| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - June 12 2009 : 09:03:25 AM
This is going to be yet another amazing event in the long string of events that have been commemorating the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War. Our war!! It will also be one of the last.
From the fiw250th website:
Siege of Fort Niagara
On July 1 [1759], Brigadier John Prideaux led about 2,500 British-American soldiers and 1,000 Iroquois warriors to Fort Niagara, under French control led by Captain Pierre Pouchot. The British bombarded the fort with cannon and mortars. After nearly a month of fighting, Captain Pouchot surrendered.
With the subsequent fall of Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga) to the British less than a month later, it was the beginning of the end for the French in the American colonies.
I am looking forward to this one nearly as much as I did last year's huge 250th of the Battle of Fort Carillon. The event organizers are saying they have over 2,000 re-enactors registered. It is a 3-day event, with lots of things planned, including a nighttime artillery "fight." I have not yet seen one, but have heard that they are absolutely spectacular. I cannot wait!
Fort Niagara is another one of several absolutely gorgeous and impressive New York frontier forts. It comes a very close second to my favorite... Fort Ticonderoga. Here are a couple of photos:
Aerial view, with Lake Ontario in the background.
Image Insert:
29.16 KB
The backside of the "Castle" taken from the lake.
Image Insert:
47.85 KB
And you can go here for a Virtual Tour of the fort.
If you have an interest in seeing one of the biggest, grandest French and Indian War Re-enactments ever presented, in a spectacular, original period setting... this is the place to do it.
So.... who will be there?
Me, Sarge, Fitz... anyone else?
|
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - October 06 2009 : 2:58:59 PM
Mine arrived while I was at Fort Dobbs last weekend. I didn't notice the cover. I will have to take a look. I did watch about two hours of the footage and there is still plenty left. I did see myself in the surrender scene being approached by some savauge. We were making jokes and it looks like I am about to laugh. And the lace maker is Lynn White, the secretary of our unit. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - October 06 2009 : 12:48:34 PM
Just as I was walking out my door on Friday to head down to Warrior Run Heritage Days in Pennsylvania, I took my mail out of the mailbox. Lo and behold... there was my commemorative DVD of the Fort Niagara 250th! I came pretty close to sitting down right then to watch it, but I was running a little late already, so I resisted the urge.
As I looked at the collage of photos on the cover, I realized that I was looking at someone familiar in one of them. It seems that a certain fro..... er... cough.... Frenchman.... wearing a goofy-looking red hat has managed to get himself on the dvd cover. ~ sigh ~ Wouldn't you just figure?
Someone else in our regiment received his copy the other day, and he watched it. He said that our group got some pretty good footage, as well. I'm anxious to watch it. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 10:35:49 PM
Could you imagine that happening at, say, Gettysburg? Same thing. Those people simply have no clue. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 6:10:38 PM
I had no idea that actually took place in Quebec City sort of as a sterilized substitute, since I don't read French and I thought you were being facetious. Wow. That really makes the whole thing incredibly ridiculous. Fun for people in Los Angeles to cool off with, maybe, but certainly not fun as a substitute for an important historical event that decided the fate of a people.
Yeah.... as we've discussed before, the Quebecois really just have no clue. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 1:49:58 PM
This is what one Canadien reenactor had to say about it:
quote:
You remember that the battle of the plains of Abraham ( with Louisbourg the only F&I war commemoration outside the USA) had been cancelled .
It would have been this last week-end , and the day was still free on the summer schedule of the parc . So Marteau Napoli , a jackass type event organiser working at a local trash/rock radio station organised a great water pistol battle .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkw48E_6vWw&feature=related
The last minute event was a complete success . I can see a local tradition beginning . Years from now nobody will remember the failure or the historical reenactment event . Journalists will say " to commemorate the 1759 battle that so changed history , people gather with water pistols ....." It is evident that there is no commemoration at all , some people do not want to remember and made this goofy activity to obscure some more this day in history .
In the P. of A . event you would have seen natives fighting along with the milice on the north part of the field , sniping at the Highlanders . They would have been " whites portraying natives " ( 99% of them Americans ) , as the descendent of the Hurons-Wendat have no reenacting group * I am quite certain there would have been complaints on monday morning . Notice that at the water pistol battle there were pirates , a squirrel mascot , Batman, vampires , even a flame thrower but no Natives real or false, they have been ereased of the popular memory .
