Fort Erie 2024

 

I had the honour of attending and taking part in the reenactment of the Siege of Fort Erie for 2024. I was in decent shape since I had some treatment on my ancient and honourable knees about a week prior to the event. My wife, Beth and I both enjoyed the event and the weather - which had been REALLY hot - cooperated although the wind was a bit troublesome at time. In the cause of being truthful, we didn't camp this year. Neither of us can enjoy sleeping on the ground AND getting up without the use of slings, pullies, and derrick... at least for me.

A note... the photos are courtesy of many sources, such as Cushing's Battery, my wife, The Earl of Moira crew, and Laughing Devil Photography... of which I'll say more later. Complimentary, by the way!

We set up next to the folks from Fort Meigs, OH, who reenact Cushing's Battery, 2nd US Artillery. They had a 6# cannon, an ammunition caisson, and a mobile field forge, the second two for display, and the cannon for firing!

Cushing's Battery firing

... and REALLY firing!

Usually, I'm detailed to be "brigade adjutant", the chief paper-work officer of the brigade who also sets the parade along with the sergeant-major. This time I was asked by Marty, the colonel commanding to lay that aside in order to train other officers to serve as field adjutant. I was declared "Quartermaster" and I set to greeting the public, answering questions, showing a lovely group of maps I had, and generally doing PR for the American side of the event. I was happy to do it. My arthritic knees were grateful as well. I still was in charge of complying the "morning reports" for the brigade. My wife had a chance to set up her apothecary's table, something she's been developing for years. I had the north side of the fly and she had the south side.

Our Quartermaster's office/Apothecary's display fly

"The Chucks" investigate the apothecary's display.
There's a lot more to say about "the Chucks."
Note the "pill roller" in front of the uniformed Chuck.
There's also a mortar and pestle, bullet-extracting forceps, and a "tooth key."
(Apothecaries did tooth extraction as well.)

Able Seaman Silas of the Earl of Moira and I look over some maps with visitors.

I kept myself out of the battles for the most part although I did some watching on Saturday afternoon, providing some commentary to the folks on the side of the battlefield. 

American skirmishers give fire!

Our friends of the 21st Infantry on the march.

US Regulars and Kentucky Volunteer Infantry on the firing line.

Forces of the Crown... looking as sharp as ever.

The Crown forces in line

The battle on Saturday night is always the highlight of the event. It reenacts the Crown night assault on the US-held fort on August 15, 1814 which led to a massive explosion of the fort's powder magazine, resulting in a huge death toll for the attackers. The reenactment holds a lot of musket and cannon fire, lots of screaming and battlecries, and a BIG BOOM as fireworks controlled by professionals show the massive explosion. The explosives are usually covered in peat moss... which means all of the reenactors are covered in peat moss when things blow up. This year's event was no exception and the big blast was impressive.

The 22nd US Infantry, with my friend, Neil commanding,
man the highest wall in the fort.

A smaller artillery hit on the fort, showing the smear of peat moss that makes a good show,
although you'll find the stuff in you underclothing later!

The magazine begins to go up.

The BIG BOOM!

The big aftermath with lots of fallen Redcoats.

Earlier, the assault troops went up the ladder onto the terre plane.

A different view of the blast, from the safety line south of the field.

As the battle reenactment began, the Crown forces advanced in this formation.

Now... "The Chucks"... The various stuffed woodchucks/groundhogs/marmots (in Europe)/"Grundsau" (if you're from Pennsylvania Dutch country) are mascots of a sort of Cushing's Battery, 2nd US Artillery, based in Fort Meigs, OH. The besieging British called the US garrison "woodchucks" because they were dug in so well. So, a stuffed woodchuck toy was put in a uniform as "Chuck Wood, Artillery Recruit" and a few more followed - a female laundress/cook, an artificier (a skilled worker attached to the army), and a gentleman woodchuck. They are a scream and they are much beloved.

The explanation of all this wonderful nonsense.

Oh, dare I say it? I dare, I dare!
"THE CHUCK WAGON"

When they visited the Crown camp, they wore "Canadian disguises."
How beaver-ly they were!

More fun at the apothecary's display!

"I want your battery to cover this area! See to it, Mr. Wood!"

Chuck and I go over the defense plans. He added a few insightful ideas and wrote them down.
Sadly, I couldn't read his writing.

Last but not least in any way, shape, or form, I must tell you about the best visitor to our part of the camp. Sunday morning, Michael, the Laughing Devil himself came to see Beth and I. He was reenacting, but his impression was quite unique! He reenacted a tourist!

That's the mobile field forge in the background

We asked him the usual questions asked of all reenactors, such as:

• "Do you dress like that all the time?' 
• "Aren't you hot in those clothes? How can you stand it?"
• "Is that a real camera?"
• "Do you live in a real house and eat proper food of the time you reenact?"

