A little-known clash that occurred on Canadian territory just before Confederation in a town named Fort Erie, Ontario, might not resonate widely among Canadians. However, the Battle of Ridgeway, also known as Limestone Ridge, in 1866 holds significance for several 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 parts of Canada annually. Despite this, the names of the nine individuals who perished in the battle are absent from the Books of Remembrance, a compilation on Parliament Hill commemorating soldiers who died in service to the country.
A fresh appeal, set to be introduced in the House of Commons, aims to include these nine fallen soldiers and the numerous others who lost their lives following the battle into the list. Conservative MP Fred Davies, advocating for this petition in Parliament, emphasized the importance of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of Canada. Representing the Niagara South riding, which encompasses Fort Erie, Davies expressed a personal connection to the battle site, underscoring the need for national acknowledgment.
The Battle of Ridgeway did not culminate in a clear victory for the Canadians. Volunteer fighters lacking experience confronted Fenian raiders, many of whom were veterans of the American Civil War. The Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish American group seeking Irish independence from British rule, attempted to seize parts of British North America to leverage for their cause. In 1866, hundreds of raiders crossed the Niagara River with intentions to attack the Welland Canal but were met by about 800 Canadian volunteers 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,” commended the swift mobilization of Canadians from the Golden Horseshoe region. However, he highlighted the lack of preparation among the Canadian troops, labeling the encounter as Canada’s inaugural modern battle. Despite facing challenges such as inadequate supplies and ammunition shortages, the Canadians engaged the invaders in combat but eventually retreated in disarray following a Fenian charge. Nevertheless, the Fenians abandoned their incursion after the battle and retreated back to the U.S. side of the Niagara River.
The defeat at Ridgeway on the battlefield does not diminish the valor of those who perished, according to Davies. He emphasized that even though the organization and preparation were lacking, the courage displayed by these individuals in defending Canada against an invader warrants recognition. A memorial erected in 2016 honors the nine fallen soldiers from Ridgeway, but efforts to include their names in the Books of Remembrance have so far been unsuccessful, despite advocacy from the town of Fort Erie.
While the battle predates the formal establishment of Canada, the names of soldiers who died before Confederation, such as in the War of 1812, are included in the Books of Remembrance. Redekop, Davies, and Vronsky all suggested that the Battle of Ridgeway played a pivotal role in the journey to Confederation. The battle influenced individuals to support the idea of Confederation, shaping Canada both on a theoretical level and in the hearts of its people. Several regiments that participated in the 1866 battle, like the Queen’s Own Rifles and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, continue to exist today, symbolizing the genesis of modern Canadian armed forces.
Alexander Muir, renowned for composing “The Maple Leaf Forever,” wrote this patriotic anthem after engaging in the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866. It is believed that the falling leaves of a silver maple tree in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood inspired his composition. Vronsky suggests an alternative theory, proposing that Muir drew inspiration from the maple leaf emblem of the Queen’s Own Rifles, the regiment in which he fought during the battle. This battle marked a turning point where Canadians fought not just for the British Crown but primarily for their own communities, symbolized by the maple leaf, signifying a shift in allegiance.
