Pigeon Hill Raid - Wikiwand

On 7 June 1866, Fenian forces under the command of General Samuel P. Spear entered Canada and occupied several towns.

DateJune 7–9, 1866

Location

Pigeon Hill, Frelighsburg, Saint-Armand and Stanbridge, Missisquoi County, Quebec, Province of Canada

Result

Canadian victory

End of raids on Canada East^[1]

Quick facts Date, Location ...

Pigeon Hill Raid

Part of Fenian Raids

Date

June 7–9, 1866

Location

Pigeon Hill, Frelighsburg, Saint-Armand and Stanbridge, Missisquoi County, Quebec, Province of Canada

Result

Canadian victory

End of raids on Canada East^[1]

Belligerents

Province of Canada

Fenian Brotherhood

Commanders and leaders

William Carter

Samuel P. Spear^[2]

Strength

109 men (initially)

1,000^[3]-1,500 men^[4]

Casualties and losses

Unknown

Unknown killed and wounded^[a]
16 captured^[b]
Several deserted

The raid

On 7 June 1866, between 1,000 and 1,500 Fenians under the command of General Samuel Spear entered Canada while marching under the Green Irish flag.^[5] However, when they exchanged gunfire with Canadian forces on the bridge and in the surroundings of Frelighsburg, the Fenians flew two British flags.^[6] The only Canadian unit in the vicinity of were 3 companies of H. M. 16th Regiment numbering 9 officers and 100 soldiers under the command of Captain William Carter. All of these men were inexperienced volunteers, some of which had never even handled a rifle before.^[7] When the Fenians reached St. Armand, Carter overestimated the size of the Fenian force and withdrew his regiment, believing that he needed reinforcements.^[8] Many locals also fled alongside the soldiers, taking refuge with family and friends further north.^[9] The Fenians occupied the towns of Pigeon Hill, Frelighsburg, Saint-Armand and Stanbridge, advancing 6 miles (9.65 kilometres) into Canadian Crown territory. Due to being cut off from their supply lines, the Fenians looted abandoned farms and houses.^[10]

On 8 June 1866, Canadian reinforcements advanced towards the position at Pigeon Hill. Due to being low on arms and ammunition, the Fenian force there surrendered.^[11]

On 9 June 1866, Spear was informed of the arrival of Canadian reinforcements to Missisquoi County which included the Royal Guides Cavalry from Montreal and Canadian infantry from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.^[12] That same day, the Fenian Council of War ordered all remaining troops to stand down.^[13] The 200 remaining stragglers were charged by a Canadian volunteer cavalry troop who managed to capture 16 of them. The remaining stragglers who managed to reenter American territory were disarmed by American soldiers.^[14]

Notes

[a]
Of the original 1,000 to 1,500, only 200 stragglers crossed back into the United States
[b]
On June 9th only

References

[1]
Neidhardt, W.S. Fenianism in North America The Pennsylvania State University Press. 1975.
[2]
"Histoire et généalogie". Municipalite.Saint-Armand (in French). Retrieved 20 February 2026.
[3]
"Timeline Fenian Raids". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
[4]
"War at the Border". Canada's History. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2026. On June 7, 1866, the West Point-educated Gen. Samuel P. Spear led an unruly force of fifteen hundred Fenians across the border and set up camp in Pigeon Hill, Quebec, about seventy kilometres southeast of Montreal.
[5]
"For the Sake of Ireland: The Fenian Raids of Missisquoi County 1866 & 1870". Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network. Retrieved 20 February 2026. When General Spear crossed the frontier with his men carrying the Irish Green flag, his victory was assured.
[6]
"Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Brome-Missisquoi in June of 1866". Tourisme Brome Missisquoi. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2026. The Fenians flew the British flags during an exchange of gunfire on the bridge and in the surroundings of Frelighsburg.
[7]
"For the Sake of Ireland: The Fenian Raids of Missisquoi County 1866 & 1870". Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network. Retrieved 20 February 2026. The only Canadian force in the vicinity of St. Armand was composed of three companies of infantry, consisting of nine officers and about 100 non-commissioned officers and men, the whole being under command of Capt. W. Carter, of H. M. 16th Regiment. These troops were all inexperienced volunteers, some of whom had never handled a rifle before.
[8]
"For the Sake of Ireland: The Fenian Raids of Missisquoi County 1866 & 1870". Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network. Retrieved 20 February 2026. As soon as the Fenians appeared at St. Armand, Captain Carter hastily withdrew his force as he over estimated Fenian military strength and believed he needed reinforcements.
[9]
"War at the Border". Canada's History. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
[10]
"War at the Border". Canada's History. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2026. In an effort to suffocate the invasion, Maj.-Gen. George Meade of the United States Army, and the victor of Gettysburg, seized supplies headed for the Fenians. Spear's undisciplined force, cut off from logistical support, responded by plundering undefended homes and farms.
[11]
Neidhardt, W.S. Fenianism in North America The Pennsylvania State University Press. 1975.
[12]
"Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Brome-Missisquoi in June of 1866". Tourisme Brome Missisquoi. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2026. After three days of occupying Missisquoi County, Spear was told about the arrival of the Royal Guides cavalry troops from Montreal and the Canadian infantry from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
[13]
"Part 2 : Canada's first invasion threat". Esprit de Corps. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
[14]
"War at the Border". Canada's History. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2026. The last 200 stragglers were charged by a volunteer cavalry troop who managed to capture sixteen prisoners. Once back on American soil, the Fenians had their guns confiscated by American soldiers.

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