The Fenian Invasion of Canada
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The Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish republican organization founded in the United States in 1858, launched an unsuccessful invasion of Canada in 1866 in hopes of using captured territory as leverage to secure Irish independence. Led by General Thomas Sweeny and Colonel John O'Neil, over 1,000 Fenian members crossed the border from Buffalo, New York into Canada but were ultimately defeated by British and Canadian forces. The failed invasion highlighted growing tensions between Irish-American nationalists and supporters of British rule in Ireland.
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The Fenian Invasion of Canada
- 1. The Fenian Invasion of Canada Jim Mayer
- 2. “We are the Fenian Brotherhood, skilled in the arts of war, And we're going to fight for Ireland, the land we adore, Many battles we have won, along with the boys in blue, And we'll go and capture Canada, for we've nothing else to do." -Fenian soldier's song
- 3. Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke • Strongbow • Invaded Ireland with his Archers in 1167 • Conquered Irish Chieftains around Dublin • Claimed Ireland for Britain
- 4. Henry II - King of England • 1169 Arrived at Waterford • Took Lands from Strongbow • Gives Lands Back to Strongbow • Ireland Lost its Independence
- 5. Ireland in the 1840’s • Potato Crop Failures • Famine and Disease Took Their Toll • One Million Left Between 1846 – 1857 • Population Declined by 1.5 Million
- 6. The Irish Come to America • Came to Seek Economic Advantages • 37,000 Irish Came to Boston in 1847 • NYC had 133,000 Irish by 1850 • Buffalo had about 10,000 Irish in 1850
- 7. Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848 • Nationalism and Rebellions Swept Europe in 1848 • William Smith O’Brien a Leader of the Young Irelander Party • Founded to Free Ireland From English Rule • Thought it Could be a Bloodless rebellion
- 8. Revolt of 1848 • O’Brien Led A Group of Rebels Against The Police in Tipperary • The Only Skirmish in the Revolt • Two Rebels Were Killed by Police • O’Brien was Sentenced to be Hung Drawn and Quartered • Later Commuted to Exile in Tasmania
- 9. James Stephens & John O’Mahoney
- 10. James Stephens • Made His Way Back to Ireland in 1856 • Did his 3000 Mile Walk Through Ireland • Met up with Others From the Revolt of 1848
- 11. John O’Mahoney • Came to New York City in 1854 • Took Part in the Emmet Monument Association and other Irish Organizations • In 1857 He Sent a Message Back to Stephens • Stephens Agreed Raise up a Force of 10,000 Men if the Emmet Monument Association would send Money to the IRB • Upon O’Mahoney’s Agreement the Irish Republican Brotherhood was Formed • O’Mahoney Founded the Fenian Brotherhood in America shortly thereafter
- 12. The Fenian Brotherhood • In 1859 the American Branch of the IRB changed its name to the Fenian Brotherhood • Started a Weekly Newspaper to Recruit Members and Raise Money • Organized into Circles – O’Mahoney is Head Center • Circles for each State and smaller Circles within the State • Circles Appeared in New England states, New York, Midwest, Great Lakes region
- 14. The Movement of ‘65 • Going to strike a blow for Freedom on the Emerald Isle • Fenian Brotherhood raised about $200,000 along with arms and ammunition • The ship Erin’s Hope was crossing the Atlantic with the weapons • September 14, 1865, the English authorities took the ship and raided the offices of the Irish Republican Brotherhood • Effectively shut down the IRB and left the Fenian Brotherhood to as the dominant force for Irish Independence
