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War of 1812 comes to Old Fort Niagara

by jmaloni

Tue, Aug 23rd 2011 06:55 pm

Labor Day weekend event will feature night battle

British and American forces will once again struggle for control of Old Fort Niagara during the site's "War of 1812 Encampment," set for Labor Day weekend. The event will feature tactical demonstrations at 3 p.m. each day, musket and cannon firings, uniform programs and living history camps that depict life on the Niagara Frontier during the War of 1812.

As a special treat, OFN will host a night battle depicting the 1813 capture of the fort on Saturday evening. The re-enactment will recreate the British attack on the fort that occurred in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 19, 1813. After the fall of the fort, British forces proceeded to burn settlements on the U.S. side of the Niagara River from Youngstown to Buffalo.

The event is the second in a series of special programs hosted by OFN to highlight the upcoming bicentennial of the War of 1812. Visitors wishing to view the night battle must arrive at the fort prior to 7 p.m. The re-enactment will be preceded by a concert of military music performed by the Yankee Volunteers Fifes and Drums of Seekonk, Mass.

Old Fort Niagara War of 1812 Encampment Schedule of Activities

Saturday, Sept. 3 (United States Garrison Day).

10 a.m.: Colors Ceremony
10 to 11 a.m.: Manual Exercise (Military Drill Demonstration)
11 a.m.: Military Music Concert by the Yankee Volunteers Fifes and Drums of Seekonk, Mass.
Noon: Artillery Demonstration
1 p.m.: Uniforms of the War of 1812
1:30 p.m.: Military Music Concert
2 p.m.: Recruiting Demonstration
3 p.m.: Tactical Weapons Demonstration
4 p.m.: Artillery Demonstration
5 p.m.: Musket Demonstration
7 p.m.: Doors close for evening program (be here by 7 p.m.!)
7:30 p.m.: Military Music Concert
8 p.m.: Re-enactment: The Capture of Fort Niagara.

Sunday, Sept. 4 (British Garrison Day)

10 a.m.: Colors Ceremony
10 to 11 a.m.: Manual Exercise (Military Drill Demonstration)
11 a.m.: 19th Century Fencing Demonstration.
Noon: Artillery Demonstration
1 p.m.: Uniforms of the War of 1812
2 p.m.: Recruiting Demonstration
3 p.m.: Tactical Weapons Demonstration
4 p.m.: Artillery Demonstration

The event is sponsored by DiMino's Lewiston Tops, Reid Petroleum, Wolfe Lumber Mill and Supermarket Wines and Liquors

Old Fort Niagara is a National Historic Landmark and state historic site operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association, a not-for-profit organization, in cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Located on Lake Ontario in Youngstown, the fort is 14 miles north of Niagara Falls. Welcoming more than 80,000 visitors a year, Old Fort Niagara opens at 9 a.m. daily year round.

Information, including hours of operation, can be found at www.oldfortniagara.org or by calling 716-745-7611.

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