The British and coming! The British are coming! Actually , they are already here.

And today at 1 p.m. at Lighthouse Point, they’ll be launching their attack on American defenders in an effort to capture the city.

Actually, they are historical re-enactors from St. Lawrence county, The Mohawk Valley and Southern Ontario who have gathered here to reenact the 1813 Battle of Ogdensburgh.

That is Ogdensburg with an “H”. Ogdensburgh dropped the “h” in 1868 when it was chartered as a city.

The group began in the 1980’s according to Forsyth’s President Tim Cryderman, to help educate area residents about the rich historical heritage during St. Lawrence County’s early days.

Today at 1 p.m., re-enactors will reenact the battle at Lighthouse Point that occurred on Feb. 23, 1813 when British troops marched across the ice covered St. Lawrence River to Capture Ogdensburgh.

The public is invited to attend to watch the colorful pageantry as re-enactors shoot muskets and fire artillery as the two opposing forces clash on the snow covered field.

There will be nine regiments from both the British and American sides. Regiments include Forsyth’s Rifles, 1st U.S. Light Infantry, 19th Light Dragoons, (British), Incorporated Militia Of Upper Canada (British), Glenngarry Light Infantry (British), Provincial Marine Artillery, Lower Lakes Naval Squadron, The Mallory Town Provincial Militia Artillery, and the 4th Tyron Militia of Mohawk Valley.

The re-enactors don’t just wage a mock battle, they’ll also be available to talk to the public about who they are portraying and what life was like during the 1800’s.

“It brings history alive,” Cryderman said. “It shows what the soldiers went through and what they did on a day to day basis.”

“I think it’s cool,” Sinclair sad. “You realize what is was like to be a soldier. I like history.”

Not only will he be part of today’s battle, but Sinclair is participating in a Civil War re-enactment in April.

The British also have several regiments from North of the St. Lawrence.

Paul Apperley, Gareth Newfield, Gord Mitchell, Paul Kelly, Kevin Lightfoot, Chris Wattie and Jason Everett are part of the Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada , based near Toronto , who made the trip down for the first re-enactment of the year.

After several months off from the summer’s reenactments, the group say they are having withdrawal and need to be part of the action again.

“It’s the guys having fun for the weekend>” they said, as they finished their meal at Centennial Towers community room before Saturday’s practice.

The group attends other battles on the Canadian side as well as including Fort Erie, Fort George, and Fort Meigs. They say even in Canada, the general public doesn’t even know the War of 1812 went on. “It was not just the Napoleonic Wars in Europe,” Kelly said. The Incorporated Militia has their own website where the public can view the local events on the War of 1812, “www.imuc.org”.

At today’s event, just don’t expect a group of history buffs running around in the snow.

With their replica uniforms, muskets, the re-enactors hope to bring local history alive.

The Battle of Ogdensburg - Feb. 13-14, 1999
The Incorporated Militia participated yet again in the Battle of Ogdensburg. This winter battle tested the men and their equipment! As always, we were victorious and would like to thank the organizers for a great battle and great hospitality.

In retaliation for the American raid on Brockville, Sir George Prevost, who was then passing through Prescott on his way to Kingston, reluctantly approved a raid on Ogdensburg at the request of Lt. Colonel George Macdonell. On the early morning of February 22, 1813, Macdonell let about 600 men across the frozen St. Lawrence River and attacked the town. Macdonell’s troops consisted of detachments from the Glengarry Light Infantry, the royal Newfoundland Regiment, the 8th Regiment and militia from Glengarry Stormont, Dundas and Grenville. Three light cannons under the Royal Artillery accompanied the force.

Advancing quickly, they were unable to bring up the guns, which got mired in the heavy snow. Splitting into two columns, the right was let by Captain Jenkins of the Glengarry Light Infantry while Macdonell led the left. In defence of the town was their old adversary Captain Forsyth, with his rifleman, some militia and a number of field pieces.

Macdonell’s column had no trouble in capturing the redan battery located at the right end of the town, but Jenkins’ men had a more difficult time near the site of old Fort La Presentation. Here the defenders were under Captain Forsyth with his disciplined rifle corps, and they put up a stubborn resistance around the old stone buildings. When Captain Jenkins’ left arm was shattered by grapeshot, followed by another wound in his right arm, the command devolved upon Lt. Macaulay.

Macdonell’s column eventually pushed through the town and formed up near the bridge over the Oswegatchie River. Forsyth was summoned to surrender, but he refused , and his men retreated down the road leading to Black Lake, eventually reaching Sackets Harbor. The British remained in the town for the rest of the day, carrying off much needed supplies. Before leaving they burned the barracks and two schooners that were trapped in the ice-bound river.

The twin raids of Brockville and Ogdensburg were small, but had far-reaching effects. When Macdonell announced to the people of Ogdensburg that the town would never be raided if it were not used as a military post, Ogdensburg was never garrisoned again. The war was very unpopular on the Northern Frontier, and rather than alienate the local population, the military presence was removed from Ogdensburg. This seemingly small effect had large repercussions for the British, for their supply line, which was critical to the entire war effort in Upper Canada ran right past Ogdensburg. (Collins, Gilbert, Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812, 1998, pages 180-181)

Captain Everett surveys the scene

IMUC assembles

The enemy is spotted

PRESENT! Fire!

IMUC moves in

Reload

Yanks accept British terms of surrender, again!

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