- 15. The Irish Republic • Cincinnati Convention of the FB held in 1865 • Representatives from every State • Gave up the idea of Military action in Ireland itself • Organized FB to be the Irish Republic • Issued “Bank Notes” payable with interest six months after the acknowledgement of “The Irish Free State”
- 16. Thomas William Sweeny • Born 1820 in Cork Ireland • Fought in Mexican-American War • General in Union Army in Civil War • Secretary of War for the Fenian Brotherhood • Planned the Invasion of Canada
- 18. Col. John O’Neil • Born March 8, 1834 in Ireland • Came to America in 1848 • Joined US 2nd Calvary in 1857 • Veteran of the Civil War
- 20. The Invasion
- 34. A Buffalo Fenian Funeral
Editor's Notes
- I’LL END YOUR SUSPENSE FENIANS WOULD INVADE CANADA ATTEMPTING TO FREE IRELAND BY RANSOMING CANADA FOR IT PEOPLE IN IRELAND ALL KNOW ABOUT THE FENIAN INVASION BUT MOST PEOPLE IN BUFFALO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT NOW IF YOU GO TO IRELAND YOU WILL NOT BE SHOCKED WHEN YOU TELL THEM YOUR FROM BUFFALO AND THEY TALK ABOUT THE FENIAN INVASION
- “WE’VE NOTHING ELSE TO DO” MAKES YOU THINK IT WAS A BUNCH OF DRUNKEN IRISHMAN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO WAS MUCH MORE THAT THAT LAST DITCH EFFORT TO FREE IRELAND FROM THE ENGLISH OPPRESSION
- OUR STORY BEGINS IN 1167 – DON’T WORRY WE WILL SKIP A FEW CENTURIES
- ARRIVED A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER TOOK LANDS AND GAVE THEM BACK SO THEY ARE NOW OWNED BY KING OF ENGLAND
- THE 1840’S WERE REAL HARD TMES IN IRELAND A LOT OF THE IRISH BLAMED ENGLAND FOR THE CROP FAILURES AND DISEASE ABOUT 1/5 OF THE POPULATION 0F IRELAND WAS GONE ABOUT ONE MILLION LEFT TO FIND BETTER PLACES TO LIVE
- SOME OF THE IRISH WENT TO ENGLAND – MOST CAME TO AMERICA SETTLED IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY MOSTLY IN THE NORTHEAST BUFFALO HAS A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 42,000 ALMOST 10% OF THE POPULATION WAS IRISH
- EUROPE BEING SWEPT WITH A ROMANTIC NATIONALISM YOUNG IRELANDER PARTY WAS VERY ANTI-BRITISH AND WAS FORMED TO EXPEL THE ENGLISH
- ONLY ONE SKIRMISH IN THE REVOLT REBELS WERE COMING DOWN A STREET – POLICE COMING THE OTHER WAY POLICE DIDN’T WANT A SKIRMISH AND HEADED DOWN ANOTHER STREET THE YOUNG IRELANDERS GAVE CHASE POLICE HELD UP IN A FARM HOUSE WITH THE FAMILY THAT LIVED THERE REBELS WENT TO WINDOW TO TALK TO POLICE NOT SURE WHO SHOT FIRST BUT 2 REBELS DIED
- Both were leaders in the Young Irelanders Both Escaped to Paris They would found the Fenian Brotherhood AND IRISH STEPHENS WOULD FOUND THE IRISH REPUBLICAN BROTHERHOOD IN IRELAND O’MAHONEY WOULD START TO AMERICAN BRANCH – EVENTUALLY CALLED THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD
- WOULD GO ON TO FOUND THE IRISH REPUBLICAN BROTHERHOOD IN 1858
- HE CONTACTED STEPHENS AND TOLD HIM HE SHOULD SET UP AN ORGANIZATION IN IRELAND
- O’MAHONEY WAS HEAD CENTER OF THE AMERICAN CIRCLE. LOOKED LIKE HE WAS UNDER STEPHENS AND WANTED TO SHOW HIS INDEPENDENCE. Took Name from the leader of Ireland’s pre-Christian militia Finn MacCuhal who ruled the old Kingdom until his death in 248 AD. The “Fianna Eirionn” were a specially trained warriors. The cream of Irish manhood in the pre-Norman days.
