History comes alive at Old Fort Erie for the 26th Siege recreation
BY RICHARD HUTTON- Niagara This Week
The bloodiest battlefield from the War of 1812 will come alive once again this weekend.
Hundreds of re-enactors from across North Armerica will descend upon Old Fort Erie as the drama and battles of the Siege of Fort Erie are played out once again. This year’s event is the 26th annual and marks the first held since the opening of the New Welcome Centre July 1 at the Fort.
Visitors will be able to speak to re-enactors at encampments, representing the American forces, the British regulars and their native allies as well as associated militias.
A highlight of the annual event is an explosion which rocked the fort when British forces attempted to regain the outpost in a night assault. The explosion is recreated during the Saturday evening battle as is a comtinued assault. Visitors will have an opportunity to be inside the fort while the assault is ongoing.
Admission to Old Fort Erie is $12.25 for adults and $9.85 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 are free.
Schedule of Events
Tours of the Old Fort start at the Welcome Centre on the hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., guides will escort tours to the various battles.
Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m.: Fort, and encampments open
11 a.m. South Field: ‘Major Buck’s Surrender’
On July 3, 1814, The final American army to enter Canada recorded the first victory for U.S, forces as Major Buck of the King’s 8th Regiment surrendered the fort to the Americans under General Jacob Brown on July 3, 1814,\‘Stars & Stripes’ run up
Noon Inside the fort: The uniforms of the War of 1812
1 p.m. South Field: British artillery demonstration; Old Fort Erie ground charge
2 p.m. South Field: Battle
Following the capture of Fort Erie, the U.S. Army marched north and defeated the British Forces at the Battle of Chippawa on July 5. American troops advanced as far as Fort George before withdrawing. The British and Americans engaged each other in a vicious night battle on July 25th at Lundy’s Lane, during which each side lost almost 1,000 men.
|
3 p.m.: Camp displays
4 p.m. Inside the Fort: U.S. artillery demonstration
6 p.m.: Fort and camps closed
Saturday Night
8 p.m. South Field: Battle
Drummond’s night assault on the Fort: After an unsuccessful attempt to take over the Niagara Peninsula and rendezvous with the American naval squadron on Lake Ontario, American forces retreated from Lundy’s Lane to Fort Erie. There they immediately started to expand the area of fortification. Upon completion, the American lines consisted of the Fort itself, a gun battery on the river bank, Douglass’ Battery and a long fortified line to the south with two batteries, Fanning’s and Biddle’s. The half mile long line ended on the shore of Lake Erie at Snake Hill with Towson’s battery.
Night-time explosion: By August 7, 1814, the main British forces occupied the heights approximately 1.6 kilometres (one mile) north of the American position. Here they built a series of breastworks and siege batteries for guns, rockets and mortars. The British, after the capture of two American schooners by the Royal Navy, planned an assault to regain the Fort. On August 15, at 3 a.m, Lt. General Gordon Drummond launched a four-pronged night attack. The British gained the bastion, turned the artillery around, but then disaster struck. The expense magazine located directly under the gun platform exploded. The surviving British retreated to their siege line. American losses were less than 100. The British losses numbered 1,000, but the siege continued.
9 p.m. In The Fort: ‘After the Battle’ Lantern tours of the Fort
See the effects of the failed British attack. Separate Tickets are required and are available at the Gift Shop. Regular admission charges apply. Tours start at the Front Gate of the Fort.
Sunday, August 7th
10:00 a.m. Fort and Camps open to the public
10:30 a.m. Memorial service at the monument
1 p.m. South Field: BATTLE
U.S. Sortie: For a month, the bombardment and constant skirmishing inflicted hundreds of casualties on both sides, including the American Commander, General Gaines. By Sept. 17, General Brown had recovered from his wound at Lundy’s Lane and he planned an attack on the British forces The American troops succeeded in smashing two of the British siege batteries. Losses for each side during this action exceeded 500 men. On the night of Sept. 2, the British broke camp and retired to Chippawa. This action was prompted by the American sortie, incessant rain, the poor state of the roads and disease in camp. General Drummond lifted the siege, leaving the American forces in occupation of Fort Erie.
2 p.m. In the fort: American Evacuation of the Fort
Fort Erie continued to be the base of American operations. General Izard arrived with another division of American troops and he tried to outflank the British position at Chippawa but this ended in the Battle of Cook’s Mills. In late October, with winter approaching and the eastern seaboard of the U.S. under British attack, a decision was made to completely remove all U.S. troops from the Canadian side. On November 5, 1814, in the early morning, all artillery and troops were removed, the buildings burned and the bastions exploded.
‘Union Jack’ run up
4 p.m.: Camp closed to the public
5 p.m. Fort closed
View the article at Niagara This Week
|
