This event recreates the historic siege of 1759 when British and New York troops, along with Native American allies, captured Fort Niagara from the French after a 19 day siege. Large numbers of reenactors camp at the fort for this three day event, demonstrating what life was like for soldiers and warriors on both sides during the critical days of July 1759. There will also be a large camp of period artisans and merchants. 

Three major battle reenactments, siege demonstrations, artillery firings, period music and demonstrations of frontier diplomacy highlight the 39th annual French and Indian War Encampment. Other programs will explore the fur trade, naval action during the siege, childrens games, and demonstrations of 18th century military engineering. 

The Fort Niagara Officers Club will be open from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Admission is $13.00 per person. 

FRIDAY, JUNE 29

10:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony- Trooping of the Colors

10:30 a.m. Special Tour- Get acquainted with the strategies and tactics of an 18^th century siege.

11:00 a.m. Engineer’s Recon. – The British Army has landed four miles east of Fort Niagara. British military engineers advance to reconnoiter the Fort and plan their attack. They are spotted by French defenders and fired upon.

Noon- Battle of the Bateau- British troops attempt to reconnoiter the Fort from the water. French infantry and artillery drive them off.

12:30 p.m. Special Tour – Explore the French defenses and learn how the French plan to protect the fort and its garrison.

1:00 p.m. Rutherford’s Embassy- Join British Captain Walter Rutherford as he enters the Fort to demand the French surrender. Eavesdrop on his conversation with Captain Pierre Pouchot. Will the defenders surrender without a fight?

2:00 p.m. British Assault on the Fort- British forces launch an all-out infantry assault on the Fort. Find out why the elaborate tactics employed during a siege made good sense.

2:30 p.m. Special Tour- Learn about what Fort Niagara looked like in 1759.

3:00 p.m. Fur Trading Demonstration- Natives and French traders barter furs for European made goods. Learn about the dynamics of the Great Lakes’ first major business enterprise.

3:30 p.m. Music Demonstration – Fifes and drums present a concert of military music. Learn how musicians regulated and entertained the troops.

4:00 p.m. Children’s Games- Play period games that are low tech but great fun.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

 

10:00 a.m. Special Tour- Find out how the British got to Fort Niagara in 1759.

10:30 a.m. Siege Demonstration- Advance the guns! The British move up their artillery under French fire.

11:00 a.m. Native Allies- Join Britain’s Native allies as they meet with Sir William Johnson and receive gifts in exchange for their support.

11:30 a.m. Special Tour- Enter the French defenses and learn how the French plan to defend the Fort and its garrison.

Noon- Rampart Firing Demonstration- Join French soldiers as they fire upon British attackers.

12:30 p.m. Dauphin Battery Artillery Firing- Feel the ground shake as French gunners fire the five cannons in the Dauphin Battery.

1:00 p.m. Native/French Council – Be part of the council as Captain Pierre Pouchot and Kaendae plan a strategy for alienating Britain’s Native allies.

2:00 p.m. French Sortie- What starts as a reconnaissance mission turns into an attack that overruns the British positions. See how the redcoats react.

2:30 p.m. Special Tour- Learn what the Fort looked like in 1759.

3:00 p.m. Music Demonstration – Fifes and drums present a concert of military music. Learn how musicians regulated and entertained the troops.

3:30 p.m. Rampart Firing Demonstration- Join French soldiers as they fire upon British attackers.

4:00 p.m. Kids Drill- All ages are invited to join the army and learn the manual exercise (drill) of the 1750s.

SUNDAY, JULY 1

10:00 a.m. Church Call

11:00 a.m. The Battle of La Belle Famille- French relief forces try to break through to the Fort but are defeated in a quick but decisive battle.

Noon Music Demonstration – Fifes and drums present a concert of military music. Learn how musicians regulated and entertained the troops.

12:30 p.m. Special Tour – enter the French defenses and the British sap and compare both sides’ tactics.

1:00 p.m. Siege Demonstration- Learn how the engineers and sappers have advanced the British guns to point blank range. The Fort’s north bastion is decimated and the defenders’ situation grows desperate.

