24-02-2025
History comes alive during Ogdensburg street battle reenactment
Feb. 23—OGDENSBURG — The retorts of muskets and canons echoed through the streets of Ogdensburg as the Fort La Présentation Association and Forsyth's Rifles reenacted the War of 1812's Battle of Ogdensburgh Saturday.
The Battle of Ogdensburgh reenactment took the public back in time on Feb. 22, 1813 when British and Canadian forces crossed the ice-covered St. Lawrence River to confront Americans in what was then the town of Ogdensburgh.
The weekend began Saturday morning with the traditional laying of a wreath on the grave of Sheriff Joseph York at the Ogdensburgh Cemetery on Route 812. Sheriff York commanded a cannon crew of fellow townsmen defending the town.
The battle reenactment began with the British and Canadian forces coming on shore near Riverside Avenue, continuing through the city streets to the corner of Ford and State streets where the battle ends with the capture of Sheriff York and the disbanding of the defenders.
Constance Brown, director of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, presented "The Significance of Horse Island" at the Ogdensburg History Museum later that afternoon.
On Sunday, the battle reenactment continued at Van Rensselaer Point, also called Lighthouse Point, portraying the attack of the fort itself on Feb. 22, 1813 by British and Canadian forces that results in the retreating of American forces to Sackets Harbor.
