Tag Archives: national historic site

Project:1812 – Fort Meigs

You don’t want to visit Fort Meigs after a rain fall, trust me on this one. After a heavy rainfall the former supply depot becomes a swamp. Fort Meigs was one of many forts built through the mid-west through later part of 1812 and into the winter of 1813 to provide fallback and supplies for the advancing Army of the Northwest. Meigs however, being the one furthest north had the distinction of being the largest, and remains the largest palisade walled fort in North America.

One of the blockhouses along the wall, unlike other blockhouses these were not designed to house troops, but rather serve only as a defensive strong point. Often a cannon was mounted on the ground floor.

Built under the orders of General William Henry Harrison in the winter of 1813 on the bank of the Miami River as a supply depot for the newly formed Army of the Northwest and named after Ohio governor Return Jonathan Meigs Junior. Meigs had been an important ally to General Harrison during early conflicts with supplies and militia support. The newly constructed Fort Meigs was to serve as a supply depot and staging area for the planned invasion of Upper Canada in 1813, a palisade wall enclosed an area of ten acres, seven blockhouses served as defensive strong points, many mounting canon, five additional artillery batteries, two magazines, and various other support buildings needed to support the garrison of 2,000 troops. But the one unique feature of Fort Meigs was the 12 foot tall traverses through the interior of the fort, to protect against cannon balls, a feature that would later save the garrison.

Looking along the Palisade Wall

Fort Meigs was laid siege to by the British twice in 1813. The first and deadlier siege was from April 26th to May 9th of 1813. Forces under the command of General Procter attempted to seize and secure the fort. The interior traverses kept the British cannon balls from doing serious damage to the fort’s buildings and troops, and a raid by Kentucky riflemen made Procter’s siege useless. Bogged down by rain Procter lifted the siege and retreated back to Detroit. A second siege in July of 1813 also failed without doing any damage. On September 10th, 1813 General Harrison marched north and took with him most of the garrison at Meigs, the fort itself was disassembled, the ten acre fort was reduced to a simple square palisade wall with a single blockhouse, and a small garrison to keep the British from gaining a foothold in the area.

The 1908 Memorial

After the peace treaty was signed in February of 1815 many of the fort’s further south waned, and by May of 1815 the army had abandoned the old fort. Shortly after this the palisade wall and blockhouse burned to the ground, either by the army or by squatters. The whole area was purchased by Timothy Hayes, the area was used as a pasture for livestock, as Hayes and subsequently his family did not want to disturb the former fort lands and battleground. William Henry Harrison returned there in 1840 during this presidential run, and held a rally at the site of the former fortification he had commanded. Harrison’s rally was a success and he did win the presidency. Civil War veterans during a rally in nearby Toledo, OH decided to build a monument on the site in 1908 to the brave defenders of Fort Meigs. The Hayes family sold the land to the Ohio Historical Society in 1960 and by 1974 the society had rebuilt Fort Meigs to its original 1813 configuration, complete with blockhouses, batteries, palisade wall, and even the traverses (although they’re not 12 feet tall anymore).

The modern visitor centre.

Written with Files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: www.fortmeigs.org/history/
Web: www.ohiohistory.org/museums-and-historic-sites/museum–historic-sites-by-name/fort-meigs/history

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (320TXP)
Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 5:30 @ 20C

Project:1812 – The Siege of Fort Meigs

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With the invasion of Canada on hold at least for now, the American forces had time to consolidate and rebuild after they were rebuffed during the first year of the war. Brock’s victory at Detroit and Queenston Heights did much to improve the moral of the British and Canadians forces, and only served to give the Americans more resolve to make 1813 the year they take Upper Canada for themselves, and with Brock dead, who was going to stop them? But in the mid-west a new force was stirring. The newly commissioned General William Henry Harrison was marching north, building a series of supply depots to support his Army of the North West, and it was at the largest of these depots, Fort Meigs, that the British would try and stop him.

Reenactors portraying the Light Company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment take the field against members of the Kentucky Militia, aka Kentucky Riflemen.

