What We Came for: Part Deux

July 13, 2013  Saturday

What We Came for:  Part Deux

When we planned this trip east it was to see the Tall Ships in St. Catharines, the Battle Re-Enactment at Crysler’s farm, and the forts  in Southern Ontario that defined Canada as a country and brought us together as a nation.  Because it's the Bi-Centennial of the war of 1812 (1812 -1814)  it is the icing on the cake.

Today was the Battle Re-Enactment at Crysler’s farm which is near Corwall, Ontario.  The battle at Crysler’s farm was a small battle, however important because it stopped the Americans from taking this area and east to Montreal.  After this defeat the American’s acknowledged defeat, packed their bags, went home, and never tried to invade this area again.  

The "British" troops moving into the battle field

Just across the St Lawrence River from Crysler’s farm is New York State and Ogdensburg, an American fort/ stronghold ,- so it’s understandable why the American’s would want to attack in this area and then carry onto Montreal- they could control the waterway.

Naval ship getting ready for the battle

Presently, Chrysler’s farm is actually underwater.  In the 1950’s (1958 to be exact) explosives ripped through this area to finish one of the most impressive engineering exploits man has undertaken - the St. Lawrence Seaway.  Once this area was cleared, ocean liners could navigate over the once dangerous, but now submerged Long Sault Rapids (Sault is pronounced sue) to the Great Lakes.  The original Crysler’s farm was flooded along with several other communities.  Some of the historical buildings were saved, dismantled and moved to Upper Canada Village and other museum sites, or communities.  Other than that, the rest was demolished and is now covered in water.

2nd Navy ship pulls up for battle, behind them is New York State.

The Battle Re-enactment is done in two stages - the first one involving navy boats and cross cannon fire to and away from shore, as well as numerous groups of troops that fought with the British 200 years ago against the Americans and of course the American troops.  Today there are close to 500 men and women involved in the battle re-enactment.  

Tent city where the re-enactment participators live

The re-enactment actors come from all over North America with their spouses and sometimes children, who all dress  up in period costumes for the weekend activities as well as they camp in their tents overnight.

Sitting on the hillside ready to watch the battle

The second stage was later in the evening in the Upper Canada Village and was done in close quarters - meaning the spectators were treated to the loud sounds of battle and we could actually hear the officers yelling commands and the fife and drum playing out the commands as well.

The British  side with a mixture of Canadian troops and aboriginal groups

We got a real understanding of how war took place then - the lulls and the volleys of gun fire, the close proximity of the opposing militaries, the amount of smoke and the noise.  

The American side

We were lucky enough to get an outside table at an inn across from the evening battle, so we had desert and drinks while watching the action.  It was a lot of fun watching them play out what happened here, where only time separates us from the real thing.