User:Tartarus/sandbox/Pigeon Hill

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.