When the Irish Invaded Canada

by Christopher Klein

  On April 16, Meade received a telegram: Meade, Life and Letters, 2:285.

  Aboard were 129 cases: Boston Journal, April 25, 1866.

  “urging that the arms”: Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, 2:486.

  Although dressed in civilian clothes: Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, 16:109–10.

  The general immediately ordered: Davis, “Fenian Raid on New Brunswick,” 327.

  He also told the leaders: Meade, Life and Letters, 2:284–85.

  The explanation was laughable: Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, 16:109–10.

  “Requisition cannot be filled”: Official Report of the Investigating Committee, 42.

  The fire destroyed: Correspondence Relating to the Fenian Invasion and the Rebellion of the Southern States, 167–70.

  After rounding one of the islands: Davis, “Fenian Raid on New Brunswick,” 331.

  They then sank: Official Report of the Investigating Committee, 56–57.

  In spite of his political: Maine Farmer, April 26, 1866.

  Meade reported to Grant: Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, 16:110–13.

  Upset that they could only: Daily Eastern Argus, April 28, 1866.

  General Meade, who had caught: Meade, Life and Letters, 2:285.

  “Moffat Mansion farce”: New York Herald, May 7, 1866.

  members of the Roberts wing chortled: Irish-American, April 28, 1866.

  It caused some Canadians: Chronicle Herald, July 2, 2017.

  “The failure of this project”: McLean, “Competing Fenianisms,” 135.

  Many of the disappointed: Morning Freeman, May 1, 1866.

  “Let us unite”: Army and Navy Journal, May 12, 1866.

  When the head center refused: New York World, May 1, 1866.

  The tribunal discovered: Official Report of the Investigating Committee, 47–51.

  In addition, even without proof: Libby, “Maine and the Fenian Invasion of Canada,” 244–45.

  Before he could be expelled: New York World, May 1, 1866.

  Chapter 6: Erin’s Boys

  Donations to Moffat Mansion: Baltimore Daily Commercial, May 2, 1866.

  The sullen O’Mahony exchanged: New York World, May 11, 1866.

  Stephens appeared on the hotel’s balcony: James Stephens, Chief Organizer of the Irish Republic, 97.

  In a brief address: Buffalo Commercial, May 11, 1866.

  “In consenting to”: James Stephens, Chief Organizer, the Irish Republic, 98.

  “In sanctioning this divergence”: New York Herald, May 12, 1866.

  “mad and most inglorious fiasco”: Pender, “Fenian Papers,” Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 81 (1976): 124.

  Reunification prospects further dimmed: Sayers, “John O’Mahony,” 307.

  For his part, Roberts accused: Nashville Daily Union, May 26, 1866.

  The twenty-eight clerks: Buffalo Express, May 5, 1866.

  Layers of dust: Louisville Courier Journal, Jan. 3, 1866.

  With circles no longer: Baltimore Sun, May 16, 1866.

  Stephens moved the Fenian headquarters: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 25, 1866.

  After hearing news of: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 255–56.

  So, with the burden: Sim, Union Forever, 90.

  To the west: Hunt, Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue, 607.

  Samuel Perkins Spear: Ibid., 575.

  Following the well-trodden path: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 266–72.

  “With the revenues”: Ibid., 272.

  When the guns finally fell silent: McCollum, “Needham Musket Conversion.”

  Fenian operatives could purchase: Buffalo Commercial, April 27, 1866.

  While many of the Fenian Brotherhood: Taylor, “In Queen Victoria’s Secret Service,” 58.

  Sweeny also dispatched Tevis: Bilby, “Black Powder, White Smoke,” 6.

  The Fenians ultimately acquired: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 233.

  The Fenian war secretary: Vronsky, “Combat, Memory, and Remembrance in Confederation Era Canada,” 68.

  According to one account: “Untold Story of the Intelligent Whale.”

  His original plan called for: D’Arcy, Fenian Movement, 145–46.

  “I wept over”: An Phoblacht, Jan. 27, 2000.

  “The man dies”: Emmet, Life, Trial, and Conversations, 111.