- AMERICAN CIVIL WAR HURT AND HELPED THE FENIAN’S THINGS ON HOLD AS THE IRISH FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR HELPED GIVE THEM A FORCE OF BATTLE HARDENED VETERANS PUT TENSION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND US THOUGHT UNITED STATES WOULD NOT OPPOSE THE INVASION
- The Fenians drew up a Constitution and proclaimed themselves the Irish Republic. They thought of themselves as the Irish Government in exile. We, the Fenians of the United States and other portions of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty for the Irish race in Ireland. Invasion of Ireland was impossible. Decided on the invasion of Canada. Money came from all over. People pulled money from their meager savings.
- THERE WAS A SPLIT IN THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD O’MAHONEY’S POWER WAS REDUCED THE FENAIN SENATE WAS NOW IN POWER – WAS MUCH MORE MILITANT THEY WANTED ACTION AND THE PLANS FOR THE INVASION WERE PREPARED THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD BECAME SOLELY A MILITARY ORGANIZATION
- WAS TO BE PART OF THE CLEVELAND INVASION ACROSS LAKE ERIE LEFT NASHVILLE WITH ABOUT 115 MEN WHICH INCREASED TO 400 MEN BY THE TIME HE REACHED CLEVELAND NO BOATS WERE WAITING IN CLEVELAND TO CROSS THE LAKE HIS FORCE WAS MOVED TO BUFFALO – TO BE UNDER GENERAL WILLIAM LYNCH WHO HAD COME DOWN WITH A FEVER O’NEIL WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF A FORCE OF ABOUT 1200 MEN LATE AT NIGHT ON MAY 31, 1866 HE GAVE THE ORDER TO CROSS OVER TO CANADA
- USS Michigan later renamed USS Wolverine (1905) – Generally stationed to patrol the Great Lakes Was in Buffalo for Repairs – kept there after repairs were completed to stop the Fenians from crossing Was put on alert but the pilot Patrick Murphy and the second assistant engineer, James Kelley were missing – they returned to the ship too late to stop O’Neil’s crossing – turns out Kelley was with the Fenians and purposely delayed the USS Michigan Used wine, women and song to keep the ship’s pilot busy
- O’NEILL’S TRAIN SLOWED AS IT CAME INTO BUFFALO THE MEN JUMPED OFF IN SMALL GROUPS BUFFALO CIRCLE MEMBERS ESCORTED THEM TO HALLS, WAREHOUSES AND BARNS FENIANS WERE ON THE MOVE ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND AND THE GREAT LAKES – DIVERSIONARY MOVEMENTS SWEENEY SENT A WRITTEN ORDER FOR O’NEILL TO CROSS THE NIAGARA -
- Irish Republican Army – first time that the acronym is ever used – would die out for a while after the Fenians – but be revived later The 7th Regiment of the Fenian Army or Irish Republican Army was from Buffalo – Most regiments were comprised of men from several states – Buffalo had enough for it’s own regiment The 7th regiment was led by Colonel John Hoy, from Ohio and Illinois Streets in the Ward; Captain James McConvey from one block north of the Ward; Captain Hugh Mooney from Elk Street in the Ward; Captain Michael Lynch from Abbott and Elk; Lieutenant Edward Lonergan, a ship carpenter from the Ward; and Assistant Lieutenant Matthew O’Gorman from Elk and Chicago Streets. The rank and file of the 7th Regiment drew heavily from the Ward as well. Men like Patrick Donohue, who had fought in the 155th, secretly joined the Fenians during the war. After Donohue returned to Buffalo, he participated in the Fenian invasion into Canada. The 7th Regiments Battle flag that flew on Canadian soil is in the Buffalo History Museum.
