Battle of Longwoods Re-enactment-- Part 2

The weekend will include:

**  Tactical and artillery demonstrations, including a afternoon battle.

**  Period music.

**  A military medicine presentation, demonstrating procedures available in 1812.

**  Tours of a historical military encampment.

**  Mini militia offering children a taste of life as a 19th-century soldier, including simple arms drill and marching.

**  Children's games and rope making.

**  Merchants and artisans selling items.

**  Self-guided tours of Ska-Nah-Doht Village and conservation area nature trails.

**  Food for sale by local service club members.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods Re-enactors to Bring War of 1812 Back to Life-- Part 1

From the April 24, 2024, Chatham (Canada) Daily News by Trevor Terfloth.

Musket-toting re-enactors in period uniform will gather next month to recreate the Battle of Longwoods and offer visitors a taste of life during the War of 1812.

The Battle of Longwoods will be brought back to life at Longwoods Conservation Area May 4 and 5.  The Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society and Lower Thames Conservation Authority are partnering in the event.

On March 4,1814, an American raiding party defeated an attempt by British regulars, Canadian militia volunteers and Indigenous forces to intercept them near Wardsville.

About 200 re-enactors, including men, women and children are expected for the Longwoods event.  They're to arrive Friday, May 3, and camp in period tents until Suday night.

Visitors are invited to experience life as a soldier, camp follower, Indigenous member and merchant, while walking through an authentically recreated camp.

--Brock-Perry

Gunsmithing Event Feb. 11-12 at River Raisin National Battlefield Park in Michigan

From the February 9, 2023, Monroe (Michigan) News USA Today Network.

See how War of 1812 weapons were built and maintained this weekend at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.

"War of 1812 Gunsmithing Weekend" will run from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday at the Visitor Center, 333 Dixie Highway.

Admission is free and the public is welcome.

"Using tools and methods from the War of 1812 era, living history demonstrators will show how firearms in the age of flintlock were built, repaored and maintained," according to the site.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Encampment Returning This Weekend to Old Fort Niagara

From the September 4, 2022, Niagara Gazette (New York) by Robert  Creenan.

One of Old Fort Niagara's favorite events is returning this weekend to show visitors what life was like during the War of 1812.  There will be close to 100 re-enactors present and it is open to the public Saturday and Sunday from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

In addition, there will be other activities:

Lecturer   Richard V. Barbuto, Ph.D. will speak about the Battle of New Orleans at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Visitor Center auditorium.

There will be a "Hot Shot" artillery demonstration showing how cannonballs were heated and what kind of specific damage they could do to a fort or ship.

There will also be musket and other artillery firing.

There will be ongoing demonstrations of  early 19th century soldier life, including blacksmithing, silversmithing, laundry, cooking and foodways.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Marker Ceremony in Ponchatoula

From the May  4, 2022, Hammond (Louisiana)  Daily Star.

When the British threatened New Orleans in January 1814, Louisiana men rallied to defend their city.  Among the militia men was Antoine Lavigne.  His and others effort led to the British defeat at  Chalmette on January 8.

A monument marking his grave will be unveiled at a ceremony  on May 7 at 10 a.m. at Collins Cemetery in Ponchatoula.

An honor guard from American Legion Post  47 in Ponchatoula as well as re-enactors in War of 1812 uniforms will also be there.  The public is invited to attend.

Antoine Lavigne has many ancestors in the area bearing names like Lavigne,   Hoover, Mitchell,  Perrin, Wells, Poche, Radford,  Raiford and Tucker.

Antoine Lavigne married Marie  Rousseau Lavigne and later settled on the east bank of the Tangipahoa River.  After the death of his wife, he remarried  Mary Elizabeth Hoover (Ouvre) Denelle,  widow of  Jean Baptiste  Denelle.

--Brock-Perry

Living History at River Raisin National Battlefield Saturday

From the May 20, 2022, Monroe News.

The Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield Living History Encampment and  Demonstrations were held Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm on the grounds of the Visitor Center, 333 N. Dixie Highway.

Admission was free.

This year is the 210th anniversary of Captain  Herbert Lacroix's  Company of Michigan Volunteers.