General Procter of the British forces in the west had wanted to launch an attack in early spring against Fort Meigs (located in what is today Perrysburg, OH) when it was still under construction and venerable to attack. But he was hampered by heavy rain and poor weather preventing such an attack and giving the American’s time to complete and garrison the massive fort. On April 26th, 1813 General Procter and a force of 486 British Regulars consisting of members of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, along with a detachment from the Royal Artillery, and 462 Canadian Militia. Shawnee leader Tecumseh brought 1250 warriors to enforce the regulars and militia. Procter’s guns, consisting of two massive 24-pound canons from Fort Detroit, several smaller artillery pieces and mortars along two gunboats arrayed on the Miami River opened fire on Fort Meigs on May 1st. Harrison however had an ace up his sleeve, he had ordered 12 foot tall traverses to be built up inside the fort walls, Procter’s seemingly unlimited supplies of shells just sank, without doing any major damage into the wet earth. American troops dug bunkers into the traverses, being described as an army of groundhogs by a captured British officer. Harrison also ordered that any soldier that brought canon rounds to the magazine would receive a gill of whiskey; as Harrison did not have the same amount of ammunition as the British forces seemed to have. Over a thousand gills would be handed out before the end of the siege.

Reenactors portraying Kentucky Militia, aka Kentucky Riflemen – these guys were pretty cool.

Although secure behind the walls of the fort, Harrison remained pinned down any attempt at a sortie would cause his own force to loose significant numbers, and most Americans still had the fear of Tecumseh’s warriors. But a glimmer of hope was given to the general, a force of Kentucky Militia and US Regulars were coming up from the south by boat. Harrison dispatched runners to General Clay in command of the1200 troops. Clay was to split his force into three groups, send a force to the north bank, a force to the south bank, and the reminder to head to the fort to reinforce the garrison there. Colonel Dudley was in command of the troops that landed on the north shore and quickly over ran the small force of Royal Artillery and native warriors the surprise attack sending them running into the woods. Using their own ramrods from their muskets they quickly spiked the guns, then thinking that Harrison’s signals to return to the fort were merely cheers raised a cheer themselves then spotting more natives at the edge of the woods took off after them. Harrison’s victory soon turned to defeat. British and militia troops heading to investigate the skirmish at the batteries quickly broke the Kentucky Militia’s line sending them back towards the shore where native warriors had outflanked them, catching them between native sharp shooters and redcoats. Of Dudley’s 866 men, only 150 made it back to the fort. Colonel Miller’s sortie to the south bank faired a little better, again taking the small force at the batteries by surprise his troops were able to drive the British forces off, but again after spiking the guns did not retreat (as those orders never reached them), allowing a counter attack by the British regulars drove them back to the fort after suffering heavy casualties.

Reenactors portraying the 60th Regiment of Foot form a skirmish line. Historically the 60th did not fight at Fort Meigs, but the reenactment group is known for their skill on the field as light infantry.

The two sorties did some damage to the British line, the guns on the south bank were rendered useless, but the north bank guns were able to be easily reactivated due to the fact that Dudley’s men used ramrods instead of hand spikes. By May 9th Procter’s forces were suffering from dwindling spirits and supplies. After arranging for an exchange of prisoners the siege was lifted and Procter returned to Detroit. The Americans having suffered 160 killed, 250 wounded, 530 captured, and 6 missing. British reporting 14 dead, 47 wounded, and 41 captured. At the urging of Tecumseh a second attempt at a siege was launched later in 1813 but was soon abandoned as the ruse did not succeed is drawing the fort’s garrison (now under General Clay) out. The failure to secure Fort Meigs caused a massive ripple during the fall of 1813 and saw General Harrison’s army of the Northwest invade and secure the western end of Upper Canada, the destruction of Fort Amhurstburg and the eventual death of Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames. Every May at Fort Meigs National Historic Site hosts an annual siege event. It usually rains.

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: www.galafilm.com/1812/e/events/ftmeigs.html
Web: war1812.tripod.com/batmeigs.html

Photos:
Nikon F4 – AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8G VR – Ilford FP4+

400TX:365 – Week 2 – Fort York

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Located in the shadows of condo towers, the gentle rumble of traffic along the Gardiner Expressway lays Fort York, one of the few reminders to Toronto’s colonial past as muddy York, the seat of government for Upper Canada. For those who have been following my other photography project related to the War of 1812 have already seen this particular location so I took a different spin, rather than capturing wider angle shots I focused more on the fort’s details. Fort York was established in 1793 under the orders of John Graves Simcoe, and built by the Queen’s York Rangers. In April of 1813 American ships landed troops on the shores their target was York. Troops deployed from the fort and already out on patrol were unable to turn back the intruders quickly falling back to the fort. Seeing the futility of putting up a fight, General Sheafe ordered the retreat to Kingston. In the heat of battle the flag was left flying as the British troops retreated, leaving the grand powder magazine lit on fire. As American troops entered the shattered fort the magazine exploded killing off the commanding General and many troops both American and British. With the British leaving the local militia to handle the surrender the Americans went through and burned the town. A second attack a few months later destroyed the rest of the Fort and the town. When forces finally returned at the end of 1813 the town and the fort was rebuilt and managed to repel a third attack. Today Fort York holds the only surviving examples of War of 1812 era buildings left, the two blockhouses date to 1813, along with 1814 era magazines. Several other buildings are rebuilds of 1815 and later structures based on original plans and original materials found when the Fort was turned over the city after the Military moved into the new Fort York Armouries.

