Revolutionary War re-created
Re-enactors from across North America descend on Fort Erie
After a heavy thunderstorm in the morning it turned into a lovely day for a battle.
Re-enactors from across North America traded blows, gunfire and the occasional insult Saturday for Old Fort Erie’s first ever Revolutionary War re-enactment. The two-day event, which continued Sunday, is part of a new series at the fort called Canada 250: Fort Erie in the 1700s.
Site manager Travis Hill said the original Fort dates back to 1764, pre-dating the Revolutionary War which took place between 1775 and 1783.
This weekend’s re-enactment was “hypothetical,” he said. It portrays the Sullivan Campaign battle, which actually took place in Upstate New York. It was a military strike ordered by
George Washington against the Iroquois Confederacy, destroying more than 40 Iroquois villages.
“It affected British citizens, more-so the Indigenous allies,” said Hill. “The Sullivan Campaign, had it continued further north, that’s when Fort Erie might have been involved in the Revolutionary War.
He said the event was presented “to educate Canadians about a war that affected British North America during this time period.”
About 175 re-enactors registered for the event, many sleeping on the grounds in tents. They all followed a script for two battles: Saturday, American forces attempted to take the British Fort, and Sunday, British forces attempted to take the American Fort.
“The battles are scripted out, even though it may look like organized chaos,” said Hill.
Throughout the weekend visitors could see 21-gun salutes, cannon and sword demonstrations, mortar displays and a church service/parade.
Old Fort Erie hosts an annual Siege of Fort Erie re-enactment in August, and occasionally does a Fenian Raid Re-enactment.
This is the first time it has done a re-enactment that pre-dates the War of 1812.
Toronto’s Jim Millard has been doing re-enactments for 40 years. He said the real enthusiasts can find an event every weekend from May to October to travel to.
“This is what I do instead of playing golf.”