The Fenian Invasion of Canada in 1866

Some additional references:
  1. The Last Invasion of Canada, Hereward Senior,1991. Uses a lot of the original material but has some errors.
  2. Canadian Campaigns 1860-1870 (Osprey Men at Arms series, D. Ross, #249)
  3. Fenians
  4. Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

This scenario is based on the events of June 2, 1866 being only a small skirmish and Col. Booker (Canadian) not advancing the QORs and the 13th alone but waiting until additional troops arrived.

Fenian map in ASCII


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Order of Battle June 3, 1866 A slightly hypothetical enlargement of the 


Fenian raid of John O'Neill near Niagara at 50 men/2 guns per stand scale.

British Canadians- Maj. Gen. G. Napier -1 Corps Ldr. Chippawa (in Reserve)

First "Division" - Colonel Peacocke  1  Div. Ldr.    Chippawa
	HM 16th Regiment(Ex)	7/5/3
	HM 47th Regiment(Ex)	10/7/4
	10th Royal Bttn.	8/7/5
	19th Bttn.		7/6/4
	Grey Battery Royal Art. 3 guns   Armstrongs

Second "Division" - Colonel Wolseley 	1 ex Div. Ldr     Port Colborne
	Queen Own  (Ex)  	10/8/5
	13th Bttn.		7/6/4
	7th Bttn.		7/6/4
	22nd Bttn.		5/4/3

Third "Division"- Lt. Colonel Lowry	1 Div. Ldr    Chippawa (in Reserve)
	60th Royal Bttn (E)	4/-/3                       "
	20th Bttn.		6/5/4                       "
	Aurora Provisional Bn.	4/-/3                 Guarding Bridges
	Oakville Provisional Bn	7/6/4                 Guarding Bridges
	Crowe's Royal Artillery  2 guns  Whitworths
Cavalry- Major George Denison 		1 Div. Ldr       Port Colburne
	Governor-General's Bodyguard Cavalry -    5/4/3 Cav
	Stoker's "Foot Cavalry"	  	          4/3/2 Inf.

Fenian Order of Battle

	Colonel John O'Neill	1 Ex Div Ldr 	Ridge Road
	13th Tenn.	8/6/4		       	Ridge Road	
	17th Kent.	11/9/6                  Ridge Road
	18th Ohio	11/9/6                  Ridge Road
	7th NY (Buffalo) 10/8/6                 Ridgeway-RidgeRoad
	Indiana Bttn.	5/4/3                   Ridge Road        	
	Buffalo Cavalry	3/2/-                   Stevensville

	General M.W. Burns	1 Div Ldr       Reinforcements***
	19th Ohio	10/8/6
	69th NY		10/8/6
	63th NY		10/8/6
	88th NY 	10/8/6
	2nd NY (Buffalo) 8/7/5

Start with the night June 2, 1866 for the Fenian reinforcement phase.  After
determining reinforcements, the Canadian player determines when the advance is
scheduled for, from starting locations.
 The Chippawa force arrives according to the following:
roll result
1-2 an hour early
3-4 a half hour early
5-6 on time
7-8 half hour late
9   hour late
10  hour and half late. 
Of course this is with respect to the Port Colburne Force, which always is on
time.  

Special Scenario Rules:

1)  All non- exceptional Canadian units must attempt to form square if they 
have LOS to mounted enemy cavalry and are with charging distance.  They form
square if they roll an allowed formation change, (note they must use their
leaders (who really did order "form square") bonuses to their rolls if in range
Square formation- make a box with troops and always flanked by fire. After one
complete turn they may change back, even if cavalry still around.
  
2)  Canadians fire as 1/1 except for the British HM 16th and HM 47th which
 fire as 2/2.  The artillery fires as with Union factors, 10/4/3/2.

3)  All Fenians fire as Union Cavalry, i.e. 2/1.


***Reinforcements*** (Fenians only)

The 19th, 69th, 63rd, and 88th can attempt to come over starting on the
night of June 2 at the lower ferry.  Each of the four roll and if the result
is seven or higher, the unit successfully crosses.  The 2nd NY can attempt
to cross using the captured W.T. Robb at Fort Erie but it needs a 8 or higher.
General M.W. Burns crosses with the last unit over (even if it is captured in
crossing, so is he).  Every following night, the remaining reinforcements can
still try to cross, however, during the day of June 3rd, General Geo. Meade
orders the S.S. Michigan and Hamiliton to interfere with Fenians attempting to
cross. thus the rolls are at -2.  If any result during a night is zero or
 negative, the crossing unit is captured and no further troops make it across
that night.

Note that starting on the night of June 3rd any Fenian unit that reached
spent status has run to US border and surrendered to the Michigan or 
Hamiliton.  All other units retain their current effectiveness until they rest
 for a day.

Lowry's reserves- home guard called up even more hastily than anyone else.  If
the British Canadians lose badly on June 3rd,  they may be brought up or the
Fenians can try to advance to Chippawa ( which has two nearby bridges over
to the US border)

Victory :  The Canadians must defeat and drive the Fenians off the battlefield
If they do it on June 3rd,a decisive Canadian Victory. 
	If it takes two days it is a marginal Canadian victory. 3 days is 
a Fenian marginal, (encouraging further raids?), and holding out
indefinitely is truly the only Fenian victory, especially if they can capture
Chippawa and a bridge to the US.

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