"At the start of the War of 1812, Michigan was defended by small garrisons of U.S. troops, backed up by the  1st & 2nd  Michigan Militia Regiments and the Legionary Corps of Michigan Volunteers.  These forces were soon joined by General Hull's army of U.S. Regulars and Ohio militia volunteers.

At the River Raisin, Hubert Lacroix was elected captain of an 80-man company.  Mustered into service on May 18, 1812, Lacroix's company became a part of the Legionary Corps and were assigned to guard the settlement, escort the mails and help build Hull's Road to Detroit.

Lacroix's  men participated in Hull's opening campaign of the War of 1912, guiding the  army and participating in the  Battles of  Brownstown and Monguagon.  The surrender of General Hull at Detroit on August 16, 1812, ended Lacroix's Company's official term of service, although members continued to serve in an ad hoc manner through the  Battles of  the River Raisin in January of the following year.

--Brock-Perry

Talking About Old Fort Jackson-- Part 2: Getting a First-Hand Experience with the Past

Old Fort Jackson is considered to be the oldest standing brick fortification.  It even dates back to when it was earthen works in 1808.  President Thomas Jefferson developed his second line of defense, which was really needed during the War of 1812.

The fort has not one, but three on-site educators:  Ethan Baker,  Walter Reeves and Aaron Bradford.  Bradford is the head site interpreter.  Each was dressed in miserably  hot wool and homespun Union Army uniforms from the Republican Blues.  (When I visited the fort several years ago, I had a good talk with the interpreter at ten time who was portraying a USCT soldier.)

They were very knowledgeable about the fort's history when it had been occupied by both Confederate and Union forces during the "Great Unpleasantness" of the 1860s.  Today, they were busy leading a group of school children, maybe 6th or 7th graders,  through an interactive program called "Life  as a Member of the Militia.'  Among the things they were learning  was how to assemble for a charge with the  shortest people in the front line, how to fire a musket and how to march in unison.

--Brock-Perry

Old Fort Niagara to Host Encampment-- Part 2:A Full Lineup of Activities

In addition to Richard V. Barbuto's talk on the turning point of the War of 1812 in September 1814,there will also be a variety of living history activities.  re-enactors will establish period camps and  demonstrate what life was like for common soldiers during the War of 1812.  In other words, no RVs or Glamping.

Throughout the day, troops will perform musket demonstrations, volley firing, artillery firing and other tactical exercises.  Other programs feature period cooking, laundry, blacksmithing, children's games and Native Americans in the War if 1812.

Scheduled programs are:

10:30 am, infantry drill and firing

On the hour and at 3:45 pm, musket firing demonstrations

11:30 am, uniforms of the War of 1812

12:30 pm, regency women's fashions

1:30 pm, "Hot Shot" artillery demonstration 

2:30 pm, firepower weapons program

3:30 pm, Tour:  Fort Niagara in the War of 1812

Activities run from 10 am to 4 pm.  This program is sponsored by the United States Daughters of 1812.

Old Fort Niagara is currently open daily from  10 am to 4 pm.  It is a Registered National Historic Landmark and a New York State Historic Site operated by the Old Fort Niagara  Association.

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Event Held in Bad Weather-- Part 2

This year, the musket demonstrations were visible from the front porch of the visitor center, where most took advantage of watching it.  The River Raisin could be seen in the background.

The ceremony took place shortly afterward in the front yard and featured a series of flag postings and wreaths, accompanied by salutes.  Representatives of the Essex and Kent Regiment of Canada, the Wyandot of Anderdon (Indians), local military veterans, park  volunteers and Cub Scout Pack  547 of Monroe were among the participants.

During one flag ceremony, a War of 1812-era US. flag  was used.  It had fifteen stars and 15 stripes.

Like in 813, this commemoration took place in winter conditions.  Ralph Naveaux of Monroe, whose years of volunteering at the battlefield go back to when it was a Monroe County park, said the conditions on January 18, 1813,  included 18-inches of snow on the ground, topped by a thin layer of ice.

Six inches of snow fell on the Monroe area Friday night into Saturday, followed by sleet and rain.