2:00 p.m. British Assault on the Fort- the British launch a final assault on the Fort forcing the French to request surrender terms.

3:00 p.m. Surrender Ceremony- Captain Pouchot musters his weary defenders on the parade ground as British troops assume control of the Fort and Native allies help themselves to French trade goods.

This event brought to you by,

Wolfe Lumber Mill       All American Security      Montante Construction       Crosby's   

Niagara Frontier Publications      J. F. Machining Co., Inc.

and Friends of the Fort

Skip and Jennifer Adams

Timothy and Diana Adamson

Bruce D. Aiken

Antone Alber

Jerome and Claudia Andres

John and Rose Attanasio

Joan G. Aul

Bradford Banks

Richard Barbuto

John Battaglia

Aaron Blake

Nicholas Bolla

Dolores Bower

Joan Broderick

Philo and Jeanette Brooks

Ellen P. Burd

Robert and Christa Caldwell

Margaret C. Callanan

Jimmy and Kelsey Carminati

Tom Chambers

Paul and Charlotte Clark

Ellen Colangelo

John and Katherine Collard

John H. Campbell and Heidi C. Crow

James and Mary Currie

Mark and Audrey Dailey

Marion Dann

Joseph P. Deberoalis, Jr. 

Ralph and Joan DeVantier

Betsy and Peter Diachun

Jack Doyle

Wilfred E. Duval

Bob and Kate Emerson

Robert Ensminger

Karen Fenzl

Robert J. Fierle, Jr.

Carol Force

Mark Fox

Marianna L. Gitterman

Gretchen Green

MIchelle Griep

Ken and Nancy Greulich

Mary Lou Hallatt

Art and Judy Hannah

Randy Hartman

Mark Hersee

Linda A. Hershey

Elaine and Jim Hildreth

Thomas and Constance Hodick

Margaret B. Hoff

Donna Huggins

James Ibaugh

Candyce Ingwersen

Edward Jackson

Jack James

Toby and Ginny Jewett

Thomas Johnstone

Kim Jones

Laura Jones

F. Warren and Leila Kahn

John Kern

Victoria and Paul King

Claire and Richard Knowles

Greg Kozlowski

Roderick and Margaret Ladd

Patrick Lester

Mark and Kathy Lippman

John Loss

Louise E. Mangan

Albert E. Martin

Thomas McCullough

Theresa McFarland

Mildred McLaughlin

Susan Maguire

Aiden Mesic

Frank and Linda Meyer

Mark and Margot Mitschow

Thomas Montante

Charles Moran

Bruce Newton

Robert C. Newton

Edward and Susan Nickson

Howard and Karen Noonan

Mary Ann Oliver

Nicole Pane

Beverly Penland

Ronald and Judith Pera

Peter and Cheryl Pfohl

Edward Pierce

James Pilon

Richard and Janice Powell

Robert E. Powell

Thomas Prenatt

Narendra Ramcharitar

Otto and Polly Redanz

Jane Reese

Amy Reynolds

Jodee Riordan

Guy and Pat Rizzuto

Charles B. Roberts

Joseph and Jennifer Roehmholdt

John Roess

Roy and Carol Rogers

May Ann Rolland

Vincent Saccomando

James and Mary Ann Schneider

Jim and Karen Schultz

James Shear

Dan and Karen Sherwood

Richard and Linda Shick

William and Jean Siddall

Jaqueline Singer

Raymond Spencer

A.T. Steegmann

Alexander and Colleen Swavy

John and Monica Sweeney

Dr. William P. Tatum III

Dennis and Marlene Taylor

Georgia Thomas

David Thompson

L. Michael Trapasso

Jan H. Van Harssel

Elizabeth Vetell

Ronald Vetter

E. Gail Walder

Randall and Patricia Wayne

Quain Weber

Sharon Wesoloski

Larry and Linda White

Nancy Widdowson

Robert Wiltshire

Jeff and Audra Wood

Michael F. Woods

Terrance John Yount

 

Thank you!

 

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