dily enrolled themselves under the Fenian banners
in anticipation of a war being inaugurated against the British nation,
with the invasion of Canada as the first step.

The defence of our extensive Canadian frontier depended mainly upon
the volunteer militia force of the scattered Provinces, and to their
patriotism and gallantry in springing to arms when their services
were needed to defend their native land, may be ascribed the glory of
frustrating the attempts of the Fenian invaders to establish themselves
on Canadian soil. True, there were some British regular troops on duty
in Canada in 1866 around which to rally, and they did their duty nobly,
but in the operations on the Niagara frontier especially, it was the
Canadian volunteers who bore the brunt of battle, and by their devotion
to duty, courage and bravery under hostile fire, succeeded in causing
the hasty retirement of the Fenian invaders from our shores, and again,
as in days of yore, preserved Canada to the Empire, as one of the
brightest jewels in the British Crown.

Having personally seen active service on the Niagara frontier during
both of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870, and retaining vivid
recollections of the situation of affairs at the front during these two
campaigns, I will endeavor in the succeeding chapters of this book to
give the reader a faithful account of what occurred on these stirring
occasions. I have not relied on memory alone to present these facts,
but have corroborated my personal knowledge by reference to official
records, and reports of officers, which may be found in the archives of
the Militia Department at Ottawa, and the Ontario Bureau of Archives at
Toronto.

I have endeavored to fully cover the subject, and put on record the
splendid service which our gallant volunteers rendered to their
country in 1866 and 1870. Hoping that the reader will find these pages
interesting, and at all times be ready to emulate their example,

I am yours faithfully.
JOHN A. MACDONALD.
41 Macdonell Ave., Toronto, May, 1910.

CHAPTER I.

UNHAPPY IRELAND SEETHING IN SEDITION--THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD--HATCHING
THE PLOT--THE MOVEMENT OF '65--A SPLIT IN THE FENIAN CAMP.

Every student of history is aware that for centuries the condition of
affairs in Ireland has not been altogether happy, owing largely to
the revolutionary schemes which have from time to time been hatched by
so-called "patriots" to "free Ireland from the yo