The next conflict involving the patrol was the Fenian Raids into Canada and New Brunswick by Irish rebels from the United States.
Fenian volunteers, many of whom were veterans of the American Civil War, organized a small army spread out across the international border.
There were five notable raids in between 1866 and 1871, all launched from the United States, against British Army targets.
The Fenians, who spit into two rival factions, were under the leadership of John O'Mahony and the more violent group under William R. Roberts.
Both were of the opinion that if they could launch a successful invasion of British territory they could force the British to cede their political control over Ireland.
The first notable raid was launched in 1866 by about 700 men of O'Mahony's faction.
They crossed the St. Lawrence River border from Maine and attacked Campobello Island.
When the American government learned of this they sent a force to the island which dispersed the rebels.
Shortly after Robert's followers attacked Ridgeway, Ontario and Fort Erie.
At the Battle of Ridgeway, on June 2, about 750 Fenians under Brigadier General, James O'Neill, routed a force of 850 Canadian troops.

The battle was the largest during the raids and the first Industrial era engagement to have involved the Canadian military.
It was also the last battle in Ontario against a foreign invasion.
After that the rebels attacked Fort Erie the same day and forced its surrender.
In all the Fenians lost about ten men killed and twenty wounded in the two battles while the Canadians lost nine killed and forty-three wounded, as well as fifty-nine men captured.
Fearing that the British Army would arrive soon, O'Neill tried to cross the Niagara River, back into New York but the men of USS Michigan were waiting for them.
The gunboat, had arrived the day before to intercept rebel reinforcements and her crew accepted the surrender of hundreds of Fenians.
Meanwhile, General Ulysses S. Grant, a future American president, and General George Meade went to Buffalo to examine the situation, prevent further raids, and disarm the rebels.
They coordinated their operations with the USS Michigan which helped lead to the capture of General Thomas William Sweeny who was in overall command of the invasion and guilty of violating American neutrality.
However, Sweeny had only recently been a Union commander in the Civil War so he was released from custody not long after his arrest.
The next conflict involving the patrol was the Fenian Raids into Canada and New Brunswick by Irish rebels from the United States. Fenian volunteers, many of whom were veterans of the American Civil War, organized a small army spread out across the international border. There were five notable raids in between 1866 and 1871, all launched from the United States, against British Army targets. The Fenians, who spit into two rival factions, were under the leadership of John O'Mahony and the more violent group under William R. Roberts. Both were of the opinion that if they could launch a successful invasion of British territory they could force the British to cede their political control over Ireland. The first notable raid was launched in 1866 by about 700 men of O'Mahony's faction. They crossed the St. Lawrence River border from Maine and attacked Campobello Island. When the American government learned of this they sent a force to the island which dispersed the rebels. Shortly after Robert's followers attacked Ridgeway, Ontario and Fort Erie. At the Battle of Ridgeway, on June 2, about 750 Fenians under Brigadier General, James O'Neill, routed a force of 850 Canadian troops.
The battle was the largest during the raids and the first Industrial era engagement to have involved the Canadian military. It was also the last battle in Ontario against a foreign invasion. After that the rebels attacked Fort Erie the same day and forced its surrender. In all the Fenians lost about ten men killed and twenty wounded in the two battles while the Canadians lost nine killed and forty-three wounded, as well as fifty-nine men captured. Fearing that the British Army would arrive soon, O'Neill tried to cross the Niagara River, back into New York but the men of USS Michigan were waiting for them. The gunboat, had arrived the day before to intercept rebel reinforcements and her crew accepted the surrender of hundreds of Fenians. Meanwhile, General Ulysses S. Grant, a future American president, and General George Meade went to Buffalo to examine the situation, prevent further raids, and disarm the rebels. They coordinated their operations with the USS Michigan which helped lead to the capture of General Thomas William Sweeny who was in overall command of the invasion and guilty of violating American neutrality. However, Sweeny had only recently been a Union commander in the Civil War so he was released from custody not long after his arrest.
Great Lakes Patrol