Recreating an epic battle
History came alive at Fort George over the weekend as the Niagaraon-the-Lake historical site marked the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Fort George.
More than 400 re-enactors from across North America descended upon the fort to recreate one of the pivotal events in Niagara during the War of 1812.
Battle re-enactments were held throughout the weekend. Other events included musket and cannon firings, demonstrations of battle tactics of the time and specialized talks.
Just less than 1,100 people took in the event on Saturday alone, said Elizabeth Leblanc, public relations and communications officer with Parks Canada.
“We’re getting a lot of people, both Canadians and international visitors, who maybe haven’t come out to things like this before,” she said. “They’re finding that it’s a fantastic opportunity to see, to experience, this part of history. It brings it to life for them.”
Kevin Windsor is a part of that living history. He spent the weekend as a private with the 49th Regiment of Foot.
“I was in the infantry, carrying a musket and pointing and shooting when someone told me,” he quipped. “And, no, I didn’t survive.”
The Trenton resident has been a re-enactor for 30 years.
“I love history and I love recreating history,” he said. “It use to be so I could teach the public about history but now I enjoy teaching myself. I learn more and more all the time.”
Ray Hobbs has been attending the event for more than the past 18 years.
In past years, the Hamilton resident and colonel in the 41st Regiment of Foot would lead his troops into battle.
After resigning from that post, he became a commissary officer and watched the weekend battle from the sidelines.
“As a commissary officer, by the time they started fighting, my job was done,” he said Sunday.
The battle that took place around Fort George in May 1813 is considered some of the fiercest fighting of the War of 1812, when British forces with indigenous allies unsuccessfully attempted to stop the American landing on the shore of Lake Ontario.