Beginning in the fall of 1778, there are several references to the construction of housing for Loyalist and Native refugees. The Fort’s commandant, Col. Mason Bolton, insisted that billeting inside the Fort be reserved for regular troops. As Col. Butler’s Corps of Rangers returned to Niagara after the 1778 campaign, the need to construct housing for them became acute. Initially, the rangers were issued tents, but this proved inadequate for sheltering the men against Niagara’s winter weather. In July, Governor General Frederick Haldimand, who was stationed in Quebec, wrote to Bolton: I send him (Captain Robert Matthews) up to you…and as your garrison will be reinforced in autumn, he may be employed in erecting such additional log houses as may be necessary for their (the rangers’) lodging. Construction of the Ranger barracks was originally begun on the Bottoms below the Fort. This site proved unsatisfactory as represented in this letter from Walter Butler: On Captain Butler’s arrival from Canada the latter of August 78 (Major Butler having arrived but a few days before from the Indian Country in a very ill state of health) he found a Barrack in building and the frame nearly ready to be put up, which Col. Bolton told him was to be a Barrack for the Rangers: on finding the place very ill situated for quarters whether for officers or men and out of the Fort, in the Bottom, where in Fall and Spring there is half a leg deep of water and mud, and not more ground than to erect one Barrack which was not sufficient Quarters for the officers: and even were there ground sufficient such a situation no officer could be answerable for his Men: In justice to the service from the place being open to Indians day and night, and they constantly drinking, and often very troublesome, whence unhappy consequences might arrive, from such a number of men mixt with them: For those reasons Captain Butler waited on Major Butler, and tho he was very sick, represented those matters to him. Finally the decision was made to move the rangers to the west side of the Niagara River. In November, Bolton wrote to Haldimand, Major Butler is building Barracks for the Rangers on the opposite side of the river and Captain Matthews is employed in cutting a strong log house (which will contain 40 or 50 men) at the Upper Landing and we are also at work with the additional Log Houses for this Garrison agreeable to Your Excellency’s orders. In addition to these log barracks, Col. Bolton refers specifically to log houses for Native families at the Bottoms. On November 11, 1778, Bolton wrote: On Niagara side not having boards for officer floors and if Capt. Butler were not greatly mistaken, the artificers employed in repairing said barracks and putting in order the log houses in the bottom for several Indian families were paid in the Ranger Barracks acct. The tents of the Rangers going into barracks were given to a number of the Indians who came in to Receive his Majesty’s Bounty to cover them from the weather and have never been returned.

The Events of July 1759

Celebrating King George III's Birthday in 1772

An account of the Battle of La Belle Famille, published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, August 1759 Saturday Afternoon an Express arrived in Town from Albany, which Place he left about Six o’Clock on Thursday Morning, with the following agreeable News, which was brought to Albany a few Hours before, from Sir William Johnson, at Niagara, viz. That on the 24th of July, as Sir William Johnson lay before the Fort of Niagara, with the Forces under his Command, besieging it, he received Intelligence by a Party of his Indians that were sent out on a Scout, that there was a large Body of French and Indians coming from Venango, as a Reinforcement to the Garrison of Niagara. General Johnson thereupon ordered 60 chosen Men from the 44th and 46th Regiments, 100 New York Provincials, and 600 Mohawks, Senecas &c. to march immediately, and Way-lay them, which they accordingly did, and threw up a Breast-work at a Place where they knew the French must pass by on their Way to the Fort, and sent a Battoe with 10 or 12 Men down the River a little Way, to fire when the Enemy were near at Hand, which would give them Warning to prepare themselves for the Reception, and in short Time after their Breast-work was finished, they heard the Alarm given by the Battoe that was sent forward, on which they all prepared themselves to receive the Enemy, each Man having two Balls and three Buck-Shot in his Gun, and were squatted. However, the Enemy perceived them in their Intrenchment, and fired six Times on them before our People returned their Fire; but as soon as the Enemy came close, all the English rose up and discharged their Pieces, which made the utmost Slaughter imaginable among them, and repeated their Fire three Times, when the Enemy’s Indians that were left alive, left them; immediately upon which our People jumped over their Breast-work, and flew on the Enemy Sword in Hand, still continuing to make great Slaughter among them, & took 120 Prisoners, among which were 7 Officers some of which are of Distinction, with their chief commander. The Havok we made at the End was great, 500 of the Enemy at least being left on the field of Battle. Those that could made their Escape, and went down the River. Upon the Return of our Troops to General Johnson with the Prisoners, he immediately sent a Flag of Truce in to the Commander of the Fort, and demanded a surrender, telling him of the Defeat of the Reinforcement he expected; but the French Commandant would not give Credit to what General Johnson said, till he had sent a Flag of Truce with a Drum, in to our Camp, and found it but too true; and immediately on the Officer’s Return to the Fort, the French Commander offered to capitulate, provided General Johnson would permit the Garrison to march out with all the Honours of War, which was agreed to; but that they must immediately, upon