And they do not complain about it .
|
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 12:08:57 PM
Hahaha!!! Ya got me! I was all prepared to be really ticked off that someone had gone ahead and had a re-enactment!
Actually... that looks like a whole lot of fun for a hot summer day! |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 11:14:11 AM
Just saw this. It is the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, and event which may well have decided the fate of the American Colonies. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkw48E_6vWw&feature=related |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 03 2009 : 12:34:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
They are great entertainment, but not at all 18th century.
Oh, very true, and I knew that. But, it was such rollicking great fun... and such good music that I didn't care. I'm a violinist, so I just enjoyed those fiddlers s-o-o-o-o much! |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 03 2009 : 11:31:36 AM
The weekend after Niagara, the New Acquisition Militia brought FS&F to the event at Brattonsville, SC, and we listened to them until 2:00AM Sat and Sun. They are great entertainment, but not at all 18th century. That was the thing about the fort. It was all 18th century in there, whether Indian or French. For Brattonsville I don't care. Enough rum makes it all blend together, but for a place like Niagara, I really liked the fact the fort kept it period. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 03 2009 : 10:41:38 AM
Good Heavens, NO! I would not be brave enough to venture into the enemy fort, most especially at night. At least, not without at least 4 big, brawny Greencoated men surrounding me.
Besides, I had no need. We had our own special time in the British camp. The campfire was blazing, the Port was flowing, the camaraderie was most enjoyable. Plus, we had Joey Hall (Father, Son & Friends) giving a glorious 2-hour performance just 2 doors down from us. Several of us walked down to enjoy it up close. It was wonderful!
I will say, though..... as I was standing there enjoying the music --Joey, his son, and a young woman fiddler, who was absolutely fantastic! -- a group of several "French" people came walking up. One of the young men set down the fiddle case he was carrying, opened it, took out his fiddle and went to join in the jam session.
Talk about Dueling Banjos! This was Dueling Fiddles! He was just as fantastic as she was! No matter what they three of them played, he could join right in. I assume he was doing much of it by ear and improvisation. Wow! I haven't enjoyed anything so much in a long time. It was great! |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 03 2009 : 12:37:34 AM
Moving the goals would have been good. And wouldn't have been all that much work. We were on the far left of the line and actually had the goal in the middle of our unit. I have heard that is past years they had battles on the parking lot. I missed the Sunday morning battle because I was getting my stock branded, and the guy doing it was leaving early that day. Before the Friday afternoon battle, I was taking a nap under a tree when they called us for a photo. Seems that a painter of period pictures wanted an action shot of a fierce milicen charge, so a group of us, including Daniel Roy, posed for it. The painting is supposed to be completed by December and for our efforts we get a small print which I will post (naturally). Spoiled a good nap, but I guess it was worth it. This was just before the battle of the soccer field.
Most of the action for us was defending the cannon closest to the lake. It was good there.
You should have been in the fort at night. Between the Indians and the Compagnie de la Corne times were good! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 02 2009 : 9:03:08 PM
Oh, yes... I saw them. ~ snort ~ Pretty ridiculous, IMHO.
Btw.... don't you think they could have moved those soccer goals off the field for us??? Those and the picnic tables on the beach spoiled the affect a little bit. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 02 2009 : 8:27:15 PM
But look really close. Do you see the pigtails in front of the ears? Really adds just that final touch! Darned nuisance in a wind, though. Now where, may I ask, would you see that on an Englishman? Wait! I know! Put LOTM on the DVD player and look at "Camron's Cabin". John Cameron has the hair, just not braided. I would have been a natural for that scene.  |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 02 2009 : 7:46:35 PM
NO! |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - August 02 2009 : 5:39:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
Only because you looked so totally..... normal and Colonial. You weren't wearing that silly red thing you call a hat on your head.  Hmmmmph!
Now don't you think I look better in this picture
than in this one?
 |
| Seamus |
Posted - July 31 2009 : 06:48:33 AM
WW says: "It's only a few miles north of Fort Ti!"
Yeah....tag it onto the ride from down here and it adds up, and you know the results.
It's still not worth it. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - July 30 2009 : 8:38:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
... So, really, French all the way. And you were standing next to me.
Only because you looked so totally..... normal and Colonial. You weren't wearing that silly red thing you call a hat on your head. Hmmmmph!
quote:
All is not lost! A local radio station has organized a water gun battle for next Sunday to replace it. Couillons!
