Rebels on the Great Lakes: Confederate Naval Commando Operations Launched from Canada, 1863-1864

John Bell

Sep 2011 · Dundurn

About this ebook

In 1863–1864, Confederate naval operations were launched from Canada against America, with an unexpected impact on North America’s future.

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, a myth has persisted that the hijackers entered the United States from Canada. This is completely untrue. Nevertheless, there was a time during the U.S. Civil War when attacks on America were launched from Canada, but the aggressors were mostly fellow Americans engaged in a secessionist struggle. Among the attacks were three daring naval commando expeditions against a prisoner-of-war camp on Johnsons Island in Lake Erie.

These Confederate operations on the Great Lakes remain largely unknown. However, some of the people involved did make more indelible marks in history, including a future Canadian prime minister, a renowned Victorian war correspondent, a beloved Catholic poet, a notorious presidential assassin, and a son of the abolitionist John Brown.

The improbable events linking these figures constitute a story worth telling and remembering. Rebels on the Great Lakes offers the first full account of the Confederate naval operations launched from Canada in 186364, describing forgotten military actions that ultimately had an unexpected impact on North Americas future.

About the author

John Bell was born in Montreal and grew up in Halifax. A senior archivist at Library and Archives Canada, he has written extensively on various aspects of Canadian history and culture. His most recent books are Confederate Seadog: John Taylor Wood in War and Exile and Invaders from the North: How Canada Conquered the Comic Book Universe. He lives in Ottawa.