@@Strength-in-Union I must join the Ycv 🎶.
The Light Hamiltons fleeing
It’s great to you cover this obscure chapter of history. You and British muzzle loaders have both done it more than enough justice!
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Another wonderful video 😊.
Thank you! Cheers!
You have to know I have always been a fan of English history and adventure and war movies.
Well told story there Chris!!! Many thanks for posting and keeping these
lesser known battles Alvie!!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
Canadians don’t often realize how much Confederation was a consequence of the realization that Mother England would not be willing or able to assist should the powerful and modern US Army decide to invade Canada again. The War of 1812 was in living memory of some in 1866.
Thank goodness their American cousins had had enough of war by 1866. The Fenians thereby helped birth the Canada of 1867, the Canadian militia structure, and the beginning of one of the greatest friendships in the history of nation states.
Interesting take on the formation of Canada as a nation. Thanks for taking the time to share.
WE would've resisted tooth & nail, & then there's the RN.
It’s great you’ve taken a detailed look at these raids as they’re often only mentioned in passing in most accounts.
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I learned about this in school as it's one of the things that spurred on politicians to conclude Canadian Confederation.
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The first international cricket match, between Canada and the USA, took place at the St George's Cricket Club's ground at what is now 30th Street and Broadway in NY city. Canada won.
🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦
thanks for watching y video
🇨🇦 🇬🇧 Thanks for holding the fort.
Good for you America jr
@@ElusivePlatypus96 I'm not Canadian.
On the one hand, one has to admire their ambition, whilst lamenting their utter lack of reality. Fascinating story though; good job Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
Crazy! I live right across the street from the Welland Canal!
I can see it from my front window.
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Whoever gave Chris this idea and did the research - very well done that person
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As an American Civil War reenactor myself this is actually quite fascinating
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As a history student I found this fascinating. Thanks!
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Hello from Canada.
Thank You for this wonderful story..
I have just subscribed.
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Greetings from Tampa-grew up near Detroit & have always been fascinated by the history of the region during the colonial through the War of 1812 eras. Ta muchly!
My pleasure. I hope that the weather in Tampa is warmer than it is over here in England.
@@TheHistoryChap oh, aye, mate - a balmy 79F on the way to 86F. Was just over in Liverpool late May/early June w/ Detroit mates to visit my Scouse mates & play the Cavern; and spent a week + in Sept with mates in Spalding, Lincs. Will probably be back after the winter - all the best & keep up the great work!
Wow, thank you. I live in ridgeway and I always thought the battle was part of 1812. This was fascinating
I find that a little sad. Hopefully your interest has been peaked by the video.
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Hi Chris, I’m originally from Port Colborne and grew up between the new and old Welland canals in a place called Dain City. Drove by and stopped a few times at the Battle of Ridgeway monument. Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls, Ontario and with Queenston Heights, Ontario were also famous battle sites. Queenston has Brock’s monument and is home to Laura Secord. Great piece of history.
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Originally from Port Colborne too. 👍🏼
@ Read through most of the comments from Chris’s video. Didn’t realize so many people were from around the area. Left Port Colborne 20 years ago, make it back once, twice a year; some things never change.
I actually do know this bit of history because The warship USS Michigan (later the Wolverine the first iron clad ship in the US navy) home port was Erie, Pennsylvania, my hometown. I actually have the largest privately owned piece of the USS Michigan/Wolverine. The bow is in the Erie Maritime Museum.
Thanks for your interesting feedback.
Thank you so much for this. Very interesting.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
I first learned of this conflict looking through an Osprey booklet on the Enemies of Queen Victoria. The Osprey series often shows illustrations of combatants and under the enemies of North America I saw an illustration of a soldier wearing what looked like an American Civil War uniform. It turned out it was an American Civil War uniform repurposed for the Fenian Uprising. The Fenians by and large used surplus American gear leftover from the war.
Yes, the painter preferred to romanticise his picture.
My great great grandfather was part of The Fenian Brotherhood. John James Clancey. He raised 13 kids, and took in my grandfather after both his parents died. He had a job in his 90’s. Amazing guy
Wow, that is some family story.
No. Never heard of it.