Cool! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - July 30 2009 : 8:30:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Seamus
Way too far out of the way to even consider it as a possibility for us.
It's only a few miles north of Fort Ti! |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - July 30 2009 : 2:36:48 PM
Last year Crown Point was just after Louisbourg. That may have had an effect on the event. I know it did for me. |
| Seamus |
Posted - July 30 2009 : 1:49:12 PM
No, WW. We received zero information on Crown Point. Good Wyfe and I stopped by it last year when we were at Ti (same weekend) for the Officers' Dinner to 'smoke it over'.....not much of an event....very small, almost as wet as Ti last year! Did see some friends there....Dan Scroth, Wade Wells to name a couple. Wade was the state-appointed safety man. Way too far out of the way to even consider it as a possibility for us. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - July 30 2009 : 1:28:41 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
Glad you all like the photos.
Fitz, you did look a little sunburned and tired, but it was so refreshing to see you wearing something other than that Miss-yer Lay-Fran-say Froggie stuff!
Well, I hate to disappoint, but I am wearing my Compangie franches de la Marine breeches, gilet, standard issue French shirt, and Compagnie franches hat. So, really, French all the way. And you were standing next to me
quote:
Do you mean you are coming all the way back up north to attend Crown Point? I didn't even know about that event until just the other day. I don't know whether our regiment received an invitation to that.
It was on the Pequawket Alliance list of events since last fall. I haven't heard much about it, but we are planning a big dinner on Saturday night.
quote:
It's sad to think that right now, we would be on our way to Quebec City for the big event there, if that whole silliness had not happened to cause it to be cancelled. How unfortunate.
All is not lost! A local radio station has organized a water gun battle for next Sunday to replace it. Couillons!
http://lejournaldequebec.canoe.ca/journaldequebec/actualites/quebec/archives/2009/07/20090720-194254.html
|
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - July 30 2009 : 10:14:57 AM
Glad you all like the photos.
Yeah.... it's a "striped skirt." That was the first petticoat I made, even before I became a re-enactor. I was preparing for volunteering at Newtown for the 225th. I searched all over the internet to find striped linen, and it's still one of my favorites.
Nope. No infirmary work for me. I'm a seamstress and sometimes-laundress.
Yes, MG... Chauncey has done trekking and progressive-type tacticals on Lake George, as has Seamus. I don't know if she still does them or not.
Fitz, you did look a little sunburned and tired, but it was so refreshing to see you wearing something other than that Miss-yer Lay-Fran-say Froggie stuff!
Btw, I took a photo of you at the final ceremony inside the fort on Sunday, but it didn't turn out well enough to post here. I was standing behind our guys in another part of the big circle, and I spotted you as our Indian allies went along to see what they could pilfer from the Frenchies. I took a photo of you from between two of the guys' heads. But, my camera automatically focused on them, rather than on you, so you are quite blurry.
Do you mean you are coming all the way back up north to attend Crown Point? I didn't even know about that event until just the other day. I don't know whether our regiment received an invitation to that.
It's sad to think that right now, we would be on our way to Quebec City for the big event there, if that whole silliness had not happened to cause it to be cancelled. How unfortunate.
|
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - July 29 2009 : 10:10:46 PM
Glad to see the pics! I think that one was made on Saturday after 7 hours of guard duty and two battles. By that time I was just a little tired, but not to tired to visit the sutlers and return with a market wallet full of goodies. That is a striped skirt, isn't it? You worked in the infirmary no doubt.
Next weekend is Crown Point. Can't miss that one. |
| richfed |
Posted - July 29 2009 : 6:02:45 PM
Nice to see Sarah and Fitz & Seamus & you, WW. Great shots. Now, as for Kurt - and, yes, it is good to see him, too [for the first time!!!] - MAN, he's a big boy! Or is it, BOY, he's a big man???? And that gun! Looks like a log! I miss the north country! |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - July 29 2009 : 4:03:55 PM
Some very good pictures Joyce, - I see you're wearing a "striped skirt", and particular reason? ;) .... Isn't Chauncy into "trekking" also?? Seems I read something a long time ago about her doing what amounts to (hiking) trekking using 18th century tents, clothes, canteens, etc.??? |
|
![The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]](images/wwwboard.gif "The Mohican Board! [Bumppo's Redux!]")
