A little-known clash that occurred on Canadian territory just a year before Confederation may not resonate widely in the historical memory of Canadians beyond the Fort Erie, Ontario community, yet it holds several significant historical distinctions.
The 1866 Battle of Ridgeway, also known as Limestone Ridge, marked the first instance of a battle fought by Canadian soldiers under Canadian leadership. This event also served as the inspiration for Decoration Day, a precursor to Remembrance Day observed in certain regions annually. Despite this, the nine individuals who perished in the battle are absent from the Books of Remembrance, a compilation on Parliament Hill cataloging the names of soldiers who perished in service to Canada.
A fresh petition scheduled for presentation in the House of Commons aims to include these nine fallen individuals and the numerous others who died following the battle into the list. Conservative MP Fred Davies, the advocate behind the petition, emphasized the importance of honoring those who gave their lives in defense of Canada.
The constituency Davies represents, Niagara South, encompasses Fort Erie where the historic battle unfolded. Davies, who frequently passes by Limestone Ridge, expressed a personal commitment to ensuring national recognition for this site.
The Battle of Ridgeway narrative does not highlight a clear-cut Canadian triumph. Novice volunteers confronted Fenian raiders, many of whom were veterans of the American Civil War. The Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish American movement aspiring for Irish independence from the British Crown, sought to achieve this goal by invading and occupying sections of British North America to leverage for Irish autonomy.
In 1866, a group of raiders crossed the Niagara River with intentions to target the Welland Canal, encountering around 800 Canadian volunteers from various regiments at Limestone Ridge near Ridgeway and Fort Erie.
Historian Peter Vronsky, author of “Ridgeway: The American Fenian Invasion And The 1866 Battle That Made Canada,” commended the rapid mobilization of hundreds of Canadians from the Golden Horseshoe region, albeit ill-prepared for what he described as Canada’s inaugural modern battle.
The Canadians engaged in combat without essential supplies like food, water, and proper footwear, coupled with an ammunition shortage. Although they initiated an exchange of fire with the invaders, the Canadians eventually dispersed in a somewhat disorderly retreat following a Fenian bayonet charge. Nevertheless, the Fenians relinquished their incursion after the clash and retreated to the U.S. side of the Niagara River.
Davies acknowledged the battlefield setback at Ridgeway but emphasized the valor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending Canada against intruders.
A memorial dedicated to the nine individuals who perished at Ridgeway was unveiled on the battle’s 150th anniversary in 2016. Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop stressed the importance of acknowledging these individuals’ role in shaping Canada’s history.
While the battle transpired before the formal establishment of Canada, soldiers whose deaths predate Confederation, including those from the War of 1812, are included in the Books of Remembrance. Redekop, Davies, and Vronsky all suggested that the battle significantly influenced Confederation.
Vronsky contended that the battle encouraged hesitant individuals to support the concept of Confederation. He highlighted the enduring presence of regiments that participated in the 1866 battle, such as the Queen’s Own Rifles and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, as a testament to the evolution of Canada’s armed forces.
Alexander Muir, renowned for composing “The Maple Leaf Forever,” penned this patriotic ballad after fighting in the 1866 battle. It is believed that the falling leaves of a silver maple tree in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood inspired Muir. Vronsky proposed that Muir might have drawn inspiration from the maple leaf forming the insignia of the Queen’s Own Rifles, the regiment he served with during the Battle of Ridgeway.
The Battle of Ridgeway holds significance as the initial conflict where Canadians consciously fought for their local communities ahead of their allegiance to the British Crown, embodying a shift towards a national identity.