Thanks Chris. 👍
I simply love the audacity of General Sweeny's plan.
You've found another interesting patch of history that I think many people will not have heard of, including me. Thanks Chris, you shine a light on little known events.
Never heard of this but very interesting and great video thanks for the story!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
thx again, Chris
🇨🇦😁
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
I grew up near Ridgeway, and they had this little diner called Tammy’s I believe (great Chicken Finger sandwich) and they had a painting of the Battle of Ridgeway in there
I served with the Queen’s Own Rifles.
We still remember the Battle of Rudgeway.
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Canadian of Irish ancestry, my surname is Reilley. They emigrated from Belfast in late 1700s, were presbyterian, Republicans. But decided to leave to the new world for a better life. Given a chance to go to Canada. Settled around Spencerville, Oxford Mills, Ontario. Other side of fan is Catholic from cork, immigrated during the famine. Great great grandfather was a farmer apart of the Canadian militia and defended border. I have a Fenian raids medal from 1867. Unfortunately we all know the history of fellow countrymen fighting each other whether it be because of denomination or political belief. Mustve been an awful feeling fighting your fellow countrymen across the pond in your new home. My great great grandfather wrote that he was not happy and did not agree with his homelands situation but was thankful for being able to prosper in his new country that helped our family prosper and would defend it as a proud Canadian, confederation had just happened. Could only imagine how he felt at the time. Weird.
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I wish you mentioned more about General Otter, as he was in charge of the internment of WW1 POWs in Canada from 1914 onwards, and he headed the Otter Commission after the First World War (which was a series of meetings where the CEF Battalions of the First World War would be re-integrated with the pre-existing militia units in Canada). This may be a superfluous detail, but without him Canadian Military units would not have been able to connect their Great War experiences with that of their pre-existing "home unit" histories.
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@@TheHistoryChap You're welcome, I thoroughly enjoyed what you made! Also, complete side bar, but I had the opportunity to meet your family when they were visiting Kingston Ontario a year ago (I was working at the Hochelaga Inn as the Concierge, and they told me all about you). Fantastic content as always!
My husband's great-great-grandfather was a Captain in the Queen Own in 1866. The battle always seems so far away when I first learned about it, but it's literally an hours drive away!
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We learned about it in Canadian elementary school.
It was a pressure pushing the Concederation of Canada.
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Excellent documentary narrated with a lively British style!
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My old Regiment , the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry , then known as the Wentworth Regiment responded. It was the Regiments first Battle Honour.
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Not quite. The 13th Bn Volunteer Militia was raised in 1862, after some name changes it became the RHLI in 1927. The Wentworth Regiment was originally the 77th Wentworth Battalion of Infantry, again after a few name changes it became the Wentworth Regt in 1920 and amalgamated with the RHLI in 1927 to become The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment)
The battle honour came from the Rileys not the Wentworth Regt.
During the Fenian Raids, the Wellington Rifles formed in my hometown of Guelph.
In addition, a battery of Artillery formed as well. That battery eventually became the 11th Field Regiment RCA. A unit I served in.
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I believe you guys shared the Lake street armoury with the Lincoln and Welland regiment if I'm not mistaken
my great great uncle fought in the battle of ridgeway, this is very interesting
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I have never heard of this conflict , its amazing and very strange ! Great History video
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Unsurprisingly, the Fenian Raids were/are taught in in schools here in Canada.
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Dont think i ever heard it mentioned in schoool in Ireland ,the irish brigade in union army get a mention but not the invasion of canada,id recon we all like canada and to be seen attacking might be shameful,
@greyfox3303 it's likely not seen a high point in the fight for independence. Particularly given how poorly it all went, and lead to the British having a stronger and more independent dominion in North America.
@@Furniture121i think thats been the case with every irish uprising
Fantastic piece of research chap.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
It was absolutely delusional that they thought that there was even a chance of the US joining them in a war against Britain. After 4 years of brutal civil war, there was absolutely no way the US would start another war against the world’s premier superpower, even if all their original plans had gone perfectly according to plan. The resolve of those Irishmen was admirable, but this endeavor was doomed from the start.
Tend to agree with you.
