OLD FENIAN FLAG

Battle-Scarred Banner Presented at Buffalo Historical Society

IT WAS AT RIDGEWAY

It Bears Two Marks of Canadian Shots-Belonged to Late Mrs. M’Elroy

Buffalo Express, Dec. 1

[Welland Tribune. 12 December 1902]

              A faded green flag, with one corner torn into ribbons, was placed in the collection of the Buffalo Historical Society yesterday afternoon. It is a relic of the Fenian invaders who crossed into Canada from Buffalo on the night of May 31, 1866, and who had to come back a few days later, after having thrown Canada into a spasm of terror. The flag went through what is known as the Battle of Ridgeway, which village is now more familiar to Buffalonians as the town back of Crystal Beach.

             The flag was formally presented to the Historical Society by James McElroy of No. 621 West avenue, in whose family it had been for a long time and by D.E. Mahoney. The exercises were held in the society’s lecture room at 4 p.m. About 200 persons were present. President Andrew Langdon in response to a few remarks made by Mr. Mahoney said he was reminded of an incident that came under his observation while in the office of the president of a large New York bank.

             “It was during a political campaign and one of the other officers coming into the room hung up the portrait of one of the candidates,” he said. The president immediately said, “Take that down. We have no politics here.” “It’s the same way with us. We accept relics whether we approve of them or not and we accept this flag for its historical interest.”

             Secretary Edward D. Strickland then took possession of the flag and from now on it will be a public reminder of the small but bloody skirmish that took place on the Canadian frontier across from Buffalo between the ragged, but experienced fighters of General O’Neil’s command and the youths in the Canadian militia to whom the whistling bullets was a new and terrifying tune.

             The flag, which was carried by the Buffalonians who took part in the invasion, is nine feet long and six feet wide. In the upper left hand corner a golden sunburst was once painted on the background of green silk, but its outlines were destroyed by a Canadian ball that tore through the flag at the Battle of Ridgeway. That portion of the flag is merely a collection of tatters now. Running in a line slanting upward and that begins beneath the sunburst are the following words in golden letters: “Buffalo, Seventh Regiment, Irish Army of Liberation.” Beneath this is the following inscription placed on the flag after the Fenians had returned from Canada. “Ridgeway and Fort Erie, June 2, 1866.” Occupying the center of the right hand half of the flag is the following also in golden letters: “Presented by the Fenian Sisterhood of Buffalo, May 6, 1866.” Part of this lettering is torn, the result of a bullet.

             This flag was presented to the Buffalo organization of Fenians through the efforts of the Buffalo Sisterhood of Fenians. Especially prominent in the movement to raise funds for the flag were Ann and Maria Cruice. Maria Cruice was later married to James McIIroy of this city, who yesterday took part in the presentation exercises at the Buffalo Historical Society’s building. The flag was presented to the Buffalo Fenians on the night of May 6, 1866 at the home of Mr. Gallagher, at the corner of Front avenue and Caroline street. The flag was carried to Fort Erie, Ont., with the 900 Fenians who took part in the invasion. After having driven the Canadian militia near Ridgeway to retreat and then having to retreat themselves before a body of Canadian regulars, the Fenians hurried back to Fort Erie. While trying to cross the river, the Fenians were arrested by American forces. Later they were released. The United States Government authorities returned the torn flag to the local Fenian organization and it later came into the possession of Daniel Cruice, a member of the organization and a brother to the two women who had been so desirous to present the flag to the Fenians before the invasion. Mr. Cruice gave the flag to his sister, Maria, in whose possession it remained until the time of her death last March. It was in her name that the flag was presented to the Historical Society yesterday.