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History will repeat itself
Up to 1,000 costumed historical re-enactors set to gather for 250th anniversary of the second siege of Fortress Louisbourg
Chris Hayes
LOUISBOURG - History will come to life at Fortress Louisbourg in July when up to 1,000 costumed historical re-enactors gather for an encampment celebrating the 250th anniversary of the second siege of the fortress.
Like Jeff Brown of St. Thomas, Ont., they will wear the clothing and play the parts of British soldiers and the French troops they defeated in the summer of 1758 to win control over the fortress town, in what was one of the most significant events in Canadian history.
Brown, a nurse in his work-a-day life, will play a British corporal in the Amherst's 15th Regiment of Foot, which is based on an actual regiment under the command of Brigadier General James Wolfe during the siege at Louisbourg and, a year later, the battle at the Plains of Abraham.
"I have always had a love for history," said Brown, who will be joined by his wife, Brenda.
"My father was in the military, my grandfather, my great-grandfather. My mother told me by the time I was four, I had pretty much a good grounding in military history."
Fortress of Louisbourg marketing officer Mark Sajatovich said Encampment 2008 from July 25-27 is expected to attract about 1,000 costumed re-enactors from across North America playing the parts of British, French and native people of the era.
During the encampment, there will be a number of "tacticals" or demonstrations of the type of warfare fought in that era. The tacticals will include an evening attack on the fortress that will end with a display of 18th-century fireworks.
The fortress also plans special siege, archaeology and garden tours and dancing and drumming exhibits.
"Once in a lifetime is sometimes a cliché but this really isn't," said Sajatovich. "This will be a once in a lifetime thing."
The second siege of the French fortress which happened over seven weeks in the summer of 1758 was a key battle in the Seven Years War between the British and French.
Wolfe gained prominence as one of three divisional commanders during this siege and the following year became overall commander of the British land forces attacking Québec, the fortress website added.
It was one of the most significant events in Canadian history, Sajatovich said.
For the British, capturing the fortress was a necessary step to mounting the sea-borne attack at the Plains of Abraham under Wolfe's command a year later, which led to the fall of Quebec and French power in what became Canada..
"It was necessary to take Louisbourg to open the way to Quebec, although obviously the threat Louisbourg would have posed would have been from the ships in its harbour not the guns in its walls," explained Sandy Balcom, a curator at Fortress Louisbourg.
"The link between the attack on Louisbourg and the attack the next year on Quebec was a very direct one."
The battle at the Plains of Abraham was followed by the official ceding by France of its North American possessions to England.
For the community of Louisbourg, which is planning lots of events during the encampment weekend and throughout the rest of the summer, the 250th anniversary celebrations are an opportunity to revive a declining tourist industry, said Sherry Borgo, project manager for Louisbourg 2008.
"We have made every attempt this summer to ensure it's a summer jam packed full of events for all ages and walks of life."
During the encampment weekend, events will include a Parade of Centuries involving the re-enactors and modern-day military, songwriters' circle, entertainment tents with vendors and food, a mess tent, activities for children, outdoor adventure activities like sea kayaking, concert and a fireworks display celebrating the official opening of a improved section of the Lighthouse Trail.
The community will also unveil an historic stone gate at the entrance to Louisbourg modelled on one in the fortress.
Louisbourg's plans for the rest of the summer will include cultural heritage days, a crab festival, a fishermen's carnival, old town reunion and rural summer fest.
Borgo hopes to see 30,000 visitors over the encampment weekend and many more during the whole summer.
Fortress Louisbourg is the best historical site in North America if you ask Brown, who has visited a number of others and taken part in other encampments. This will be his fourth trip to the Cape Breton fortress.
Brown and other members of the modern Amherst's 15th Regiment of Foot like to entertain spectators by acting out their own storyline about capturing a deserter who is hiding out in the community near the historical site.
"We capture him, bring him back to camp in shackles, he is publicly humiliated, flogged. It's amazing. The public just goes wild," he said.
The historical re-enactment will also have a more serious side for Brown.
"It gives me a real sense of appreciation for both sides, the British and the French, as to what the people went through years ago to found this country."
chayes@cbpost.com
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