User:Tartarus/sandbox/Pigeon Hill

Pigeon Hill Raid
Part of the Fenian Raids
Date 7 June 1866 Location Ridgeway, Ontario Result Canadian victory
Belligerents
Fenian Brotherhood	Province of Canada
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Gen. Samuel Spear	Lt. Col. Alfred Booker
Strength
1000

The Pigeon Hill Raid was fought at Pigeon Hill, Frelighsburg, St. Armand and Stanbridge, currently Ontario, Canada, on June 7, 1866, between Canadian troops and an irregular army of Irish-American invaders, the Fenians.

Battle

During the Fenian Invasion into Canada, the former Confederate soldiers under the command of General Samuel Spear, called the Fenian Brotherhood, invaded Canada West. This, however, failed and the Fenians instead concentrated their efforts on Canada East. The American Government, however, had begun to impede Fenian activities, and arrested many Fenian leaders. General Samuel Spear of the Fenians managed to escape arrest and, on 7 June 1866, Spear and his 1000 men moved into Canada East and captured Pigeon Hill, Frelighsburg, St. Armand and Stanbridge. At this point the Canadian government had done little to defend the border, but on June 8 Canadian forces arrived at Pigeon Hill and the Fenians, who were low on arms, ammunition and supplies, promptly surrendered, ending the raid on Canada East.