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II CANADA "y v THE FENIAN RAIDS of IF66 <:nd 1870 HOLYREDEEME RY,WINDSOR i FROM THE -e BOOKS OF1 FRANK G. CARTER '*fal*^<f # *- ' ff £x-Captain43rd [Battalion(Ottawa and CarletonRifles). TROUBLOUS TIMES IN CANADA A HISTORY OF THE FENIAN RAIDS OF 1866 AND 1870 BY GAPT. JOHN A. MACDONALD (A Veteran of 1866 and 1870) [Copyright, Canada. 1910, by John A. Macdonald] TORONTO: PRINTED BY W. S. JCHNSTON & Co'v, 106-108 ATEIAIDE STREET WEST, 1910 Uo mB ©l& ComraOes of 1866 ano 1870 tbis Booft is respectfully H)e&lcate£>. Troublous Times in Canada. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTEE I.-Unhappy Ireland Seethingin Sedition-The Fenian Broth- erhood-Hatching the Plot-The Movementof '65-A Split in the Fenian Camp. CHAPTER II.-The Fenian Convention at Cincinnati-The Birth of the Irish Republic-"On to Canada"-Gen. Sweeny'sProgramme. CHAPTER III.-The First Alarm-Canadian Volunteers Promptly Respond to the Call of Duty-The CampoBello Fizzle--Fenians Gather on the Border-Operations on the Niagara Frontier. CHAPTER IV.-The Landing in Canada-Preliminary Operations of the Fenian Forces Near Fort Erie-Advance into the Interior. CHAPTER V.-The Second AJarm-Grand Uprising of the Canadian People-Departure of Troops for the Front--Gen. Napier's Plan of Campaign-List of the Various Corps Called out for Active Service. CHAPTER VI.-The Battle of Ridgeway-A Baptism of Fire and Blood for the Canadian Troops-Splendid Coolness and Heroic Courage of the Volunteers at the Beginning of the Fight Ends in Disaster- The Honor Roll-Incidents of the Fight-Public Funerals for the Dead. CHAPTER VII.-The Expedition on the Steamer "W. T. Robb"-Fierce Fight at Fort Erie-Stiff Resistance of a Gallant Band of Canadians Against a Fenian Force Ten Times Their Number-List of the Wounded and Captured. CHAPTER VIII.-The Governor-General's Body Guard-Denison's Rapid Ride-Col. Peacocke's Movements from Chippawa to Fort Erie-The Bivouac at Bowen's Farm-Arrival of Col. Lowry/s Force at Fort Erie. CHAPTEE IX.-Hurried Evacuation of Canada by Gen. O'Neil-Capture of the Escaping Fenians by the United States Gunboat "Michigan." CHAPTER X.-The Chicago Volunteers-A Noble Band of Patriots Return Home to Defend Their Native Land-A Striking Example of Can- adian Patriotism. CHAPTEK XL-"Johnny Canuck" Afloat-The Toronto Naval Brigade- Splendid Service on Board the Gunboats-The Beginning of the Canadian Navy-Arrival of British Tara. CHAPTER XII.-On the St. Lawrence and Eastern Frontiers-Muster of Troops at Kingston, Brockville, Prescott. Cornwall and Other Points. CHAPTER XIII.-On the Vermont Border-Fenians Gather in Large Num- bers-The Fizzle at Pigeon Hill-Arrest of the Fenian General Spier. CHAPTER XIV.-Fenian Mobilization at Malone, N.Y., and Elsewhere- Gen. Meade's Prompt Action Stops the Invasion-Arrest of Gen. Sweeny and Staff. CHAPTER XV.--The Fenian Prisoners-CorrespondenceBetween the Brit- ish and United States Governments Regarding Them. CHAPTER XVI.-The Canadian Volunteers Receive the Thanks of the Government,and Warm Praise from the GeneralCommanding and Other Officers for Their Patriotic Service in Defending the Country. CHAPTER XVIL-A Retrospect of Events-A Combination of Unfor- tunate Circumstances Involve Leading Officers. CHAPTER XVIII.-Dangers which Existed Previousto Confederationof the Provinces-Proposalsof Annexationto the United States-Les- sons Learned by the Fenian Raid. Fenian Raid of 1870 CHAPTER I.-Gen. O'Neil Prepares for Another Raid on Canada-Secret Shipment of Arms to the Frontier. CHAPTER II.-Another Call to Arms-The Canadian Volunteers Promptly Respond to the Summons. CHAPTER III.-Fenians Again Invade Canada-A Raid from Vermont Promptly Repulsed by a Handful of Canadians. CHAPTER IV.-Operations on the Missisquoi Frontier-The Battle of Eccles' Hill-Complete Defeat of the Fenian Army-Arrest of Gen. O'Neil. CHAPTER. V.-The Canadian Frontier Vigilantly Guarded-Volunteers on Service at Danger Points all Along the Line. CHAPTER VI.-Fenians Gather on the Huntingdon Border-Skirmish at Trout River-The Enemy Routed by the Canadian Troops. CHAPTER VII.-The Dawn of - Peace-The Volunteers Relieved from Further Service-Thanked by the Dominion Government, Lieutenant- General Commanding, and the Imperial Government-Medals Be- stowed and Crown Lands Granted to the Veterans in Recognition of Their Services. Appendix CHAPTER I.-Full Report of the Investigation by the Court of Inquiry in Regard to the Conduct of Lieut.-Col. Booker at the Battle of Lime Ridge, Together with the EvidenceSubmitted and the Finding of the Court. CHAPTER II.-Report, of the ChargesMade Against Lieut.