‘Colonel’ Downes is a Civil War Reenactor for the Hibernian Guards, Co. B, 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a unit from Cleveland that fought in the Potomac Army during America’s Civil War. He has undertaken new role as the author of a novel depicting a little known real event that occurred post-Civil War, the 1866 Fenian Invasion of British North America, later to be named Canada.
The Fenian Brotherhood was the arm of the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland and the United States. The leadership of the Fenians were composed of ‘Circles’, so named to keep their names out of probing eyes, both British and American.
After the battle of Fredericksburg, Fenian representatives from both northern and southern armies gathered under the cover of darkness to discuss post-war events they could do to free Ireland. During this meeting the idea was proposed to invade British North America, later to be named Canada, and conquer a few Provinces and perhaps even Quebec. They believed with an Irish Republic declared they could then negotiate control of the Provinces for freedom in Ireland. And with Quebec in their hands the French might become an ally.
With so many Irish- born and Irish Americans having served in both the Armies, it was natural for men who loved Ireland to remain passionate about doing something to break the hold England had over the Irish for centuries. Many revolutions there had failed with horrible consequences. Nonetheless, the Irish always got back up.
When Federal Captain Henry O’Conner returns to Brooklyn after the war ends he finds his mother has only recently passed away and the home already rented. The local Parish Priest John Feeney offers him a temporary room, which O’Conner accepts. In a discussion with Father Feeney he discovers the contact O’Conner had made at the Fenian meeting was named Carroll. Feeney knew Carroll in his pre-priesthood days and alerts him to the Fenian Headquarters location.Following this association with Carroll, O’Conner is drawn into the leadership of the Circle and becomes involved in planning and carrying out the invasion of Ontario Province, Canada with Fenians from the north and south who will gather in Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo and St. Albans, VT.
The imaginative Downes has extensive field experience as a reenactor and it is obvious with his description of military life. His book also reads like a screenplay, putting the reader’s imagination into the actions as he has included the names of real-life characters from the period. It is also obvious that he has extensively researched period newspapers and other accounts of the failed 1866 invasion that lends an air to the reader being there with the Fenians.
Although Downes describes his work to be a novel, I came away feeling that he has interviewed real-life participants in the invasion.
Interested readers can find his book on Amazon.com and other popular booksellers.