  At least thirteen thousand people: Department of Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht, “National Famine Commemoration.”

  Clontibret lost over 17 percent: John Makem interview.

  He had a horse shot out: John O’Neill pension file, 575.926, National Archives and Records Administration.

  “If resolutions could give liberty”: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 3–4, 32.

  “There is no spot of earth”: Noonan, “General John O’Neill,” 315.

  So militant had O’Neill: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 31.

  Similar scenes played out: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 240–41.

  “Come at once”: Donlon, “John O’Keeffe and the Fenian Brotherhood in the American West and Midwest,” 90–91.

  The second lieutenant: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  Born in Clontibret: Fredericks, “Growth of the Catholic Church in Anderson, Indiana,” 25.

  Knowing their pastor had limited means: Index to Reports of Committee of the House of Representatives, 40th Cong., 2nd Sess., 2.

  As O’Neill rode north: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 37.

  “Everything in connection with them”: New York World, May 31, 1866.

  In response, Sweeny ordered: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 242.

  To the Seventh Regiment: Irish-American, Dec. 13, 1902.

  Fenian sympathizers who worked: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 238.

  Many of the crates: Finerty, “Thirty Years of Ireland’s Battle—V,” 279.

  “ignorant little Irishman”: D’Arcy, Fenian Movement, 148–49.

  “We don’t wish them”: Buffalo Courier, June 1, 1866.

  “This town is full”: Senior, Last Invasion of Canada, 61.

  “I cannot conceive it”: D’Arcy, Fenian Movement, 157.

  The U.S. attorney William A. Dart: Ibid., 158.

  Hynes held in his hands: Hartford Courant, June 2, 1866.

  Hynes looked at O’Neill: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 37.

  “good and true to the cause”: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 217–18.

  While the Irish Republican Army mobilized: Damian Shiels, “Medal of Honor: Boatswain’s Mate Patrick Murphy, U.S.S. Metacomet,” Irish in the American Civil War, Feb. 22, 2015, irishamericancivilwar.com.

  To a chorus of cheers: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 48.

  Chapter 7: A Lawless and Piratical Band

  On the night of May 31, 1866: Junor, “Taken Prisoner by the Fenians,” 86–87.

  Although many militiamen: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 66–76.

  The new commander of the Queen’s Own Rifles: Radforth, “Highly Promising Youths,” 21.

  Not until 2:00 p.m.: Niagara Falls Review, Nov. 5, 2016.

  “The soil of Canada”: Macdonald, Troublous Times in Canada, 37.

  Above the moss-grown rubble: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 38.

  Using axes stolen: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 54.

  “I prevailed on the mayor”: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  “We have no issue”: Buffalo Daily C
ourier, June 5, 1866.

  O’Neill pledged that his men: Keneally, Great Shame, 440.

  However, they didn’t take any saddles: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 54.

  They offered Fenian bonds: Index to the Executive Documents of the Senate of the United States, 40th Cong., 2nd Sess., 40.

  The Fenian-contracted tugs: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 38.

  Scores of soldiers who thought: Donlon, “John O’Keeffe and the Fenian Brotherhood in the American West and Midwest,” 90–91; Finerty, “Thirty Years of Ireland’s Battle—VI,” 431.

  The Irishmen burned their extra rifles: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 39; Correspondence Respecting the Recent Fenian Aggression, 41.

  The more grizzled soldiers: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  The university student: Ellis, “Adventures of a Prisoner of War,” 199.

  Without Peacocke’s approval: Ibid., 203.

  Booker had no battle experience: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 72–73.

  As the Canadian volunteers disembarked: Correspondence Respecting the Recent Fenian Aggression, 12.

  Junor and his fellow students: Junor, “Taken Prisoner by the Fenians,” 87.

  O’Neill made his headquarters: Vronsky, “Combat, Memory, and Remembrance in Confederation Era Canada,” 133.

  The Fenians saw the familiar: Finerty, “Thirty Years of Ireland’s Battle—VI,” 433.

  Junor heard the command: Junor, “Taken Prisoner by the Fenians,” 87.

  “To most of us”: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  The Canadian skirmishers: Radforth, “Highly Promising Youths,” 21.

