A Submsission from the Fort Erie Museum in Niagara, Ontario
Ridgeway in Fort Erie, Ontario – All eyes were on Ridgeway in 1866 and Fort Erie Museum Services brings a new look to the Battle of Ridgeway through an dynamic exhibit located right on the battlefield. This exhibit traces the origin of the conflict to its result – the creation of Canada. Visitors to the battlefield will gain insight into what happened and appreciate the sacrifices made here almost 150 years ago.
To mark this occasion the museum is hosting a free, special event on October 26 from 2-4 p.m. at the battlefield Activities for all ages will provide a hands-on look at 1866. A working telegraph will demonstrate the power of instant messaging. Participants can try their hand at being a war artist, like Alexander Von Erichsen who followed the Fenians and painted the invasion. Many of his watercolour images from the museum collection are included in the exhibit. Members of the Queen’s Own Rifles and the Welland Field Artillery will be on site.
Museum Administrator Jane Davies acknowledged that this exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Bertie Historical Society, Farm Credit Canada, donations in memory of Victor Miller, Fort Erie Bingo, and the Capern family. Davies noted that the national spotlight will be focused on Ridgeway with the 150th anniversary of confederation fast approaching. The events on this battleground played an important role in the formation of our country.
Local visitors to the park have enjoyed seeing the exhibit installed over the month of September. Museum Board Chair Charlie Capern said “This should help people to realize what this park is actually about and we will be all be that much richer for understanding our local heritage.”
There will be a souvenir shop associated with this event along with the sights and sounds of 1866. Bring your camera and capture all the action. Public parking will be available at All Nations Church at 3397 Garrison Road across from the battlefield.
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
The Fenian invasion and the town of Ridgeway are largely responsible for the creation of our nation. These Irish Americans were trained by participation in the US civil war and were surreptitiously backed by the US (opportunistically at a time that they knew Britain was planning reduced participation in the affairs of the Canadas) and the invasions were planned by the US military (Sweeny a West Point graduate) and launched from Buffalo NY. The plan was to interrupt rail and water (Welland Canal) communications and hold Canada ransom so the British would give concessions to Ireland. A second invasion was planned for Quebec.
The US simply assumed, as influenced by their belief in Manifest Destiny, that British Canadians would simply LOVE to become part of the US. They were obviously wrong. President Johnson, said taking Canada was simply a matter of marching in!
The US also wished to exact some revenge on Great Britain for its open and clandestine support of the Confederate navy and government. The Confederacy had many economic ties with Britain due to the cotton trade. So much for the peaceful border with the US since 1812!
After the invasion, the leaders of our land realized the importance of a trans continental railway and unification of the scattered provinces. Thus Ridgeway played a vital part in the creation of Canada. Also Great Britain basically gave the Canadian colonies notice @ 1860, that after 1870, the British taxpayer would no longer be responsible for the defense of Canada.
Tactically the Fenians won the battle in Ridgeway and O’Neill was a canny soldier with excellent pre invasion intelligence and lead what was basically a “beach head”. He withdrew when he felt the rest of the real invasion would not occur to back him up.
In Stevensville, there is a barn across from Tim Horton’s, that was built the year of the invasion and the locals supposedly temporarily suspended their labours to assist the soldiers with food and supplies while the soldiers in return may have helped them while guarding the rail lines. The date of construction is on the front of the barn.
Local historian David Owen has written a book on the Fenian invasions. There is also a book by Peter Vronsky on the invasion. (Ridgeway and the Invasion of Canada).
Also the original “remembrance day” (Decoration day) was for the remembrance of the Fenian invasion and later changed to Nov 11 after WW1. The vast number of Canadian military infantry regiments and militia date their founding to the fall of 1866 as a response to the British pull out and the invasion.
Most Canadians have no clue as to the historical significance of our Niagara Peninsula and, in particular, Ridgeway.
LikeLike
Many people these days have a lot of suspicion concerning America’s future plans for our Canada, the antics of their NSA Agency, does little to make us feel comfortable, about their world wide designs. The Americans if they invaded today would not be well received.
LikeLike