Ridgeway in Fort Erie in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Map and Timeline of Events - Fenian Invasion, 1866
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
1. Timeline of Events - Fenian Invasion, 1866 - LEFT half
[Row 1] Fenian Army led by Colonel John O'Neill
Blue 1. Col. ONeill musters the Fenian Army at Lower Black Rock and prepares to cross the Niagara river
Blue 2. The Fenian Army cross to Fort Erie and secure the Lower Ferry dock
Blue 3. The Fenian Army march on Fort Erie, secure the town, destroy telegraph lines and seize horses and supplies
Blue 4. The Fenian Army set up a defensive position at Frenchmans Creek
Blue 5. The Fenian Army move and secure a vantage point at Black Creek
Blue 6. The Fenian Army break camp and march along the limestone ridge toward Ridgeway
Blue 7. The Fenian Army arrive at Ridge Road and Col. ONeill establishes headquarters at the Henry Anger farm
Blue 7. Positioned for battle along the limestone ridge, the Fenian Army fire the first volley drawing the Canadian Militia into their snare t he Battle of Ridgway begins
Blue 7. The short, intense battle ends with the Canadian Militia in full retreat from the Fenian Army
Blue 8. Col. O Neill splits his brigade[,] t he smaller force disable the telegraph
this page online
Blue 9. The Fenian Army encounter the landed Canadian troops from the tugboat and the battle at the Fort Erie docs begins[,] e nding with a Canadian surrender
Blue 10. The Fenian Army move their captured prisoners to the ruins of Fort Erie
Blue 10. Intelligence reaches Col. ONeill that his reinforcements are being prevented from crossing the Niagara River by the U.S. Navy; he decides to withdraw and return to Buffalo
Blue 11. The U.S. Navy capture the Fenian Army withdrawing on the Niagara River and arrest them in violation of the American Neutrality Act
[Row 2 - Timeline]
... Midnight Friday, June 1, 1866 ... ... Noon ... ... Midnight Saturday, June 2, 1866 ... ... Noon ... ... Midnight Sunday, June 3, 1866 ...
[Row 3] Canadian Militia led by Lt. Col. Alfred Booker Jr.
[not on map]. Lt. Col. Booker musters the 13th Battalion (Canadian Militia) in Hamilton
Green 1. The 13th Battalion depart Hamilton by train, picking up members of the York Rifles and the Caledonia
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
2. Map - Fenian Invasion
Green 2. Arriving with his troops in Port Colborne, senior officer Lt. Col. Booker assumes command of the QOR from Lt. Col. Dennis
Green 3. Lt. Col. Bookers troops leave Port Colborne via train, bound for Ridgeway
Green 4. Lt. Col. Booker orders his troops to march from the Ridgeway train station to Stevensville, with plans to join Lt. Col. Peacocke s forces
Green 5. En route, fired upon by the Fenian Army, the Canadian Militia are drawn into the Battle of Ridgeway
Green 5. The short, intense battle ends with the full retreat of the Canadian Militia
Green 6. The defeated Canadian Militia return to Port Colborne by train
[Row 4] Canadian Militia led by Lt. Col. John Dennis
[not on map]. The Queens Own Rifles (QOR) of the Canadian Militia muster in Toronto
[not on map]. The QOR sail from Toronto bound for Port Dalhousie under the command of Lt. Col. Dennis
Green A. The QOR arrive in Port Dalhousie and board a train for Port Colborne
Green B. The QOR arrive in Port Colborne
Green B. Junior officer Lt. Col. Dennis cedes command of the QOR to Lt. Col. Booker
Green C. Lt. Col.
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
3. Timeline of Events - Fenian Invasion, 1866 - RIGHT half
Green D. Arriving at the Fort Erie docks, the troops disembark and sweep the area along the river, taking Fenians prisoner and loading them onto the tugboat; Lt. Col Dennis and his troops reboard the tug at Black Creek
Green D. Lt. Col Dennis commands the tugboat back to Fort Erie and disembarks with most of his troops. They encounter the retiring Fenian Army and the battle at the Fort Erie docks ensues[,] t he Canadians surrender and many are taken as prisoners to the ruins of Fort Erie
Green E. The tugboat, remaining troops, and the Fenian prisoners return to Port Colborne.
Green F. The Canadian prisoners, taken from the battle at the docks, are released by the Fenian Army after being held at the ruins of Fort Erie
[Row 5] British Army Regulars led by Lt. Col. George Peacocke
[not on map]. Lt. Col. Peacocke musters the British Army Regulars in Hamilton and departs via train for Chippawa
Red 1. The British Army Regulars arrive in Chippawa and make camp
Red 2. Lt. Col. Peacocke
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
4. Battle Map 1 (selected by sliding white knob)
Red 3. Having learned that the Battle of Ridgeway was over, Lt. Col. Peacocke orders his troops to make camp in New Germany and await reinforcements
Red 4. After reinforcements arrive, the British Army Regulars depart New Germany and march toward Fort Erie
Red 5. Lt. Col. Peacock orders his troops to make camp three miles from Fort Erie
[Bottom]
Trace the movement of the troops by matching these numbers and letters to the map above
1 ... 2 ... Slide the white handle to see the Battle of Ridgeway unfold ... 3 ... 4
Never go to Canada on a hostile mission, for , just as sure as you do, you will fail, if Uncle Sam is not at your back...Major Daniel Murphy to Col. ONeill on the late disastrous movement on Canada
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, Non-US. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1866.
Location. 42° 54.285′ N, 79° 2.48′ W. Marker is in Fort Erie, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Ridgeway. It can be reached from Garrison Road, on the right when traveling west. The marker is within the Battle of
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
5. Battle Map 2 (selected by sliding white knob)
Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Map of the Battle of Ridgeway Site June 2, 1866 (here, next to this marker); The Historic Ironwood (a few steps from this marker); Berties Farmers (a few steps from this marker); Buildings on the Battlefield (a few steps from this marker); One Farm Familys Fight (a few steps from this marker); Irelands Farmers (within shouting distance of this marker); Farm Innovations (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
6. Battle Map 3 (selected by sliding white knob)
Photographed by Kevin Westell, August 14, 2025
7. Battle Map 4 (selected by sliding white knob)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. 2. submitted on September 6, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