their coming out, lay down their Arms, and surrender themselves, which they accordingly did; and General Johnson took Possession of the Fort directly after. The Garrison consisted of 607 Men, among which were 16 Officers, 7 of which were Captains, besides the Chief Commander, and we hear they were shortly, after their Surrender, embarked on board Battoes, and sent up to Oswego, and from thence were to be sent down to New-York, and may be expected here every Day. The number of our killed and wounded in the Defeat of the Reinforcement from Venango, we cannot as yet justly ascertain, but there were five of the New-Yorkers among the Slain in that Affair. It is said we had not lost 40 Men in the Whole, since the Landing of the Troops at Niagara. The Indians were allowed all the Plunder in the Fort, and found a vast Quantity of it, some say to the Value of 300£ a Man. The Fort, it is said, is large enough to contain 1000 fighting Men, without Inconvenience; all the Buildings in and about it are standing, and in good Order; and it is thought, had our Forces stormed the Place (which was intended) they would have met with a warm Reception; and beating the Venango Party, will undoubtedly crown with laurels the ever deserving Johnson. Niagara, July 25, 1759 Yesterday Morning a Party of French and Indians consisting of 1500, of which 400 were Indians, about Eight o’Clock came upon our right, where a Breast-work was thrown up, as we had Intelligence of their coming and as ten of our People were crossing the Lake above they began to fire on them, which gave our People time to get all their Pickets, the 46th Regiment, Part of the 44th, 100 New-Yorkers, and 600 Indians, ready to oppose them. We waited, and received their Fire five or six Times, before our People returned it, which they did at about 30 Yards Distance, then jumped over their Breast-Work, and closed in with them, upon which they immediately gave Way and broke, their Indians left them and for a While we made a vast Slaughter. The Whole being defeated, the Prisoners were brought in, among which were about 16 or 17 Officers, several of Distinction, and about 60 or 70 Men; the whole Field was covered with their Dead. After the General took the Names of all the Officers taken, he sent Major Harvey, by the Desire of Mons. Aubrey, the Commanding Officer of the whole Party, to the Commanding Officer of the Fort, who disputed his having them, and kept Major Harvey in the Fort, and sent an Officer to the General; when they found it was true, and all their Succours cut off, they began to treat on Conditions of Surrender, which continued till near 8 o’Clock in the Evening before they were concluded; however our Grenadiers, with the Train, marched in this Morning, and the whole Garrison was surrendered to Sir WILLIAM JOHNSON, who succeeded to the Command after the Death of General PRIDEAUX. The Ordnance Store found in the fort at Niagara when General Johnson took Possession of it, were two 14 Pounders; nineteen 12 Pounders; one 11 Pounder; seven 8 Pounders; seven 6 Pounders; two 4 Pounders; five 2 Pounders; all Iron; 1500 Round 12 Pound Shot; 40,000 Pound of Musket Ball; 200 Weight of Match; 500 Hand Grenades; 2 Cohorns, and 2 Mortars, mounted; 300 Hand Bills; 500 Hand Hatchets; 100 Axes; 300 Shovels; 400 Pick Axes; 250 Mattocks [Hoes]; 54 Spades; 12 Whipsaws; and a considerable Number of Small Arms, Swords, Tomahawks, Scalping Knives, Cartouche-boxes, &c.

The History of Old Fort Niagara spans more than 300 years. From the early 18 th century through the War of 1812, a fort at the mouth of the Niagara River was vital, because it controlled access to the Great Lakes and the westward route to the heartland of North America. The Great Lakes and their connecting straits form a continuous body of water from the Atlantic Ocean to the center of the North American continent. To Native Americans and early Europeans, these waters provided natural highways through a rugged and heavily forested land. Perhaps the most significant barrier on this great water highway was Niagara Falls, a 182-foot cataract that required travelers to carry their boats and goods around the great falls. Whoever controlled this land detour, or portage, could exclude their rivals and enemies from the American interior. Prior to the coming of Europeans, Native Americans intermittently used the future site of Fort Niagara as a hunting and fishing camp. During the 17 th century, the French were the first Europeans to explore the Niagara Region. Twice they erected forts at the river’s mouth, the first in 1679 and the second in 1687. Neither lasted more than a year. In 1726 French soldiers and workmen arrived at the mouth of the Niagara and began construction of Le Maison Machicoulis , a large stone building known today as the French Castle. This building, surrounded by a wooden stockade, was designed to house about 40 soldiers. The new Fort protected French interests in the region and provided a venue where Frenchmen and Native Americans could meet to negotiate and trade. Shortly after the outbreak of the French and Indian War, the British targeted Fort Niagara for capture. The French responded by expanding the Fort to house a larger garrison and withstand artillery fire. It was not until 1759 that a British/New York Provincial army and almost 1,000 Haudenosaunee allies laid siege to the Fort. After nineteen days, the Fort’s walls had been breached by British artillery and a French relief force defeated just one mile from the Fort. The French surrendered the post and Fort Niagara became British. By 1763 a new threat confronted Fort Niagara’s garrison. Native Americans, upset by British expansion and trade policies captured eight Great Lakes forts and laid siege to Detroit during the so-called Pontiac’s War. Although Fort Niagara was not attacked, it was a critical link in the supply line to Detroit. The following year Fort Niagara witnessed a great council between the