Nikon F3 – AI-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4 – Kodak Tri-X 400 (400TX)
HC-110 Dil. B 4:30 @ 20C

Project:1812 – Fort Amherstburg/Fort Malden

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In most cases when a fort is destroyed and rebuilt it retains its old name. Fort Erie was destroyed four times over the course of its service as a military outpost and maintained its old name. Fort York continued with even when the city it once defended changed to Toronto. But in the case of Fort Amherstburg, after the destruction of this fort, when it was rebuilt it was given the name Fort Malden as it is known by today.

A bastion in the 1830s earthworks.

Fort Amherstburg was built in 1796 after the Jay Treaty forced the British to transfer control of Fort Detroit over to the American government. The simple earthworks fortification on the Upper Canada side of the Detroit River served as the central hub for British Military operations, the Provincial Marine and the King’s Navy Yards, and the British Indian Department in the Western frontier of Upper Canada. The fort had simple wooden frame buildings, and no blockhouses (and oddity in those days). Construction of the fort fell to the Royal Canadian Volunteers (a group of local citizens of Upper Canada raised as a fensible battalion). The fort was manned by members of the Royal Artillery and a detachment from the 41st Regiment of foot. Another group of British irregular soldiers, Caldwell’s Western Rangers also operated out of the fort.

The 1819 Brick Barracks, the only surviving military structure on the site.

When war broke out in 1812, the fort was General Hull’s first target when he landed his forces north of the fort in the small town of Sandwich (Today known as Windsor, ON). He marched south only to be opposed by the troops from Amherstburg, it was this engagement at the River Canard along with news that General Brock was coming with reinforcements forced Hull to retreat back to Fort Detroit. When Brock arrived it was at Fort Amherstburg the general met with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, the two great leaders then launched their operation laying siege to Fort Detroit eventually forcing Hull’s surrender and recapturing Detroit with plans for moving further south. But in 1813 the British fared far worse in the western theater, several failed attacks and sieges forced the British to retreat, General Procter ordering the King’s Navy Yards, warehouse and Fort Amherstburg destroyed by fire leaving nothing for the quickly advancing American army, and the British pulled back along the River Thames (it was during this retreat that the Battle on the Thames occurred and saw the death of Tecumseh). The Americans soon began construction of a new fort over the charred ruins of Fort Amherstburg, calling their new smaller fortification Fort Malden. With the war focus shifting to the Niagara peninsula over the final years of the war the Fort Malden remained incomplete when the British reclaimed the region, building only a small barracks to house a small detachment of troops in 1819.

A visual representation of the 1839 No. 1 Barracks

But by the 1830s the threat of rebellion swept through the Canadas, and the British scrambled to build up their military presence, Fort Malden once again was surrounded by high earthworks and several new buildings where thrown up. The fort was garrisoned by members of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, with the 34th Regiment of Foot using it as a staging area. The fort continued to serve as a military base until 1851, when it was transferred over to the local government who setup a lunatic asylum until 1871. During this time the earthworks were lowered, and trees planted over the ground, several new buildings were installed as well. After the asylum transferred to St. Catherines (where it still operates today) the fort was left and forgotten. The two larger barracks were moved elsewhere in Amherstburg, one split into three separate buildings, all of which still stand today, and the second was left intact and used as a stable until 1920 when it burned down. The grounds were slowly sold off for private ownership; the 1868 laundry/kitchen became a private residence. It was in 1937 when many of these historic sites were purchased by the federal government for restoration, Fort Malden among them. Today the Fort Malden National Historic Site contains the original 1819 barracks fully restored to what it would have looked like when it was built after the War of 1812, the 1868 building now serves as the fort’s museum. Visitors can also see the remains of the 1830s earthworks and see outlines where the other fort structures once stood.

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: www.amherstburg.ca/Attractions/Details/fortmalden.aspx
Web: www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/digi/war1812/contents/surrender/fortmalden.htm
Web: www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/digi/war1812/contents/retreat/retreatamherstburg.htm

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 75mm 1:2.8 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (320TXP)
Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 5:30 @ 20C

Project:1812 – Fort Wellington

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Fort Wellington is one of the many forts that helped defend Upper Canada during the War of 1812, but unlike many other forts of the era it was never directly attacked. By 1810 the small village of Prescott had been founded along the shores of the St. Lawrence River and the King’s Highway which ran between Montreal, Kingston, and York (Toronto). Prescott soon found importance in travel along the St. Lawrence as bateaux from Montreal, used to navigate the rapids, would be off loaded onto the larger lake freighters to continue onto Kingston, York, and the Niagara region.

