RE: What's your favorite "History is Stranger than Fiction" moment from worl...
February 9, 2016 at 8:44 pm
The Irish invasions of Canada. That's right: 'invasions', plural.
In a display of strategy so appallingly ill-conceived that it wobbles the mind, the Fenian Brotherhood in the US manage to convince itself that attacking Canada would pressure the British to withdraw from Ireland (this is the point at which you say 'huh?'). From 1866 to 1871, five different attempts to conquer BritCan soil were mounted.
-In the first, at Campobello Island, a force of 700 Fenian toughs dispersed at the sight of the British force.
-The next debacle was actually two battles (Ridgeway and Fort Erie) in which the Fenians did better than expected, but still lost on points. Total casualties (both sides, out of combined forces of around 2000) less than 30 killed, about 100 wounded.
-Continuing the fun, a force of 1000 Fenians occupied tiny village of Pigeon Hill, and surrendered the next day.
-Then there was the 'Battle' of Eccles Hill. 600 Fenians and their single cannon were attacked by a (very) slightly larger force of Canadian militia. Five Fenians were killed and their cannon was captured. No Canadians killed or wounded.
-The Pembina Raid hardly counts, but is generally included in the list because of stunning ineptitude. A band of 35 Fenians captured a Canadian customs house. Trouble was, the customs house was actually a couple of miles south of the border, and thus part of the US. All of the Fenians were arrested and released - apparently - because the US officials felt sorry for them.
Amazingly, none of the above efforts achieved fuck all in the fight for an independent Ireland.
Boru
In a display of strategy so appallingly ill-conceived that it wobbles the mind, the Fenian Brotherhood in the US manage to convince itself that attacking Canada would pressure the British to withdraw from Ireland (this is the point at which you say 'huh?'). From 1866 to 1871, five different attempts to conquer BritCan soil were mounted.
-In the first, at Campobello Island, a force of 700 Fenian toughs dispersed at the sight of the British force.
-The next debacle was actually two battles (Ridgeway and Fort Erie) in which the Fenians did better than expected, but still lost on points. Total casualties (both sides, out of combined forces of around 2000) less than 30 killed, about 100 wounded.
-Continuing the fun, a force of 1000 Fenians occupied tiny village of Pigeon Hill, and surrendered the next day.
-Then there was the 'Battle' of Eccles Hill. 600 Fenians and their single cannon were attacked by a (very) slightly larger force of Canadian militia. Five Fenians were killed and their cannon was captured. No Canadians killed or wounded.
-The Pembina Raid hardly counts, but is generally included in the list because of stunning ineptitude. A band of 35 Fenians captured a Canadian customs house. Trouble was, the customs house was actually a couple of miles south of the border, and thus part of the US. All of the Fenians were arrested and released - apparently - because the US officials felt sorry for them.
Amazingly, none of the above efforts achieved fuck all in the fight for an independent Ireland.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