British and several Native nations. The Fort also served as an assembly point for an expedition that relieved Detroit and returned many of the Great Lakes outposts to British control. With the return of peace, Fort Niagara’s garrison was reduced to around 150 men whose duties included guarding the Niagara portage, moving supplies and policing Indian traders. To guard against a Native attack on the reduced garrison, the British built two stone redoubts in 1770 and 1771. In spite of these improvements, the Fort was in decrepit shape at the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775. Over the next eight years, the British expended a great deal of effort and expense to improve the Fort and protect their link to the west. In addition to serving as Britain’s Great Lakes headquarters, the Fort became a haven for frontier Loyalists and Native American allies. From Fort Niagara, loyalist/Native raiding parties devastated the frontiers of New York and Pennsylvania, diverting much-needed manpower and supplies from George Washington’s forces fighting along the seaboard. When American forces counterattacked in 1779, Fort Niagara became a haven for thousands of Native American refugees. The British were ill prepared for this influx and hundreds of Native people starved or perished from exposure during the brutal winter of 1779-80. At the conclusion of the Revolution Fort Niagara was supposed to be turned over to the new United States. Unresolved treaty disputes delayed the transfer however, and it was not until 1796 that American troops secured control of Fort Niagara. The British moved across the river and erected Fort George on the Canadian shore. Unfortunately Fort Niagara’s most formidable defenses faced east, away from the new threat. In addition, small garrisons and paltry resources resulted in rapid deterioration of the Fort’s defenses. With the outbreak of the War of 1812 Fort Niagara found itself on the front lines of the conflict. In October and November 1812 Fort Niagara traded artillery fire with Fort George in furious but indecisive bombardments. Fire was again exchanged in May 1813, when U.S. troops successfully captured Fort George. By the end of the year however, American troops abandoned the Canadian shore and burned the town of Newark. The British reoccupied the ruins of Fort George and on the night of December 18-19, 1813 secretly crossed the river and captured Fort Niagara. The Fort remained in British hands until the end of the war. In the 1820s the completion of the Erie and Welland Canals rendered the Niagara portage obsolete and Fort Niagara’s strategic value quickly declined. The garrison was withdrawn and only a caretaker watched over the Fort’s venerable buildings and walls. The Fort was regarrisoned from 1828 to 1832 but then once again deactivated until a new border crisis in 1837 prompted Congress to authorize improvements to the Fort. By the time these improvements were completed in 1843, the crisis had passed and Fort Niagara was once again only sporadically garrisoned. During the Civil War, the Fort once again saw improvements as the Union worried about a British alliance with the Confederacy. Construction of new concrete and brick revetments began in 1863 but was not completed until after the war ended. The Fort’s artillery casemates were never armed and the new defenses were obsolete by the time of their completion. As an anticlimax, border tensions once again escalated in 1866 as rebels known as Fenians sought Irish liberation through the conquest of Canada. The post-Civil War years witnessed a significant change in Fort Niagara. A garrison that arrived in 1865 found the Fort’s living quarters antiquated and virtually uninhabitable. Construction soon began on modern buildings situated outside the old fortifications. This was the beginning of “New” Fort Niagara, the area occupied by modern Fort Niagara State Park. Continuous changes to New Fort Niagara allowed the post to survive well into the twentieth century. A 1,000 yard rifle range was constructed in 1885 and the Fort became increasingly useful for training purposes. Troops were prepared for the Spanish-American War of 1898 and the Philippine Insurrection of 1899-1901. The post also served as an officers training camp during World War One. Despite all of the activity in the new Fort, Old Fort Niagara was in a sadly neglected state by the early 1920s. Lake Ontario had undermined the seawall protecting its northern flank and the French Castle was in danger of collapse. The surviving 18 th century buildings were badly deteriorated. Fortunately, the old fortifications and structures had long been recognized for their historical value. A group of local citizens began to advocate repair and preservation. They formally organized the Old Fort Niagara Association in 1927 with the goal of saving the Castle. Cooperation between the Army and the Association permitted restoration of the other buildings by 1934. New Fort Niagara continued as an active post. During World War Two, the Fort was used as an induction center and as a prisoner of war camp. Fort Niagara was declared surplus in 1945 and many of the buildings were converted to temporary housing for returning veterans. Plans to convert the New Fort into a state park were developed in the late 1940s but the Korean War forced reoccupation of the Fort in 1950. Anti-aircraft troops were stationed there from 1952 until the base was decommissioned in 1963. Long-delayed plans to convert the area to a park were soon implemented and most of the garrison buildings were demolished in 1965-66 to clear ground for recreational purposes. Only a few structures remain. With the exception of the United States Coast Guard station adjacent to the Fort, the military history of this important site had come to an end. Today, Old Fort Niagara welcomes thousands of visitors each year who learn about life on the Niagara Frontier during the early years of our nation.