An overlooked skirmish that occurred on Canadian territory a year before Confederation might not resonate widely in Canadian historical memory beyond Fort Erie, Ont., but it holds significance on several historical fronts.
The 1866 Battle of Ridgeway, also known as Limestone Ridge, marked the first instance where Canadian troops, under the command of Canadian officers, engaged in combat. This event also inspired Decoration Day, a precursor to Remembrance Day, observed annually in certain regions of the country.
Despite the battle resulting in the deaths of nine individuals, these fallen soldiers are absent from the Books of Remembrance, a collection on Parliament Hill commemorating those who perished while serving Canada. A new petition, to be presented in the House of Commons, aims to include the names of these nine men and the numerous others who lost their lives following the battle.
Conservative MP Fred Davies, who is championing the petition in Parliament, emphasized the importance of acknowledging those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend Canada. Representing the Niagara South riding, which encompasses Fort Erie, Davies expressed his personal connection to the battle site, underscoring the need for national recognition of this historical event.
The Battle of Ridgeway was not a clear victory for the Canadians, as inexperienced volunteers confronted seasoned Fenian raiders, many of whom were veterans of the American Civil War. The Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish American movement advocating for Irish independence from British rule, sought to achieve their objective by invading and occupying parts of British North America.
In response, hundreds of raiders crossed the Niagara River with intentions to target the Welland Canal, only to be met by around 800 Canadian volunteers from various regiments at Limestone Ridge near Ridgeway and Fort Erie. Despite the Canadians engaging the invaders and exchanging fire, they eventually dispersed in a somewhat disorganized retreat following a Fenian bayonet charge. Nevertheless, the Fenians abandoned their incursion post-battle and retreated back to the U.S. side of the Niagara River.
Historian Peter Vronsky, author of the book “Ridgeway: The American Fenian Invasion And The 1866 Battle That Made Canada,” praised the swift mobilization of Canadians from the Golden Horseshoe region. However, he highlighted the lack of preparation on the Canadian side for what he described as Canada’s inaugural modern battle.
Davies stressed that while Ridgeway was a battlefield defeat, it does not diminish the valor of those who laid down their lives defending Canada against an invading force. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and honoring these individuals for their sacrifice.
A memorial commemorating the nine fallen soldiers from Ridgeway was unveiled on the battle’s 150th anniversary in 2016. Despite efforts by Fort Erie officials to include their names in the Books of Remembrance, these attempts have been unsuccessful thus far.
While the battle predates the establishment of Canada as a nation, the Books of Remembrance include names of soldiers who perished before Confederation, such as during the War of 1812. Redekop, Davies, and Vronsky all suggested that the Battle of Ridgeway had a direct impact on the Confederation process, influencing those hesitant to support the idea.
Numerous regiments that participated in the 1866 battle persist to this day, including the Queen’s Own Rifles and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Vronsky described Ridgeway as a pivotal moment that tested and solidified the foundation of modern Canadian armed forces.
Alexander Muir, the composer of “The Maple Leaf Forever,” composed the patriotic ballad after participating in the Battle of Ridgeway. It is believed that his inspiration stemmed from a silver maple tree in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood. Vronsky suggested an alternate theory, proposing that Muir’s inspiration could have been the maple leaf emblem of the Queen’s Own Rifles, the regiment he fought alongside during the battle.
“In essence, this battle signified Canadians fighting for their own communities rather than merely as British colonial subjects,” Vronsky remarked. “Their allegiance was first to the maple leaf and second to the Crown.”