Battle of Ridgeway
Text from the plaque
On June 1, 1866, Irish-American revolutionaries called Fenians invaded Canada as part of an attempt to strike at Britain and support the creation of an independent Irish republic. The next morning, Canadian militiamen from the Queen's Own Rifles, the 13th Battalion and the York and Caledonia rifle companies, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Booker, arrived here by train before marching on to battle the Fenian invaders. Contradictory orders and confusion on the battlefield coincided with a Fenian counterattack to cause the Canadians to withdraw. The Fenians retired to Fort Erie and returned to Buffalo that night. The Battle of Ridgeway shocked the country, spurring improvements to Canada's defences and helping to bolster the Confederation movement.
Transcribed from the marker, not summarised.
Find the place
The Region of Niagara
The Town of Fort Erie
In Ridgeway, on the east side of Ridge Road North
2 and a half blocks south of Dominion Road
Also recorded for this place: http://www.ridgewaybattle.ca/
N 42 52.935 W 79 03.115
Recorded August 2006. Check current access before visiting.
More information
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Where it stands
Visitors' notes
March 9, 2013
Hi. I am doing a project on the Battle of Ridgeway and I live right behind the monument. My house is on the battleground. Can anyone tell me a website for information. Thank you. Have a good day.
April 29, 2012
I grew up a short distance from the site of this battle. I've found that the national parks system's role in identifying historic places helps people both to remember and reflect on what has gone before. It certainly helped me realize there is always a context to current events. Hugh
November 15, 2011
Peter Vronsky has written a book about the battle.http://www.ridgewaybattle.ca/