
A vivid first‑hand account brings listeners to the tense summer of 1866, when a band of Irish‑born militants crossed the border into Canadian territory. The narrator, a contemporary observer, blends careful detail with personal reflection, describing the soldiers’ movements, the landscape of Hamilton’s limestone ridge, and the uneasy atmosphere that preceded the clash. Through maps and precise timings, the story sketches the strategic aims of the raiders and the rapid response of local forces.
Beyond the battlefield, the narrative offers a concise history of the ancient Fenian warriors, linking centuries‑old Irish legends to the modern political motivations that drove the incursion. It also touches on the author’s earlier advocacy for Irish tenant rights, providing a broader context for the rebels’ grievances. Listeners will gain insight into a little‑known episode of North‑American history, presented with the clarity of a seasoned chronicler who recorded events as they unfolded.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (338K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Canada: Joseph Lyght, 1866.
Credits
Tim Lindell, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2023-03-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1811–1885
A Scottish radical journalist and former soldier, he turned hard experience into vivid writing about politics, poverty, and ordinary working life. His career carried him from army punishment and public controversy to campaigning, travel, and journalism in Canada.
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