- O’NEILL LANDED IN FORT ERIE HE HAD NO MAPS AND THEY BROUGHT NO FOOD SET HIS COMMAND POST AT NEWBIGGING FARM ALONG FRENCHMAN’S CREEK WERE TO CAPTURE THE RAIL CARS BUT THEY WERE GONE WERE TO CAPTURE HORSES BUT THE FARMERS HAD FREED THEM CUT TELEGRAPH LINES AND TOOK UP RAIL TRACKS GOT WORD THAT AS MANY AS 3000 MEN WERE MOVING TO OPPOSE HIS LANDING O’NEILL NEW THE RED CATS WERE CAMPED NEAR CHIPPAWA – THEY WOULD KNOW WHEN HE WAS MOVING MOVED NORTH ALONG THE RIVER TO MEET THEM BUT THEN TURNED AND HEADED TO PORT COLBORNE TO CAPTURE THE CANAL BRITISH AND CANADIAN TROOPS WERE MASSING AT CHIPPAWA TO MEET O’NEILL’S FORCES – INTENDED TO MEET THEM AT BLACK CREEK ANOTHER FORCE WAS MASSING AT ORT COLBORNE UNDER Lt Col DENNIS – SENT MEN INTO FORT ERIE – WANTED TO BRING HIS WHOLE FORCE TO FORT ERIE TO GET BEHIND O’NEILL ORDERED TO MEET PEACOCKE AT STEVENSVILLE TO CREATE A PINCER ACTION WHEN THERE WERE NO FENIANS AT BLACK CREEK COL PEACOCKE HEADED TO STEVENSVILLE O’NEILL HAD TURNED AND BROUGHT HIS MEN TO LIME RIDGE NEAR RIDGEWAY
- This is the classic picture of the Battle Historically it is inaccurate – Never formed Battle lines The Fenian’s basic uniform was a green shirt and black hat – most wore the pants from their Civil War uniform
- Green – 2nd Battalion Queen’s Own Rifles – Toronto Red – 13th Battalion Volunteer Infantry – Hamilton Yellow – Caladonia and York Country Companies Blue – Fenian Brotherhood – Irish Republican Army Canadians begin to advance against the Fenian skirmishers. Main force stays north of Bertie Road
- 7:45 – 8:00 AM – JUNE 2, 1866 FENIANS RETIRE LURING THE CANADIANS TOWARDS THEIR MAIN FORCE CANADA’S FIRST CASUALTY IS MALCOLM McEACHREN IS KILLED NEAR FENCE 2 AT THE EDGE OF THE WHEATFIELD
- 8:00 – 8:15 AM – JUNE 2, 1866 QUEENS OWN RIFLES PURSUE RETIRING FENIANS WHILE THE 13TH HAMILTON ADVANCE ALONG THE ROAD
- 8:15 – 9:30 AM – June 2, 1866 QOR COMPANIES BEGIN TO RUN OUT OF AMMUNITION – 13TH BATTALION COMPANIES RELIEVE THEM FENIAN MAIN BATTLE GROUP BEGINS TO ADVANCE AFTER REGROUPING WITH THE SKIRMISHERS AND WILL THEN CHARGE CANADIAN RANKS BREAK
- 4:00 – 5:30 PM – JUNE 2, 1866 RED – WELLAND CANAL FIELD BATTERY AND DUNNVILLE NAVAL BRIGADE ABOUT 800 FENIANS RETURN TO THE TOWN OF FORT ERIE AFTER THEIR VICTORY AT LIMESTONE RIDGE 71 CANADIANS ATTEMPT TO MAKE A STAND
- Battle of Pigeon Hill – June 9, 1866 Battle of Eccles Hill – May 25, 1870
- John O’Neill became a hero for the Fenians He would invade Canada two more times 1870 he led the Fenians in the battle of Eccles Hill – Canadians knew he was coming He was captured by the Americans – sentenced to two years – pardoned after about 4 months 1871 he led an attack on Pembina, Manitoba – land was disputed he was arrested again by the Americans
- July 29, 1867 – Funeral for Sergeant Lynch – died of battle wounds a year later Fenian sergeants in uniform brought the body to church – Priest refused to say the funeral until uniformed Fenians left – took body from church and brought him to Holy Cross Cemetery
- Buffalo’s Fenian Monument Towpath Park, One Hertel Avenue – Dedicated March 16, 2012 by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Fenian Invasion is much better known in Ireland than in Buffalo Fenian’s can claim a success with few parallels in military history The Act of Confederation was passed in 1867 creating an independent Canada