The battlefield park center at 1403 E. Elm Avenue is a long-time home for  historical and educational programs.  A long-range plan for development on both sides of the river has been dubbed the River Raisin Heritage Corridor plan.

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Event Held in Bad Weather Last Weekend-- Part 1

From the January 19, 2020, LenConnect.com  "Commemorative battlefield event held during snowy weather" by Paula Wethington., Monroe (Mich.) News.

It was Monroe County's biggest snowstorm of winter season so far.

"We had a lot of brave souls with the weather," said Jami Keegan.  And, only the presentation of Mary  Stockwell was cancelled.  The tactical musket demonstration went on although only half of the 70 re-enactors were there.

The Battles of the River Raisin took place January 18 and January 22, 1813, in an area in and around the present-day City of Monroe, Michigan.  Americans, British, Canadians and Indians were involved and the defeat of the Americans is considered a pivotal moment in the War of 1812.

Many of those who died on the American side were from Kentucky.  The local community in the area, then known as French Town, was left desolated.

--Brock-Perry

Commemorating the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815 (205th Anniversary)

From the Jan. 8, 2020 WGNO ABC News "How you can celebrate  the Battle of New Orleans this week."

Wednesday, Jan. 8, morning events began with a wreath-laying ceremony at Chalmette Battlefield.

Also Wednesday, there will be a ceremony at Jackson Square in the French Quarter at noon.  The United States Daughters of 1812 are hosting the event.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving with Archbishop Gregory Aymond at Ursuline Academy , 2635 State Street.

In the Battle of New Orleans, General Andrew Jackson and the pirate Jean Lafitte joined forces  to defeat the British in the War of 1812.

On Friday and Saturday there will be American and British camps set up at Chalmette Battlefield inside the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.  Along with games, talks,  and story-telling, there will be people  dressed in period clothing.  There will be firing of cannons and muskets throughout the day.

--Brock-Perry

Baltimore Celebrating Defenders Day This Weekend

From the Baltimore Sun.

This weekend is the 205th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore and the attack on Fort McHenry.  It will be celebrated where a lot of it took place, at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Site.

September 13 they had a parade to the fort.

September 14 had family-friendly activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by an evening of music, photo ops with U.S. Army soldiers, living history exhibitions and a flag-raising, all culminating with  an 8:25 fireworks display.

Today, September 15, there are more family-friendly activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission to the grounds is free.  Admission to the fort is $15 and free for kids under 16.

A Great Victory and the "Star-Spangled Banner."  --Brock-Perry

New York Buys Land By Sackets Harbor

From the February 6, 2019, WWNY TV 7.

A historically significant 24 acres on Horse Island will become part of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site.  This takes in nearly the whole island.

During the War of 1812 it was a major U.S. naval shipyard and home port of the American Lake Ontario Squadron.

On May 29, 1813, a joint British-Canadian force attacked Horse Island but American forces on it held their ground but eventually were forced to retreat across a causeway to the mainland where they rallied and recaptured the island.

The newly added acreage also includes an 1870s lighthouse.

New York State Parks partnered with the American Battlefield Trust to make this acquisition.  The site draws 80,000 visitors a year and has re-enactors on site.

--Brock-Perry

Old Fort Niagara Holds Large War of 1812 Reenactment

From the July 28, 2018, WKBW (Buffalo, NY)  "Old Fort Niagara holds one of the largest War of 1812 reenactments: Nikki DeMentri.

Over 500 reenactors from the United States and Canada attended

The 1812 Grand Tactical Committee's biggest annual event.  It took place this past Saturday and Sunday.

During the war, the Americans controlled Old Fort Niagara until there was a surprise British attack in December 1813 and the fort surrendered.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Military Muster in Edwardsville

From the April 6, 2018, Edwardsville (Illinois) Intelligencer  "Military muster marks bicentennial: by Carol Arnett.

This is being held to mark the 200th anniversary of Illinois becoming a state in 1818 as well as the War of 1812 and will take place at the historic Edward Stephenson House, (built in 1820) in Edwardsville.  There will be tours of the house and 20 re-enactors present who will be portraying War of 1812 American soldiers.

A lecture on Colonial-era medicine and their uses will be given at 2 p.m..

--Brock-Perry