1879 + 1883 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT LETTERS [ALS] TO RENOWNED LT. COLONEL C.A. O'MALLEY OF 25th ELGIN INFANTRY FORMED AFTER THE RAID AT FORT ERIE BY THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD IN 1866

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On offer are two [2] original handwritten letters to Lt. Colonel O'Malley of Wardsville and Aldborough Ontario. One letter is dated Glencoe, January 14, 1879 and there appears to b e a holograph note by O'Malley naming the author as O. White. The other letter is dated Vienna, June 13, 1883. There appears to be a holograph note by O'Malley naming the author as Lt. Brasher. The Lt. Colonel was a very interesting character of the southwestern Ontario/Upper Canada. Research finds he was a member of the 25th Elgin Battalion of Infantry which was first raised 14 September 1866 following an attack on Canada by the Fenian Brotherhood whose plan was to hold Britain's American Colonies hostage for Ireland. A short lived 'action' took place 31 May 1866 at Fort Erie, Ontario. Within a couple of days the Fenians returned to Buffalo, New York and the first raid was history. The 25th, at one time, was comprised of six companies, one each at Iona, Aylmer and Vienna and three at St. Thomas where the headquarters was located. Government records find he was the son of Charles A. and Honora O'Malley and he had six children of his own: Charles Anthony, Henry Ross Archer, Peter George Lawrence, Frederick William, Laughlin May & Helena Augusta Elizabeth. Both letters are regarding current Brigade matters and some conflict it appears in the later letter. These letters are a very interesting relic of Ontario's Citizens' Army. Covers opened roughly, letters have expected folds and overall G+. Show more