I believe both parties at that point wanted better relations with the other, besides the British at times trying to play both sides in the Civil war. Besides that they knew each side didn't want it and felt diplomacy was better. Plus why fight a war for the Irish over Ireland?
Allways dreamers,alot were probably children of the famine with an axe to grind and a silllset.
I tend to agree with you. The "civil war " was the bloodiest war in American history. There was a lot of war weariness in America at that time. After the battle of Appomattox General Robert E. Lee told his troops who wanted to keep fighting in a guerrilla type war against the north to stand down and accept the defeat because he knew it was not only useless but no good could come from it, but only make things worse. General Lee does not get enough credit for this. Who knows how long a guerrilla type war would have gone on? Parts of the country had been devastated especially in the states of Virginia and Georgia.
The Fenians were always delusional. As was the slightly more elitist Wolfe Tone rebellion 60 years earlier. As was the doomed 1916 rebellion.
But its that level of dreaming /delusion/ ambition that has us relatively free today.
aside from a small historical marker in Sheldon VT, this bit of history was unknown to me. Thank you for the most comprehensive account I have resd so far.
Gld you found it interesting.
@TheHistoryChap I have maintained that every attack from US territory into Canada has seemed to end in a disaster. ROGERS Rangers and others during our war for independence, attacks in the war of 1812, Fenian raids, and others. It is good we are allies now.
I once heard a Major of the Queen's Own Rifles giving a lecture on his regiment's participation in the battle of Ridgeway. He described the decision by the Fenians to seize Canada as bargaining chip in the fight for Irish freedom as "a quirk of Hibernian logic". 🤣 Fascinating video. My great-great grandfather served in the Ridgeway campaign with the Toronto Field Battery who, as I understand, had their field guns mounted on barges which were towed up and down the Niagara River to provide floating battery support against the possibility of any further crossings by the Fenian forces.
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that would have sent me into a fit lol
I love how these videos attract such interesting comments. The comments alone are a history lesson! Thanks everybody!
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This story just blew my mind.
I hope in a good way?
Very well done! I enjoyed this so much!
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Americans might find this interesting. The Fenians attacked Canada in the 1860s. But it has been claimed over a quarter of the British army serving during the Crimean War 1853-6, were Irish volunteers. When the Irish Easter Uprising occurred in 1916, some three to five thousand rose up against the British Empire, but over 200 thousand Irishmen volunteered (no conscription) to fight for the British Empire during WW1, at least one holding the rank of general, and some 35 thousand of whom lost their lives. How many more, and their descendants, joined colonial regiments from other parts of the Empire, where they too wanted to protect that Empire, who knows. Americans often don't realise, hundreds of thousands of Irish moved to Great Britain, married locals, and their kids are proud of both their Irish and British heritage. It is also good to see that the often mentioned animosity existing between the Irish and the English is about as solid as mist. On a more lighthearted note, I'm not the only person to find the English, Irish, and Australians seem to have a very similar sense of humour, and different from American comedy. I think it was an Ancient Greek navigator that coined the 'British Isles', one thing is certain, our islands have a long history of fighting each other, but when we work together......... wow!
Well, vast majority of this is misleading and a lot of info missing from each point made.
Thanks for watching my video and your very interesting fdeedback.
@@icemanire5467 "ummm akshually 🤓"
The number of people in the Easter Rising was probably around 3,000 to 5,000 or so but the majority of the fighting was in Dublin. The only significant fighting outside of that was at Ashbourne. Depending on what you judge Irish to mean you could argue there were a significant number of World War generals who were Irish.
Crimean war starts 6 years after black ‘47 in the Great Famine in Ireland. It’s no wonder it’s the century where there’s the greatest emigration and uptake of jobs in the British military.
The overwhelming reason a huge percentage of the 200,000 Irishmen joined the war was to show loyalty to Britain for two very different reason.
For loyalists it was obviously their way of saying Ireland is as British as any part of Britain. For nationalists it was evidence that it was safe to grant Ireland the home rule that for 40 years the IPP had been pushing for. Which the third attempt at a home rule bill was just postponed due to the war.
Greeks initially gave the islands a name but upon finding out they were named by the natives individualised the islands to their native populations names. British isles was revived by imperial minded individuals to show the ownership of the islands rested squarely with the Anglo-Scottish entity created to merge those kingdoms.