Of course, Michael was happy to explain his impression and demonstrate the actions, language, attitudes, and such of the period he reenacted. I'm not sure if he was the highlight of our weekend, or if the Chucks were!

Finally, after some wrangling and discussion, Beth and I were received as new members of Cushing's Battery, 2nd Artillery. We've been more or less attached to them since I became adjutant and since our unit kind of petered out. Let's say we're happy to have another home added to our membership in Croghan's Company, 17th US Infantry and the crew of the HMS Earl of Moira!

The whole of Cushing's, lined up around the ammunition caisson.
Beth is standing fourth from the right. I'm behind the caisson and the bayonet.

Lastly, a very nice still-life from Laughing Devil Photography
My officer's sword at rest

If ever you can, come out to the reenactment at For Erie, ON on the weekend after Civic Holiday in August. It's well worth the trip!

Fort Erie 2017

I haven't been blogging much of late. Too many other things - both personal and work related - have been occupying my time. I've also been lazy.

About two weeks ago, our dog of eleven years - Pooka - died. It appears he was suffering from cancer of major internal organs and we couldn't let him suffer any longer. Pooka used to go to the Fort Erie reenactment with us, but we had decided to leave him at home with some dog sitters this year; he was getting miserable with the heat. Now he is already sorely missed.

"... and in the Resurrection, little dog, you too shall have a golden tail."
- Martin Luther to his own dog.

Last weekend was the annual Siege of Fort Erie held at the Old Fort Erie site. This was our eighth time to attend and it was a great one. Our unit - Croghan's Company, 17th US Infantry - fielded 5 muskets, with three women and one young man attending as well. We ate like kings, thanks to my wife's forethought and planning. We arrived and set up camp on Friday just before the festivities began on Saturday morning. We like to arrive early and set up in a more leisurely fashion in the daylight. BBQ chicken was on the menu for the evening meal and our squad-mate, Tyler shared some of his home-made mead. (I'm not a great lover of mead, but I found it flavourful and enjoyable.)
{Photos are courtesy of Laughing Devil Photography, Deb Lewis Brown, Lisa Brown, John Stephens, Steve Zronik, Rolf Gollin, Holly Brennemen, and my wife. If I have forgotten any photographer or mis-labeled anything, please contact me and I'll make proper corrections.}

Croghan's Company, 17th US - Kevin, Rob, your humble blogger, Tyler, and Nick
It was hot and a bit humid so we turned out in our white hunting shirts, work frocks, or roundabout jackets,
which are proper uniforms for the 17th. Cooler than wool and quite destinctive.

Croghan's Company, US 17th, but not often on the field - Beth Nia, Katie, and Tyler's son, Thomas.

Later, our friend, Mark of the 16th joined us with his wife, Carey, and their son, Caleb.

Carey and Caleb and a cup of water.

Drinkin' him some water.

Thomas took a liking to Caleb and they napped.

Friday night, it poured rain. Saturday morning, The Royal Scots Grenadier company consecrated and received new colours. I was not present for this; The US forces are often not invited, but this time we were. I simply didn't go.

The new colours on the altar of drums.

Following that ceremony, the first field exercise took place - Major Buck's surrender and the fort exchanged hands. I served off the field as safety-and-side-rope person, allowing the smooth flow of the column onto the field. Following that, our company went to the vendor's area for some fun and games. First, Nick read Hull's proclamation, outlining the reasons for the US invasion in 1812. We incited the crowd and then tried to arrest a "deserter."

Nick reads while we watch the amusingly hostile crowd.
Helmut the blacksmith provided constant heckling as did a few of the other watchers.
The sutlers and vendors told us they enjoy this since they never get to see the battles or field exercises.
They like it when groups include them in the fun.

"Huzzah!" (Steve Z. said I was yelling "Go, Jays!")
(Well, I would... if I were at the ball game!)

John of the Royal Scots light company was our "victim."
We called him a deserter and gave him the choice of rejoining the US Army or being hanged.
He responded "Ummm..." and took off, stage left!
(John turns out with the 17th on occasion, by the way.)

Tyler and Rob are like gazelles and caught John S quickly. Nick and Kevin provided some musket butt "persuasion."
John returned the favour and had a few of his guys run down Rob minutes later.
They called HIM a deserter and "cut off his toes."

Watching the crowd. Somehow I appear to be gripping my musket SOOOOO tightly,
but I'm really not. I don't understand.

Rob takes in the crowd as well. He changed jobs recently and began to reenact with us again.
He's told us a few times how much he enjoys it.

The afternoon battle recreates the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, both of which took place after the US took over Fort Erie. The US forces moved north along the Niagara River in a attempt to reach Burlington Heights, the Crown forces HQ. Chippewa was fought just above Niagara Falls and was a costly American victory. Lundy's Lane was almost a bloody night battle and was a strategic Crown win, with the American forces falling back to Fort Erie. The Crown forces followed up and besieged the fort. Many of the First Nations' warriors went home after these battles, appalled by the casualties and the savage nature of war in the field at this time. Our company garrisoned the fort during this battle reenactment.

