| Show FENIAN FLAG A RELIC buffalo possesses banner that was carried by the irish troops during the invasion of canada A faded green silk flag with one comer corner torn into ribbons has been placed in the collection ot of the buffalo historical society it is a relic ot of the fenian invaders who ho crossed into can ada from buffalo on the night of may 81 31 1866 and who had to come back a few days later after having thrown canada into a spasm ot of terror this flag went through what is known as the battle ot of K R deway which village is now more familiar to as the town back ot of crystal beach the flag was formerly presented to the historical soc ety by james acel roy in whose fam ly it had been for a long time and by D E mahoney the exercises were held in the so society cletys s lecture room about 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 bis 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 candida es he said the president immediately said take that down we have no politics here it s the same way with us we accept relics relies whether we approve of them or not and we accept this flag for its historical interest the flag which was carried by the Buff alonians who took part in the in is nine feet long and six feet wide in the upper lefthand left hand corner a golden sunburst was once palli painted ted on the ind of green silk but its outlines were destroyed by a car caia dian than ball that tore through the flag at the battle ol 01 ridgeway that por tion of the flag is merely a collection of tatters now running in a line slanting upward and that begins be neath the sunburst are the following words in golden letters buffalo sev auth regiment erlb army of libera tion beneath this is the following inscription placed on the flag after the had returned from can ada ridgel ay and fort erie june 2 1866 occupying the center of the right hand halt of the flag Is the tol fol lowing also in golden letters pre dented by the fenian sisterhood of buffalo may 6 1866 part of this lettering is torn the result of a bill bul let the flag was as carried to fort erie ontario with the who took part in the invasion after hav ing driven the canadian militia near ridgeway to retreat and then having to retreat themselves before a body of canadian reg liars the hur ried back to fort erie while trying to cross the river the feniane were arrested by american forces later they were released the united states government authorities returned the torn flag to the local fenian tion buffalo express money is king and at the same time a very interesting subject |
