Chairman Tim Cryderman, warof1812@fort1749.org
This event recreates the Feb. 22, 1813 attack on Ogdensburg by overwhelming British forces which captured the village and pillaged many of its buildings. Afterwards, the British were able to keep their supply lines open along the St. Lawrence River for the rest of the war.
The 2025 event will be held Feb. 22, 23
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22 and 23, 2025, the Fort La Présentation Association and Forsyth’s Rifles will host the Battle of Ogdensburgh. This annual event presents in real time a reenactment of the historic attack on Ogdensburg during the War of 1812. While the US and Canadian border is the world’s longest demilitarized border, this has not always been the case.
Major Benjamin Forsyth and the 1st U.S. Rifle Regiment were sent to Ogdensburgh in 1812 to defend the northern border from British aggression. Instead, they became a thorn in the side of the British military. Leading raiding parties into British territory and firing on supply boats sailing the St. Lawrence River resulted in the British taking a more aggressive posture, culminating in the British invasion of Ogdensburgh on George Washington’s birthday.
The presentation, on Saturday reenacts the route taken by the right flank of British troops through the Streets of Ogdensburgh from the shoreline on Franklin Street to the corner of Ford and State Streets, where the battle ends with the destruction of the artillery and the capture of St. Lawrence County Sheriff Joseph York, a volunteer in Ogdensburgh’s defense. The event will begin at 1:30 pm, beginning at the end of Franklin Street then to Caroline turning at Ford. Ending at the intersection of Ford and State Street.
In addition to the battle, on Saturday Feb. 22, the association is proud to host Connie Barone in her program “The Significance of Horse Island.” at the Ogdensburg History Museum 206 Ford Street, at 3 p.m. In 2019 the NYS Office of Parks, and Recreation and Historical Preservation obtained the 24-acre Horse Island, an addition to Sackets Harbor Battlefield Historic Site. Two esteemed historical organizations, The National Park Service and the American Battlefield Trust work tirelessly to preserve battlegrounds in America. It is their contention that Horse Island is one of “top two War of 1812 sites “in the country.
Connie Brennan Barone, a native of Sackets Harbor, moved back to the village 22 years ago, accepting the manager’s position at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site. For 24 years she led the Chemung Valley History Museum in Elmira through two accreditations and two capital campaigns.
In Sackets Harbor, she guided the community’s War of 1812 Bicentennial observance with re-enactments, publications, exhibits, and monument dedications. For the Crown Forces monument effort, she accepted a British Empire Medal from Queen Elizabeth II for spear-heading that tri-national effort.
Please join the Fort Association and the Ogdensburg City Museum in welcoming this North Country history enthusiast.
The re-enactment on Sunday, Feb. 23, will be at 22 Albany Ave/Van Rensselaer Point starting at 1:30 p.m. This battle reenactment represents the left flank of the British forces and the routing of the Fort’s American defenders.
A change in the schedule for the weekend should be noted. The wreath laying and remembrance of Sheriff Joseph York, at the City of Ogdensburg Cemetery will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday Feb. 22
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