Discover how winter garrisons survived during the American Revolution. Living History activities throughout the day. 

During the American Revolution, armies generally went into winter quarters where they sometimes struggled to keep their forces supplied. On February 18-19, Old Fort Niagara will host a special event that depicts life in a winter garrison for both soldiers and civilians. Members of the Brigade of the American Revolution, an international organization dedicated to the portrayal of common soldiers of the War for Independence will garrison the fort and provide visitors with a variety of interpretive programs.

Presentations will include demonstrations of how soldiers survived winters without central heating and insulated boots. Presenters will demonstrate how layers of woolen clothing kept soldiers warm and how the never-ending task of gathering firewood for heating kept them busy.

Although the likelihood of attack in the winter months was remote, officers and enlisted men still stood guard duty. Throughout the day, presenters will demonstrate formal guard changing ceremonies and explain why they were important to the fort’s security.

There will also be hands on activities for families such as a wood gathering party and an opportunity to join the King’s Army and learn 18^th century military drills. Other activities include cooking demonstrations, the brewing of spruce tea (a beverage containing vitamin C that warded off the dreaded disease, scurvy), musket demonstrations, period games and a moccasin making workshop.

The Schedule of Activities:

10:00 am Fort opens and sentries are posted.

10:15 am Patrols begin

10:30 am Flag Raising

11:00 am “The Winter Soldier” Presentation

11:00 am Musket Demonstration

11:30 am Formal Changing of the Guard

12:00 pm Lunch

12:00 pm Musket Demonstration

12:30 pm “The Wood Party” – Family Event

1:00 – 4:00pm Moccasin Workshop

1:00 pm Musket Demonstration

1:15 pm “Join the King’s Army” – Family Event

2:00 pm Formal Changing of the Guard followed by Musket Demonstration

3:00 pm Musket Demonstration

3:15 pm “Vitamin C and Spruce Tea”

4:00 pm Musket Demonstration

4:15 pm Flag Lowering

4:30 pm Site Closes

On-going activities: 18^th Century Games, Winter Travel, Soldiers Life, Soldiers on Patrol, Soldiers and their Sustenance, Laundry and Ironing in the Bakehouse, Recipes from the 18^th Century, Officer Duties and Period Clothes Production

 

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