  They dashed from stump to stump: Martin, “Green Terror,” 52.

  Once the Fenians had emptied: Ellis, “Adventures of a Prisoner of War,” 200.

  As they progressed: Fenian Raid at Fort Erie, 43.

  Not only did the terrain: Correspondence Respecting the Recent Fenian Aggression, 12.

  With their center uncovered: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 39.

  They sounded a chorus: Irish-American, Dec. 13, 1902.

  “The cavalry are coming!”: Fenian Raid at Fort Erie, 44.

  Bugles ordered the Canadian: Junor, “Taken Prisoner by the Fenians,” 90.

  “We were all called to form”: Fenian Raid at Fort Erie, 44.

  Once Booker realized: Keneally, Great Shame, 441.

  After nearly two hours of fighting: Fenian Raid at Fort Erie, 44; Finerty, “Thirty Years of Ireland’s Battle—VI,” 433.

  Junor ran along the crossroad: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 62–63.

  The bullet pierced: Ellis and King, “Fenian Casualties and Prisoners,” 274.

  Three more succumbed: Vronsky, “Combat, Memory, and Remembrance in Confederation Era Canada,” 222.

  Toronto newspapers issued: Hartford Courant, June 2, 1866; King, King’s Handbook of Boston, 288.

  The Nation in Dublin: Wilson, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, 2:279.

  “It is difficult to believe”: Detroit Free Press, June 2, 1866.

  The Fenians had expected Canadians: Junor, “Taken Prisoner by the Fenians,” 89.

  Plus, the Irishmen in Canada: Buffalo Daily Courier, June 5, 1866.

  “I decided that my best policy”: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 39.

  The Irishmen shared pipes: Ellis, “Adventures of a Prisoner of War,” 203.

  The Irishmen arrived back: Correspondence Respecting the Recent Fenian Aggression, 18.

  The twenty-five village blocks: Vronsky, Ridgeway, 49.

  Gathered on the banks: Trial of American Citizens in Great Britain, 37.

  “Give it to them”: “Fenians Hide n’ Go Seek.”

  With his men pushed back: Correspondence Respecting the Recent Fenian Aggression, 15–18.

  The only escape route: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  O’Neill emerged victorious: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 40.

  They danced to keep warm: Junor, “Taken Prisoner by the Fenians,” 89.

  O’Neill approached O’Keeffe: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  Thirteen were killed: Ellis and King, “Fenian Casualties and Prisoners,” 271.

  After the last of his able-bodied men: Ellis, “Adventures of a Prisoner of War,” 203.

  “We would have as readily surrendered”: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 40.

  The thirteen Fenian officers: Army and Navy Journal, Jan. 12, 1867.

  When daylight arrived: Walker, Fenian Movement, 96.

  When the British troops: King, “John McMahon, Fenian Priest,” 9.

  Inside his carpetbag, the troops: Charleston Daily News, Nov. 18, 1869.

  However, the British found: Macdonald, Troublous Times in Canada, 82.

  In all, the British captured: Courier-Journal, June 16, 1866.

  They then took a tug: Inter Ocean, June 23, 1889.

  With his recommendation to impose: Meade, Life and Letters, 285–88.

  With reports arriving: Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, 16:216.

  Satisfied that O’Neill’s brief invasion: Report of Major General George G. Meade to Secretary of War, Oct. 12, 1866, in House Executive Document No. 3, 39th Cong., 2nd Sess., 42–44.

  “This is a war on the Irish”: Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, 2:518.

  Inside the undergraduate lounge: Radforth, “Highly Promising Youths,” 22.

  Sorrow turned to anger: Baltimore Sun, June 7, 1866.

  Eventually, sixty-five Fenian prisoners: Correspondence Relating to the Fenian Invasion, 141.

  “The autonomy of British America”: Boyko, Blood and Daring, 274.

  With barely enough room: Official Report of Gen. John O’Neill, 41.

  After visiting the prisoners: Boston Journal, June 8, 1866.

  The situation grew so desperate: Buffalo Evening Post, June 5, 1866.

