Battle of Eccles Hill

Battle of Eccles Hill
Part of the Fenian Raids
The Battle of Eccles Hill. Contemporary illustration.
Date May 25, 1870 Location near Frelighsburg and Saint-Armand, Quebec 45°01′12″N 72°54′16″W / 45.0199°N 72.9044°W / 45.0199; -72.9044 Result Canadian victory
Belligerents
Fenian Brotherhood	60th Missisquoi Battalion Red Sash Home Guard
Commanders and leaders
John O'Neill	William Osborne Smith Brown Chamberlin
Strength
680 militia 1 cannon	60 home guard more than 600 militia
Casualties and losses
2 dead 18 wounded 1 cannon captured	None
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Battle of Eccles Hill National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1923

The Battle of Eccles Hill (/ˈɛkəlz/) was part of a raid into Canadian territory from the United States led by John O'Neill of the Fenian Brotherhood, intended to pressure Great Britain to grant sovereignty to Ireland. In 1870, the Fenians crossed the Canadian border and proceeded to the top of Eccles Hill where they were confronted by members of the Canadian home guard and volunteers. The Fenians were overwhelmed by local militia units and armed citizens on May 25, 1870, and were compelled to abandon what was anticipated to have been a "glorious victory".