The main gate at Fort Wellington

Since both the British and Americans depended on the river for quick movement of supplies, both sides wanted to keep the peace at the start of the War of 1812. That however was not the case; raids by both sides turned both sides of the river into the front lines. The British began construction and completed Fort Wellington in 1813. The fort was named after the Duke of Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley, who had just won several key victories in the fight against Napoleonic France. The fort was mostly an earthwork wall, a single wooden blockhouse, a gate, and a stockade. Two 24-pound cannon were pointed out at the river and could easily fire upon their American counterparts in the village of Ogdensburg. Although the American’s never directly attacked the fort, the troops from Fort Wellington participated in the Raid on Ogdensburg in February of 1813, and again at the Battle of Crysler’s Farm in November of the same year. When the war ended in 1814 the troops were removed from the fort and it was abandoned.

The 1839 Blockhouse. Now holds displays on the fort’s history

Despite being abandoned the British Military still maintained ownership of the land and the structures that were starting to fall in upon themselves. When the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada took hold in the 1830s the military again occupied the old fort and began reconstructing it. By 1839 the fort’s earthworks were shored up, a new three-story masonry blockhouse constructed, a guardhouse, cookhouse, latrine, and officer’s quarters constructed. The two 24-pound cannon were remounted; two 12-pound cannon, two 14-inch mortars, and a 36-pound carronade were added to make Fort Wellington a force to be reckoned with. The rebels made plans to seize Fort Wellington, now a major depot for the Canadian Militia in the area, but the commanders were tipped off and they were able to interdict and defeat the rebels at Windmill Point. The British maintained a garrison at the fort until 1863, when the defense was turned over to the militia. The Canadian government maintained a presence at the fort, even using it as a depot for troops heading off to Europe during the First World War.

One of the two 24-pound cannon at the fort. Yes, it works.

At the end of the First World War the nearly 100 year old fort was turned over the civilian government who restored and reopened it as a national historic site. Today Fort Wellington has been restored to what it would have looked like in 1846 (which makes doing 1812 reenactments there a bit odd). The fort has maintained many of the structures that were constructed between 1837 and 1839, the officer’s quarters, blockhouse and gate are still there. The guardhouse and cookhouse were demolished in the early 20th century due to them being structurally unsound. The latrine is also still there, and has been made famous by the fort. Archeological work in the latrine pit has offered us a unique view into the life of an average soldier in the 19th century by the trash that was found to have been tossed into the pit. The Fort’s new visitors centre also features the wreak of an 1812 era gunboat that was brought up from the St. Lawrence River.

The fort’s famous latrine

Photos:
Nikon FM2 – AI-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8
Fuji Neopan Acros 100

Sources:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition, Revised and Updated
Gilbert Collins

Project:1812 – Fort George

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Located just outside the historic town of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Fort George stands guard over the Niagara River, her guns set to fire upon Fort Niagara across the river in Youngstown, NY. In fact it was Fort Niagara that spurred the construction of Fort George.

The largest blockhouse on site, historically these were used as both barracks for troops and a defensive emplacement should the walls be breached.

Fort Niagara after its capture by the British in the French-Indian War in 1759 remained a loyal British stronghold throughout the American Revolution. When the Jay Treaty was signed in 1796 the British Army was forced to surrender the massive fort located strategically at the mouth of the Niagara River. They began construction of a new Fort on the Upper Canada side of the river named Fort George. Completed in 1802 it soon became the military headquarters for the region and directly under the command of General Isaac Brock of the 49th Regiment of Foot.

Cannons mounted along the large ‘flag bastion’ on site.

The new fort featured both log and earthwork bastions, cannons, blockhouses, a powder magazine, kitchens, a hospital, and a smithy. Its job was to defend British interests on the Niagara River, provide shelter for British troops, the local militia and the Indian Department. There is a story of how on the eve of the American declaration of war against the British Empire and subsequent invasion of Upper Canada, that the officers of Fort Niagara were dining at Fort George with their British counterparts. Upon hearing the news that war had been declared the dinner continued and the American officers were sent back to Fort Niagara, and the next day the two forts opened fire upon each other. The Americans laid siege to Fort George in May of 1813; a massive naval bombardment followed with a ground attack forced the British to retreat back to their fortifications at Burlington Heights. The Americans used the fort as their base of operations as they attempted to push further into Upper Canada. But after the engagements at Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams they retreated back across the river later in 1813 allowing British Forces to re-establish their garrison at Fort George.