  Some prisoners cussed out Sweeny: Finerty, “Thirty Years of Ireland’s Battle—VII,” 540.

  The Irish Republican Army believed: Buffalo Evening Post, June 8, 1866.

  Three companies of U.S. artillery troops: Inter Ocean, June 23, 1889.

  The officers lacked money: Brodsky, Grover Cleveland, 6, 29–30.

  “Gentlemen, you may not be aware”: Fenian Raid of ’66, 278.

  While detained on the USS Michigan: Hartford Courant, June 6, 1866.

  “I saw at that time”: Burlington Free Press, June 10, 1870.

  O’Keeffe saw the change: Recollections of John O’Keeffe, MHS.

  Chapter 8: Iron Wills and Brave Hearts

  “I take possession”: Andrews, “How ‘Unpreparedness’ Undid St. Albans,” 677–78.

  They even shot poor Elinus Morrison: Haynes, St. Albans, 45.

  The outrage even drove: Busseau, “Fenians Are Coming…,” 3–5.

  “Vairmont Yankee Scare Party”: Prince, Burn the Town and Sack the Banks, 136.

  The village’s most illustrious resident: Rick Beard, “When the Rebels Invaded Vermont,” New York Times, Oct. 17, 2014, www.nytimes.com.

  The seat of Franklin County: Burlington Free Press, June 1, 1866.

  Speaking in low voices: Boston Journal, June 4, 1866.

  When a delegation of town authorities: Ibid.

  With it clear that the village: Vermont Transcript, June 8, 1866.

  “the excitement among the Irish”: Wilson, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, 2:279.

  A green flag waved: Boston Journal, June 7, 1866.

  Women showed their solidarity: Irish-American, June 16, 1866.

  Even a group: St. Johnsbury Caledonian, June 15, 1866.

  The New York Times devoted: New York Times, June 2, 1866; New York Herald, June 2,
1866.

  “The whole border”: Irish-American, June 9, 1866.

  “startling but most intensely”: Ibid.

  The Fenian secretary of war: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 260.

  An officer insisted: St. Albans Messenger, June 11, 1866.

  Two weeks earlier: Ogdensburg Journal, Sept. 26, 1911.

  Customs agents found: Vermont Transcript, June 1, 1866.

  The general was outraged: Bushnell, It Happened in Vermont, 72.

  The tidy village’s weekly: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 244–45.

  Shortly after Spear: Burlington Free Press, May 31, 1866.

  “The President approves”: Burlington Free Press, June 2, 1866.

  The Fenians grew wise: McKone, Vermont’s Irish Rebel, 421–24.

  “We Irishmen are determined”: Vermont Transcript, June 8, 1866.

  Some found open arms: Boston Journal, June 4, 1866.

  Others camped in the woods: Burlington Free Press, June 5 and 4, 1866.

  Hundreds of government troops: Buffalo Evening Post, June 7, 1866.

  Sweeny convened a war council: Morgan, Through American and Irish Wars, 122.

  The general’s handpicked man: Busseau, “Fenians Are Coming…,” 13.

  Spear reported to Sweeny: Denieffe, Personal Narrative of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, 250.

  “beg, borrow, or take”: Ibid.

  “Never has there been”: Vermont Transcript, June 8, 1866.

  “think of calling out the militia”: Burlington Free Press, June 7, 1866.

  St. Albans had refused to enforce: Haynes, St. Albans, 30.

  The town’s old-timers: Bryan, Real Democracy, 6.

  “ninety-nine out of every”: Columbian, June 9, 1866.

  “Good luck to you!”: Boston Journal, June 5, 1866.

  It was no small irony: Boyko, Blood and Daring, 241–89.

  Not fully convinced of the loyalty: Dafoe, “Fenian Invasion of Quebec,” 342.

  Montreal’s mayor, Henry Starnes: Burlington Free Press, June 8, 1866.

  “Whoever is not with us”: Boston Journal, June 5, 1866.

  “You must allow me”: D’Arcy, Fenian Movement, 163.

  “all judges, magistrates, marshals”: Macdonald, Troublous Times in Canada, 117.