The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-15
THE FENIAN RAIDS

In view of the fears expressed by some Canadians of an attempted Ger man-American invasion of Canada, unusual interest attaches to the fact that this year marks the semi i-centen- ary of the Fenian raids, when a large number of Irish-Arnericans joined in en attempt to make the soil of the United States a base for hostile ope- rations against the British provinces. At that time the tension between Great Britain and the United States was more acute than at any other pe- riod in the last century, The keen feelings of animosity found expression in the abrogation of the Canadian re- ciprocity treaty. The Fenian Broth erhooG of Irish revolutionaries took, advantage of this state of affairs to 1uanch a movement calculated to fur ther embroil the United States and England. The principal factor in the temporary success of the Fenians was the fact that large numbers of Irish soldiers had been disbanded, and, as many of them were unable to find suit able employment, they were naturally ripe for trouble. The Irish have always been a fighting race, and prob ably many of them were animated as much by a desire for a ''rookus" as by deep devotion to the Irish cause.
 After several months of public
 
 and near the border, the situation reached a critical stage in March of 1866. Just fifty years ago to-day, on March IS, 1886, ten thousand Vo1un- teers were called out in Canada to re- pei the threatened invasion of the Fen ians. The call, issued by Major General Sir F. l.. McDouga11, com mander of the forces in British Amer ica, met with an immediate response, and 14,00O men appeared on parade the following day. It was confi- dent1y expected that the invasion would begin on St. Patrick's Day. but the Fenian leaders evidently concluded that the time was not ripe, and the festival of 1re1and's patron saint passed without trouble. In the meantime the Washington au- thorttfes were keeping a close watch along the border, although no attempt was made to interfere with the meet ings and p10ttings of the society which had for it's object ''to free and regen- crate Ireland from the yoke of Eng land.'' Mass meetings of the Fenians were held in New York and other cit ies during the month of March, when the invasion of Canada was openly urged.
 1he Canadian volunteers remained or duty along the border for some W eeks, but by May most of them were [ ernftted to return to their homes. In April several hundred FenianS had assembled in Eastport, Maine, and threatened New Brunswick, but the United States authorities fnterfered and the calling out of the provincial militia completed their discourage ment. In May the United States seiz- ed several thousand stands of arms sent to border towns.
 The actual invasion did not com mence until the first of June, 1866, when about 1,5O0 Irfshrnen, who had assembled in Buffalo, crossed the Mi agara river Within a day or two the invaders were cor lronted by about D. 300 men, of whom about 500 were British regulars and the remainder Canadian militia. In the first clash ''the battle of Ridgeway,'' a force of $40 militia was forced to retreat, with a loss of nine killed and thirty wound ed. The F'enians had planned to de- stroy the Wel1and canal, but they were quickly turned back and fled across the river to Buffalo. About 700 of the Fenians were captured by the United States authorities, and were given brief terms of Imprisonment. For some time Fenians continued to threaten an invasion, but few crossed the frontier, and they did not remain long. In 1870 another invasion was threatened, and 200 Fenians crossed the border, but were defeated and driven back. The following year a small band crossed into Manitoba, but were followed by United States troops and taken back. That was the end.