The original powder magazine, the only original structure on site.

Fort George remained in British hands throughout the rest of the conflict. Although the fort remained garrisoned through the rest of the war, the completion of Fort Mississauga located closer to the mouth of the river lessened the importance of Fort George. The fort was left in ruins by 1820, the grounds repurposed for agriculture and even a golf course, as most military operations had been moved to Fort Mississauga or Butler’s Barracks. At the start of conflict during the First World War saw the grounds once again home to the much larger Camp Niagara training base. The 1930s saw a great interest in restoration of many of the historic forts in the Niagara region, Fort George was reconstructed at that time using the original plans from the Royal Engineers. Most of the buildings that occupy Fort George today are reconstructed with modern materials based on the original plans and layout, the powder magazine is the only original building on site and the oldest building in Niagara-On-The-Lake. The fort is operated under Parks Canada as a National Historic Site, reenactors on site dress as the 49th Regiment of Foot. The crown forces operate a drill school every April at the fort as well.

The officer’s quarters and mess.

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (TXP)

Sources:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition, Revised and Updated
Gilbert Collins
www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/fortgeorge/natcul/natcul2.aspx

Project:1812 – Fort York

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A sign welcoming visitors to the Fort.

Under direction of the Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe a new capital for Upper Canada was established. The Town of York would replace Newark (today known as Niagara-On-The-Lake) as the capital for the British Colony. The new capital was not as close to the still young United States of America and could be more easily defended. Under the direction of Simcoe, the Queen’s Rangers established Fort York, named after the second son of King George III, Price Frederick, the Duke of York and Albany. The fort was constructed on the ruins of an older French fort, Fort Toronto.

The main gates at Fort York.

In 1807, General Issac Brock, recognizing the importance of York as the capital of Upper Canada would make a prime target for invading American forces, should war break out between the United States and the British Empire, he ordered the fortifications at York be improved.

One of two blockhouses at Fort York, built in 1813.

But they were not enough, although York remained untouched through the first year of the war, on April 27th, 1813, American forces under General Zebulon Pike landed and began the invasion of York. The fort’s defenders were unable to hold their ground and rather be killed or captured they retreated further into the town but not before setting fire to the grand magazine. The resulting explosion was heard at Fort George in Niagara-On-The-Lake and killed many American solders including General Pike.

The stone magazine built in 1814 to replace the earlier Grand Magazine that was blown up during the British retreat in 1813.

When the American’s left York in May 2nd 1813 and a second occupation by the Americans in July saw the remaining fortifications at Fort York, and Gibraltar Point (Now on the Toronto Islands) destroyed. By the fall of 1813 British forces under Major General Baron de Rottenburg returned to re-occupy and re-build York. New barracks, blockhouses, magazines, and earthworks were established. A third invasion of York occurred in 1814, but the new fortifications and troops were sufficient to drive off the American’s this time around. The third time really is a charm.
The British Army transferred control of the fort over the Canadian Militia in 1850, and the fort was purchased by the city of Toronto (York was renamed the City of Toronto in 1834) in 1903, the fort again saw use as a military base through World War One. The military formally left Fort York in 1933 when the new Fort York Armoury was constructed. Although the fort again played host to the Military through the Second World War.

Like many period forts, Fort York was armed with several cannons, although you may today think today that the fort is too far back from the lake, through the 18th and 19th century the fort sat right on the lake shore. Through the late 19th and early 20th century, the city reclaimed much of the land south of the fort to continue to grow.

Today Fort York serves as a museum and national historic site. It also is home to the largest collection of War of 1812 buildings in Canada, many structures that are at the fort date the reconstruction in 1814 and 1815. Although open year round the best time to visit the fort is in the summer when the guard, representing the Canadian Regiment of Fensible Infantry are on site to provide musket demonstration along with fife and drum performances. There is also staff on site in period dress to provide tours and interpretation of the fort’s exhibits.

The 1815 barracks now serve as a visitor’s centre and canteen.

For more details about visiting Fort York and events check out:
The Friends of Fort York or Official Toronto site.

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers

Shot on: Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Portra 400

alex luyckx | blog

Explorer, Photographer, Wanderer

Tag Archives: national historic site

Project:1812 – Fort Meigs

Project:1812 – The Siege of Fort Meigs

400TX:365 – Week 2 – Fort York

Project:1812 – Fort Amherstburg/Fort Malden

Project:1812 – Fort Wellington

Project:1812 – Fort George

Project:1812 – Fort York