The biggest Revolutionary War-era living history event of the summer took place July 26-28 at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, NY.  Rebels at the Gates was billed as a national Grand Encampment, co-organized by the Brigade of the American Revolution (BAR), the Continental Line, and the British Brigade.  

Attendance by members of the 23^rd:

• Captain Jack Pritchard, Regimental Adjutant
• Brigade Drum Major Joe Siegel
• Serjeant Dennis LeMay, Ferguson’s Company
• Lance Corporal Shane Watson, Horsfall’s Company
• Denis Messier, private soldier, Horsfall’s Company
• Jonathan Matthews, private soldier, Ferguson’s Company
• Drummer Dylan Morris-Vargas, Ferguson’s Company
• Camp Followers:  Kathy and Alan Hughes, Ruth Siegel, Katherine Osbourne, George Messier, and William Messier.

On Fort Niagara, the BAR provided the following description of the garrison’s connection to British operations in the region during the rebellion in America:

“During the American Revolution, it [Fort Niagara] held a large British garrison, was a center for raising Loyalist corps, and was the base of operations for numerous British raids into Western settlements including those at Wyoming and Cherry Valley [located in PA and NY, respectively].  These raids were so provocative, that in 1779 Washington sent half his army under Gen. John Sullivan to take the Iroquois and Fort Niagara out of the war.” 

To that end, Washington provided explicit instructions via letter to Major General John Sullivan:  

“The expedition you are appointed to command is to be directed against the hostile tribes of the six nations of Indians, with their associates and adherents. The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements and the capture of as many prisoners of every age and sex as possible. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more.”   While Sullivan was “successful” in devastating Six Nations villages and crops – and driving thousands of native refugees to Fort Niagara – his expedition never reached the fort itself.  

The event scenario was imagined as a siege on Fort Niagara, as if Major General Sullivan’s expedition had actually reached the fort.  The weekend featured four battles, two each day, demonstrating American attacks on the fort (and the British attempts to repel those attacks).  Defense of the fort started outside the walls and exterior earthworks, with light infantry, loyalist units, and native allies serving as skirmishers.  Artillery and company volley fire from the earthworks surrounding the fort delayed the American advance.  Additional companies provided fire from a stone tower within the fort’s walls. 

On our actions, the 23^rd was combined with the Lieutenant Colonel’s Company of the recreated 8^th (King’s) Regiment of Foot, with their members hailing from Indiana and elsewhere in the Midwest.  Captain Pritchard successfully led us, along with a subaltern and serjeant from the 8^th, as we defended the isolated garrison from the waves of American attacks, sallying outside the fort walls on three occasions to help drive off the attacking forces. 

During the first battle, we manned the redoubt in bearskin caps.  We, quite sensibly, switched to cocked hats for the remainder of the weekend after this sweaty first engagement.  It is no surprise, therefore, that the regiment’s grenadier and fusilier caps went into storage while on campaign in North America.  Otherwise, our dress consisted of breeches and half-gaiters, with bayonets worn around the waist.  In terms of dress, the BAR specifically invited units to “come as you are,” with any approved kit authorized for wear.  There was a wide variety of kit on display for visitors:  Highland regiments in kilts, loyalist rangers, native allies in Indian dress, light infantry and grenadiers in their distinctive caps, and of course the American forces, who always seem to embrace the “come as you are” attitude with respect to their dress!

Adding historical context to the force-on-force tactical displays, the weekend also saw a commemoration of the 250^th anniversary of the 10^th Regiment’s turnover of garrison duty at Fort Niagara to the 8^th Regiment.  On Sunday, we marched into the fort alongside the 8^th to participate in a ceremony recreating their 1774 arrival at the fort, the transfer of responsibility for the garrison, and the departure of the 10^th Regiment.  

His Majesty’s forces had the honor of garrisoning, sleeping, and dining inside the fort for the weekend.  Kathy and Alan Hughes attended to the 23rd, keeping the troops and camp followers well-fed throughout the weekend, which was surely no small feat!

Finally, the BAR gifted attendees of the event a souvenir print, described as “a digitally restored 1835 print entitled A Distant View of the Falls of Niagara,” based on an 1830 painting by Thomas Cole:

Members traveled over considerable distances to attend, with folks driving in (or flying in) from Arizona, California, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.  Despite the distant location, the event was (for the Messiers, at least) worth the trip.  We were fortunate to have good – although hot – weather.  As Horsfall’s operates mainly at events in the southern theatre, we do tend to brigade with the same friendly units.  One benefit of the large size of the event (and an event outside our normal area of operations) was mixing with like-minded people from regiments we’re less familiar with.  We were led ably by our friends from the 8^th and we should look forward to crossing paths with them again.  Thanks to the BAR, British Brigade, and Continental Line for the gift and for a great event!

1. Storming the Fortress – The Grand Encampment at Fort Niagara 2024, Brigade of the American Revolution, https://www.brigade.org/niagara2024
2. Letter From Washington to Sullivan, May 31, 1779, National Archives,
   https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-20-02-0661#GEWN-03-20-02-0661-fn-0001