An overlooked clash that occurred on Canadian territory just prior to Confederation may not resonate in the historical memory of Canadians beyond Fort Erie, Ont. However, the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866 holds significance for various historical reasons. It marked the first instance of Canadian troops led by Canadian officers engaging in combat. Additionally, it served as the inspiration for Decoration Day, a precursor to Remembrance Day observed in certain regions annually. Despite this, the names of the nine individuals who perished in the battle are notably absent from the Books of Remembrance, a compilation on Parliament Hill commemorating soldiers who lost their lives in service to Canada.
A fresh petition, scheduled for presentation in the House of Commons, advocates for the inclusion of these nine fallen soldiers and numerous others who died following the battle into the official list. Conservative MP Fred Davies, the petitioner’s sponsor in Parliament, emphasized the importance of Canada acknowledging those who made the ultimate sacrifice in its defense.
Representing the Niagara South riding encompassing Fort Erie, Davies expressed his personal connection to the site, stating, “I drive by Limestone Ridge two or three times a week and I always find myself looking at that Ridge. It sort of just digs at me that this needs to have national recognition.”
The Battle of Ridgeway did not culminate in a clear victory for Canada. Inexperienced volunteers confronted Fenian raiders, predominantly veterans from the American Civil War. The Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish American movement seeking Irish independence from British rule, endeavored to invade and claim parts of British North America to leverage for their cause.
In 1866, hundreds of raiders crossed the Niagara River with intentions to target the Welland Canal, encountering roughly 800 Canadian volunteers from various regiments at Limestone Ridge near Ridgeway and Fort Erie. Historian Peter Vronsky, author of the book “Ridgeway: The American Fenian Invasion And The 1866 Battle That Made Canada,” highlighted the rapid mobilization of Canadians from the Golden Horseshoe region but noted their lack of preparation for what he termed Canada’s inaugural modern battle.
Despite facing challenges such as inadequate provisions and ammunition shortages, the Canadian forces engaged the invaders in combat. Following a Fenian bayonet charge, the Canadians dispersed in a somewhat disorderly retreat. Nonetheless, the Fenians abandoned their incursion post-battle, retreating back to the American side of the Niagara River.
While acknowledging the battlefield defeat at Ridgeway, Davies emphasized that the valor of the fallen soldiers should not be diminished. He stated, “While the organization may have been weak and the preparation pretty much nonexistent, it does not diminish the fact that these people fought to defend Canada against an invader. That in and of itself is enough for me to [push to] provide recognition for those who died.”
In 2016, a memorial commemorating the nine individuals who lost their lives at Ridgeway was erected on the battle’s 150th anniversary. Efforts by Fort Erie to have these soldiers’ names added to the Books of Remembrance have been unsuccessful thus far, despite lobbying from the town’s mayor, Wayne Redekop, who emphasized their significant role in shaping Canada’s history.
Despite occurring before the formation of Canada as a nation, the Books of Remembrance include names of soldiers who perished prior to Confederation, such as in the War of 1812. Redekop, Davies, and Vronsky suggested that the Battle of Ridgeway played a pivotal role in the lead-up to Confederation, prompting some skeptics to align with the concept.
Several regiments that participated in the 1866 battle still exist today, including the Queen’s Own Rifles and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Vronsky underscored the significance of this battle as a test for modern armed forces.
Alexander Muir, composer of “The Maple Leaf Forever,” wrote the patriotic ballad after fighting in the Battle of Ridgeway. While it is believed he drew inspiration from a silver maple tree in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood, Vronsky proposed that Muir’s muse may have been the maple leaf forming the Queen’s Own Rifles insignia, the regiment he served with during the battle.
“It’s the first battle where Canadians consciously were now fighting for their own home community as opposed to as British colonial subjects,” Vronsky noted. “We were fighting for the maple leaf first and the Queen, the crown, second.”