Ship's Company, 17th US out of Erie, PA lined up.
The colours are part of the 22nd US contingent.

Major Phil, commanding the US militia and volunteers urges his men forward.

Two men of the 1st Volunteers come up on the flank of the Canadian Volunteers.

The Crown forces on the march, led by a combined section of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles
(green with black facings) and the 60th Foot, the Royal Americans (green with red facings)

Henry, the US surgeon, pulls a wounded volunteer out of the line.

The massive turnout of the 1st Kentucky Volunteer Rifles (blue hunting shirts with red trim) flanked
by Asquith's Rifles (green hunting frocks with red trim) of the Maryland Militia. These folks travelled
all the way from Maryland!

The Crown fife and drum corps plays the lament for the dead at the end of the battle.

Yes, that is a B-17.
It buzzed the fort a number of times on Saturday and Sunday and caused a bit of a stir.

Saturday evening, Beth heated up a version of Cornish pasties which were made at home. We all enjoyed them so much. I'm looking forward to the next time we serve them!

They may not have been exact, but they were delicious.

The highlight of the reenactment is always the evening battle, reenacting the Crown forces night assault on the fort. During the actual battle, the powder magazine blew up and killed as many as 250 men of the storming force. Now, we don't actually blow up the place again, but impressive pyrotechnics are used and the battle is great fun. I sat it out; when I kitted up, I found I had trouble breathing. This disappointed me and my wife as well, since she had kitted up and was going in to defend the fort. Captain James and Mark of the 16th, Major Marty of the 2nd Artillery, and the guys of Croghan's company took care of her.  And she loved it.

The battle begins with US light troops defending the field while the Crown forces advance.

The 17th on the inner wall with Captain James' arm in the foreground,

US Artillery on the terre-plain

The 6-pound field gun from Fort Meigs, OH, manned by the Cushing's Battery, 2nd Artillery

Major Marty ambles off to a safe place.

The inner wall above the terre-plain.
Croghan's company is in white on the left, the 16th is on the right.
Beth is in the middle in the shako without plate with Holly next to her,
in the light hunting frock.

Beth and Holly "manning" the defences.
When in uniform, all reenactors can be addressed as male.

The Crown forces begin their advance.

The pyrotechnics begin!
Charges are planted around the fort walls, covered in peat moss to make an appropriate "explosion"
... and mess.

And the magazine goes up!

A "lantern tour" of the fort followed, raising some money to cover the expenses of the fort. Sunday morning saw a memorial service which is done every year. It includes a First Nations tobacco ceremony, remembering those who died on this land from all nations.

Sunday afternoon saw a reenactment of a sally from the fort by the US forces. Guns are taken, but are left behind and a lot of fire is exchanged. Someone had taken down the safety line on the one side of the battlefield so I stayed there to keep the public out of harm's way. No one tired anything stupid. During the afternoon battle on Saturday, a member of the public decided to walk across the battlefield during the battle... right in front of loaded cannon. We only fire blanks, but they can be dangerous as well. A 6-pound field gun uses a pound (500 grams) of coarse black powder every time it fires. The concussion could hurt you or even kill you if you were too close. (Another safety tip: Never mix alcohol with black powder, that is, don't drink and shoot. It's a recipe for disaster and personal damage.)

The 49th Foot and a green-coated Canadian militia unit advance.

This is how all of the guns are moved.

Major Marty and Captain Ollie lead the line infantry into battle.
Croghan's company is in the second rank.

The 2nd Artillery doffs caps for the lament at the end of the battle.

 

At one point, Major Marty wanted the combined 17ths to fall back to where the field gun was.
"Fall back to the gun! We need to fire it and you're in the cone!"
"To the gun?"
"Yes! RUN!"
Croghan's company, following orders, took off at a run while Ship' s company followed at a marching pace.
Here's Nick moving fast and swearing never to run again.

Ship's company and Croghan's company 17th US as well as some of the 19th US
on Saturday morning.

Croghan's company enters the field followed by the men of the 22nd led by Captain Ollie.

After that battle, things got quiet and we soon packed up to go home. It was a good weekend, even with the rain. I disappointed myself by not taking part in the battles but I served by keeping people safe and explaining some things to the public.

Now... extraneous photos.

Ah, girls...

Kevin, back from sniping in the fort.

Caleb in Thomas' hat climbing on Thomas

John S. looking very serious as a member of the Royal Scots lights.
Next time...

Thomas stoking the fire.

Major Marty and Colonel Rob taking a break.

Major Marty and Sergeant Major Dan between battles.

Life is too short to be serious all the time.