This event was a Crown Forces of North America (CFNA) event held at the restored stone fort at Ft. Erie, Ontario. The fort is strategically located along the Niagara River across from Buffalo, NY. The fort is situated in Ontario, about 2 miles from the US-Canadian Customs crossing at the Peace Bridge. The site is a Canadian park and is well maintained by a knowledgeable staff. The Park staff furnished a hot breakfast each morning and were very accommodative to our needs. The fort’s military history is largely centered around the War of 1812. The complete history of this fort in the War of 1812 can be found at the park website.
The 95th Rifles, 1st Battalion was represented by Jim Tate, Bill Goumas, Rich Miller and Dan Cripps. We were joined by our newest member, Mark Somerville of Barrie, Ontario. The British camps were established outside the fort and were very spacious and comfortable.
Friday evening was spent with a supper in a local restaurant. This Supper was followed by a shopping trip to a local Canadian supermarket for food supplies for the weekend.
The event started on Saturday morning with a battalion parade at 9:30 AM. Weapons were inspected; orders and schedule were announced at parade. The parade was followed by a battalion drill. The British contingent was approximately 250 reenactors. The 95th Rifles were combined with the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles under Capt. Ron Phillips.
After drill the 95th was asked to participate in a skirmish party that took potshots at the American Defenders inside the fort. We skirmished for one half hour before being relieved by the 2nd York Militia.
The Saturday afternoon battle was conducted on a plain outside the fort and resulted in a British Victory.
The Saturday supper was a menu of beef stroganoff and noodles from a Rich Miller recipe. This is a simple, yet wholesome meal that can be cooked is short order.
The Supper meal was followed by an evening battle outside the fort walls. This was the British assault on the American held fort. Mark Somerville was outfitted for this battle. The highlight of the assault was the pyrotechnic display as the fort’s powder magazine was blown up.
There was a lantern tour for the spectators after the battle. Dan Cripps and Rich Miller volunteered to conduct skirmishing with the fort defenders during the tour. Because the American defenders had musket problems, Dan and Rich were inside the fort shooting at the British. They fired over 100 rounds, which were provided by the Park staff. Over 200 spectators came through the guided lantern tour.
A long day of battles and shooting was relieved by a cool night’s sleep.
The Sunday battle was a British assault on the fort and was again conducted outside the fort walls to allow better viewing by the spectators.
The spectator crowds were predominately Canadians. We enjoyed explaining how a British regiment could wear green, instead of red, coats.
On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, the 95th Rifles tested the original Napoleonic procedure of awaking and forming under arms before daylight. This procedure was used by the Rifles throughout the Peninsula War as they would be prepared to repel a dawn French attack on their outposts. At Ft Erie we were surprised to realize that dawn is earlier in Canada than in Massachusetts or Virginia. Getting up at 5:30 AM was about a half hour after sunrise! This procedure needs more refining.
The location, the park staff and the fort itself are the main reasons the Brigade Napoleon will hold its Grande Tactique at this site on August 22-23, 2020.
Respectfully Submitted,
James Tate
Sjt, 95th Rifles, 1st Battalion, 2nd Coy
James P. Tate III
7070 Highfields Farm Dr.
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
540-989-0298