The Attack of the Fenians,In 1863,a group of Irish expatriates met in Chicago and founded a new secr

The Attack of the Fenians,In 1863,a group of Irish expatriates met in Chicago and founded a new secret society with the goal of freeing Ireland from British rule called the Fenian Brotherhood. The elected officers, most notably Irish rebel named John O’Mahoney as president.  The Fenians had an especially interesting plan to free Ireland; to organize an army of Irish and Irish Americans, invade and conquer Canada, and use Canada as a bargaining chip to trade for Irish independence.  Over the next three years the Fenian Brotherhood recruited men and sold bonds in order to raise funds for arms.  Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenians conducted several raids into Canada, however the largest was an invasion called the Niagara Raid.  On June 1st, 1866, 1,000 - 1,300 Fenians, crossed the Niagara River from Buffalo with the goal of capturing Ontario.  The Fenians made no secret of their goals, both American and Canadian authorities were well aware of the invasion. Waiting to meet them at the neighboring town of Ridgeway were 850 Canadian militiamen.  For an hour and a half the two armies traded musket volleys.  The Canadian militia were no match for the Fenians, most of whom were battle hardened veterans of the American Civil War. Many of the Canadians had never even fired their weapons before. The Canadian lines wavered first, and were immediately broken by a Fenian bayonet charge.  31 Canadians were killed and over 100 were wounded, while the Fenians lost around 4-6 men.The Fenians had won a major victory, however events in the United States would doom their expedition.  The Fenians believed that the United States would support their invasion.  Instead the US Government condemned the invasion, sending a force of Federal troops to Buffalo to prevent the Fenians from further crossing the border.  Cut off from supplies and reinforcements, and with word that a 5,000 man force including British regulars were mobilizing for a counterattack, the Fenians decided to retreat back to the United States.  On the way they were met by a small force of Canadian artillery troops armed as infantrymen at Fort Erie, who were quickly and easily routed.  The Fenians then crossed the border to Buffalo, surrendering their arms to waiting Federal agents. At its height, the Fenians claimed an army of 6,000 soldiers, which were paraded in Philadelphia in December of 1867.  However, despite their size the Fenians would never mount an invasion of Canada comparable to the size or success of the Niagara Raid again.  Between 1866 and 1871 a number of smaller raids would occur, all of which accomplished nothing. -- source link

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