Fenian Raids

Fenian Raids. , Taking Canada Hostage , Following the end of the American Civil War in 1865, many Irish-American veterans formed the Fenian Brotherhood, planning to liberate Ireland from Britain, in exchange for Canada. , The Fenian raids began in 1866, with invasions from New Brunswick to Manitoba. The largest raid occurred in June 1866 along the Niagara frontier, were the Fenians defeated a small Canadian force at Ridgeway. , Simcoe Foresters Born , Militia units were made up of part-time male volunteers serving in cavalry, infantry and artillery units recently organized under the Militia Act of 1855. The shocking defeat at the Battle of Ridgeway spurred the Militia to immediately reorganize Upper Canada's defenses. , At the local level, Simcoe County's seven independent militia companies (Barrie, Collingwood, Cookstown, Bradford, Oro and Orillia) were merged on September 14, 1866 into the 35th Simcoe Battalion of Infantry (Simcoe Foresters), the same militia unit still based in Barrie as of 2018. , Simcoe Goes South , Simcoe County troops were stationed in the Fort Erie, Welland Canal and Port Colborne areas in response to the Fenian threat until 1870. Many arrived via locomotives, such as the Milwaukee, displaying the banner “Bless our Brave Volunteers.” , From Fenians to Federation , The Fenian raids ignited fear in New Brunswick, where voters reversed their anti-confederation stance, believing their survival lay in unity. , British North America could now form a continuous geographical connection through Ontario, Canada East (Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. , Political delegates immediately headed for London in late 1866 to successfully negotiate the British North America Act with the British Parliament. The new Dominion of Canada would officially start July 1, 1867, and is now celebrated as Canada Day. All further Fenian raids ended in failure, and the movement collapsed after 1871.