Fenian Invasion Part 5

Fenian Invasion Part 5 Earl Plato
Part 5: The Plan
The Fenian Brotherhood (the I.R.A.) had extensive plans for the invasion of Canada. Their documents in late 1865 read: “ There are to be lands chosen at the head of Passamaquoddy Bay; Saint John; the Chambly close to the foot of Lake Champlain; Prescott on the St. Lawrence; Wolfe Island at the foot of Lake Champlain;
Writer’s Note: Wolfe Island location? Check it Fenians. It’s no where close to Lake Champlain!
Also there was Hamilton; Coburg; Goderich; and Windsor all in Upper Canada ( Canada West). All the above are within convenient distances of the United States and afford by water an east retreat, as well as cunning receptacles for fresh American levies.” Our province, Ontario, would appear to be the main focus of a Fenian attack. We read on that the Irish Republican Army had by the first of April 1866. 15 million dollars that was at its disposal in ready cash. This amount would give transportation and maintenance for one month yo 30,000 men. Of this force 8,000 would carry the line of the Grand Trunk Railway west of Hamilton; 5,000 crossing Lake Ontario from Rochester, New York to Coburg. This latter force would act jointly with 3,000 men from Wolfe Island upon Kingston or to take part with the western detachment in the capture of Toronto. Believe it? Blarney? They said about the above plans. “ All this, it is believed will be the work of two weeks.” The ultimate blarney, eh! What’s missing in the plans above? Buffalo, New York is not mentioned nor is Fort Erie of our Niagara Peninsula where the actual invasion occurred on June 1st, 1866. Was this Fenian document just pure propaganda (blarney) for our Canadian spies to report back with the frightening news of an impending invasion. Would we Canadians be frightened into submission? The Fenian dream included more in that document, “ The green flag of Ireland will scour all the bays and gulfs in Canada; a Fenian fleet from San Francisco will carry Vancouver and the Fraser River country.“
Writer’s note: Do you get the picture? Blarney or not Canada was being threatened. Reality? Eventually O’Neil and only some 2,000 Fenians crossed the Niagara River north of Fort Erie. The little Battle of Ridgeway followed. Important in our history? I think so. A year later July 1st, 1867 four colonies, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia joined in Confederation.
Did you visit historic Fort Erie and see the Battle of Ridgeway Re-enactment? It’s your history.
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A plaque was unveiled by Lincoln Alexander, Chairman of our Ontario Heritage Trust, on rainy Saturday, June 3rd, 2006. Finally a greater recognition of our stand against the Fenian invaders. The plaque will eventually be on the Friendship Trail at the site of where the Ridgeway Rail Station once stood. This is where our soldiers disembarked for the Battle. Next: The Epilogue