Cpl C. Barnes was presented with a Fenian Raid Campaign medal in 1866 for his service with a volunteer militia unit. The “Fenian Brotherhood”, an organization of Irish-American Civil War veterans, planned an invasion of the Province of Canada in the hopes that its seizure could force the British Government to withdraw from Ireland. When it became evident that the Fenians were preparing for this incursion, a General Order was issued to call out Militia units including Companies from Oakville, Stewarttown and Norval. At the Battle of Ridgeway, regular and militia forces forced the Fenian invaders to retreat across the US border. The poor performance of the Militia throughout the invasion spawned a Commission of Enquiry to re-evaluate the Province’s defence and make recommendations to the Government. The result was the Militia Act of 1866 and a thorough reorganization of the Militia and the resulting formation of the 36th Peel and 20th Halton Regiments.