-Col. Dennis, Regarding his Conduct During the Fight at Fort Erie, with the Opinion Delivered by the Court of Inquiry who Investigated His Case. PREFACE. One of the most dangerous and critical periods in the his- tory of Canada was that which closely followed the termina- tion of the Civil "War between the Northern and Southern States of America in the year 1865. It is a strange fact that Canadian authors and historians do not seem to have fully realized the gravity of the situation that then existed, as the event has been passed over by them with the barest possible mention. Thus the people of the present generation know very little of the Fenian troubles of 1866 and 1870, and the great mass of the young Canadian boys and girls who are being educated in our Public Schools and Colleges are in total ignorance of the grave danger which cast dark shadows over this fair and prosperous Dominion in those stormy days. It was a period of great peril to this rising young Nation of the North, which might possibly have ended in the severance of Canada from British dominion. But happily this was pre- vente'd by the prompt measures that were taken to defend our soil, and the quick response that was made by the resolute Canadian Volunteers when the bugles sounded the call to assemble for active service on onr frontiers. The fierce conflict which had been waged in the United States of America for four long years between the North and the South was terminated by the subjugation of the latter in the spring of 1865. and the tattered battle flags of the Con- federate forces were furled forever. Over a million of men, veteran soldiers, of both armies, were still in the field when the Civil War ended, and when these mighty forces were dis- banded, hundreds of thousands of trained warriors were thrown upon their own resources, without occupation or em- ployment. While the majority of these . soldiers quickly resumed their old business or farming pursuits, yet there remained idle a vast number of turbulent and restless spirits who were ready and Avilling to embark in any filibustering expedition that might present itself. These men were all trained and seasoned veterans of both the Union and Confed- erate armies-soldiers who were inured to the hardships and rigors of many campaignsand fierce battles, and thousandsof them readily enrolled themselves under the Fenian banners in anticipation of a war being inaugurated against the British nation, with the invasion of Canada as the first step. The defence of our extensive Canadian frontier depended mainly upon the volunteer militia force of the scattered Prov- inces, and to their patriotism and gallantry in springing to arms when their services were needed to defend their native land, may be ascribed the glory of frustrating the attempts of the Fenian invaders to establish themselves on Canadian soil. True, there were some British regular troops on duty in Canada in 1866 around which to rally, and they did their duty nobly, but in the operations on the Niagara frontier especially, it was the Canadian volunteers who bore the brunt of battle. and by their devotion to duty, courage and bravery under hostile fire, succeeded in causing the hasty retirement of the Fenian invaders from our shores, and again, as in days of yore. preserved Canada to the Empire, as one of the brightest jewels in the British Crown. Having personally seen active service on the Niagara fron- tier during both of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870, and retaining vivid recollections of the situation of affairs at the front during these two campaigns, I will endeavor in the suc- ceeding chapters of this book to give the reader a faithful account of what occurred on these stirring occasions. I have not relied on memory alone to present these facts, but have corroborated my personal knowledge by reference to official records, and reports of officers, which may be found in the archives of the Militia Department at Ottawa, and the Ontario Bureau of Archives at Toronto. I have endeavored to fully cover the subject, and put on record the splendid service which our gallant volunteers rend- ered to their country in 1866 and 1870. Hoping that thf reader will find these pages interesting, and at all times be ready to emulate their example, I am yours faithfully, JOHN A. MACDONALD. 41 Macdonell Ave.. Toronto, May. 1910. TROUBLOUS TIMES IN CANADA. CHAPTER I. UNHAPPY IRELAND SEETHING IN SEDITION-THE FENIAN BROTH- ERHOOD-HATCHING THE PLOT-THE MOVEMENT OP '65- A SPLIT IN THE FENIAN CAMP. Every student of history is aware that for centuries the condition of affairs in Ireland has not been altogether happy, owing largely to the revolutionary schemes which have from time to time been hatched by so-called "patriots" to "free Ireland from the yoke of the oppressor," as they termed it in their appeals to the people to incite rebellion, but more prop- erly speaking to bring about a repeal of the union between Great Britain and Ireland and establish an Irish nation on Irish soil.