Canada Under Attack: Irish-American Veterans of the Civil War and Their Fenian Campaign to Conquer Canada

The author points out that Irish Americans who had fought in the United States Civil War emerged from that conflict with new military skills. As well, many of these Irish immigrants were fervent supporters of the Irish independence movement. Irish revolutionary leaders saw an opportunity to break Britain's hated control of their country by attacking Britain's North American colonies. They expected Canadians, especially in Quebec, to welcome a defeat of the colonial rulers. The author describes how the Fenians, as the Irish revolutionaries were known, mounted their attacks into what is now Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick. There were two Fenian raids into Quebec, both in Missisquoi County in the Eastern Townships. The first occurred in 1866 and the second in 1870. The author points out that it took the combined effort of British troops in Canada and the Canadian militia -- plus some good luck -- to repel the invaders and end the threat.

Toronto, ON

Lorimer

2015

en