An overlooked clash that occurred on Canadian territory just a year before Confederation might not hold a prominent place in the historical memory of Canadians beyond Fort Erie, Ontario. However, the Battle of Ridgeway – also known as Limestone Ridge – in 1866 marked significant milestones in Canadian history. It stands out as the first instance where Canadian forces, under Canadian leadership, engaged in combat. Additionally, it served as the inspiration for Decoration Day, a predecessor to Remembrance Day observed in various regions annually.
Despite these historical significances, the nine individuals who lost their lives in the battle are notably absent from the Books of Remembrance, a collection on Parliament Hill commemorating soldiers who perished in service to Canada. A fresh petition, slated for presentation in the House of Commons, aims to rectify this omission by advocating for the inclusion of these fallen soldiers and the numerous others who died following the battle.
Conservative MP Fred Davies, the petition’s sponsor in Parliament, emphasized the importance of acknowledging those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend Canada. Representing the Niagara South riding that encompasses Fort Erie, where the battle unfolded, Davies expressed a personal connection to the site, underscoring the necessity for national recognition of its historical significance.
The Battle of Ridgeway did not culminate in a resounding victory for the Canadian forces. Volunteer fighters, lacking experience, confronted Fenian raiders, predominantly veterans of the American Civil War. The Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish American movement advocating for Irish independence from British rule, sought to seize parts of British North America as leverage for their cause. In response, around 800 Canadian volunteers from various regiments mobilized at Limestone Ridge to thwart the invasion near Ridgeway and Fort Erie.
Historian Peter Vronsky, author of “Ridgeway: The American Fenian Invasion And The 1866 Battle That Made Canada,” lauded the swift mobilization of Canadians from the Golden Horseshoe region. However, he noted the ill-preparedness of Canadian troops for what he described as Canada’s inaugural modern battle, lacking essentials like food, water, proper footwear, and ammunition.
Despite the Canadian forces engaging the raiders in combat and exchanging gunfire, they eventually dispersed in a disorderly retreat following a Fenian bayonet charge. Nonetheless, the Fenians abandoned their incursion post-battle and retreated to the U.S. side of the Niagara River. Davies emphasized that while the battle ended in defeat, the valor and sacrifice of those who perished while defending Canada remain undiminished.
A memorial dedicated to the nine fallen soldiers of Ridgeway was erected in 2016, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the battle. Efforts by Fort Erie officials to have these soldiers recognized in the Books of Remembrance have been unsuccessful to date. Mayor Wayne Redekop stressed the importance of honoring these individuals for their role in shaping Canada’s history, despite the battle occurring before the country’s official formation.
Vronsky, Redekop, and Davies underscored the battle’s influence on Confederation, suggesting it played a pivotal role in uniting Canadians. Notably, regiments that participated in the 1866 battle, such as the Queen’s Own Rifles and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, continue to exist today, symbolizing the inception of Canada’s modern armed forces.
Alexander Muir, renowned for composing “The Maple Leaf Forever,” fought in the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866. It is believed that his inspiration for the patriotic ballad stemmed from a silver maple tree in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood. Vronsky proposed an alternative theory, suggesting 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. This battle marked a turning point where Canadians fought not only for the British Crown but primarily for their own communities and identities.