I read the book about John Riley and that's when I first learned about this. So amazing.
Thanks for watching and for commenting
Well done Canada.
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"Well done, Canada"? I would say quite a mishmash. It's lucky the US was smart and worked to avoid war. At that time, those Union troops still in service were either occupying the South or Out West fighting Indians (General Sherman and Colonel George Armstrong Custer come first to mind).
Yeah the irony of Irish immigrants wanting freedom for the Irish....... as they live on stolen Native American land. 😂
@@TheHistoryChap Lived in Fort Erie for a few years. Had never even heard of The Battle of Ridgeway before moving to Ontario although I grew up in Buffalo. Tried to get a summer job as a "British Redcoat"/tour guide at Old Fort Erie (didn't get it) and chatted with my future not-boss about the War of 1812. He had never heard of the Battle of New Orleans, which made Jackson's reputation but had no effect on the war. It became a popular song in the 1970's (?): "In 1814 we took a little trip / Along with Colonel Jackson down the Mighty Mississip. / We took a little bacon and we took a little beans / And we caught the Bloody British in the town of New Orleans."
@@peterkilbridge6523"Fighting" ‐ more like massacring
The bar in Buffalo where the leaders of the Fenians met before crossing over into Canada is for sale
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Which bar is that? I grew up around Buffalo and spent a lot of time there.
You've confused the Village of Fort Erie with the old military fort which had been abandoned after the War of 1812. The battalion-sized invading force landed at Frenchman's Creek, about 3.5 miles north of the fort ruins. They secured the village and camped. They moved on Ridgeway the next morning. The engagement at Fort Erie occurred after the Ridgeway battle as O'Neill's men were trying to get back to the U.S. and as Peacocke's troops were descending upon them They were met by a contingent of the Welland Canal Field Battery and Dunnville Naval Brigade who had arrived by tug from Port Colborne (not Fort). They fought in the streets of the village which is about 1.5 miles north of the fort ruins. I'm not sure where the figure of 23 deaths figure into, but 11 Canadians were killed at Ridgeway proper. It maybe total deaths of all combatants. There were two civilians also killed by Canadian troops. They were mistaken for Fenian stragglers as they tried to join up with the Canadians after traveling in from Thorold.
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You saved me some typing, thanks mcloutier5!! Also the Fort at Fort Erie was in ruins at the time so was hardly a challenge to take and occupy when the Fenians initially moved into the area.
One of the earliest commemoration of the Canadian war dead is the Canadian Volunteer Monument at the University of Toronto by Queens Park and is the oldest free standing monument in the City of Toronto erected in 1870 to those that gave their life in 1866 defending in what one year later would be Canada.
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And that is why the Irish should have no more than two beers. And no talk of fights 😊
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Bigot.
Are you startin?????
😂😂👊🫣😁😁
Whiskey was invented to keep the Irish from taking over the world ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Brilliant video as always 👍 thsnks
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In 1867, Canada became a country. At Vimy Ridge, Canada became a nation.
Good work as always. Those Canadians can hold their own in a fight no doubt about it. Every military should have competent leadership. Sir Garnet Wolseley was also in Canada at the time of the raids. He would prove to be a good trainer of men besides being a skilled commander.
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My Great-Grandfather, at age 16, mobilized at Warwick village near Sarnia. I have a tin-type picture of him in uniform and still have the bayonet he was issued.
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THIS was gripping stuff!
WORTH a play or TV docudrama.
I wonder if Kevin of the History Squad who lives in Western Canada has covered it too?
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First "action" of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry was fighting against Fenians. Years later the Regiment would fight at Dieppe & help liberate the Nederlands
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Good stuff I knew about this from my father who was a child during the Irish War of independence in Cavan. The name O’Mahony is pronounced like O’ Ma (rhymes with Baa like a sheep) hun-knee. It was the late comedian Dave Allen’s real surname but he got so fed up with it being mispronounced he changed it. Cheers!
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We've fought for the boys in grey,
We've fought for the boys in blue,
We're off to fight the British
Because We've fuck all else to do.
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