The St. Lawrence II Brigantine Ship sailed into Port Stanley and General Brock (aka Bob Rennie) arrived, along with the Kings Company and the Royal Scots re-enactors, in honour of the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812. Midway rides, face painters and food vendors filled the area backing onto the Dominion of Canada building. A successful Harbourfest in Port Stanley from August 17th to 19th truly seemed to offer something for everyone.
Photos above include Friday opening ceremonies, cruising on the St. Lawrence II Brigantine Ship and skirmishes on Little Beach.
The War of 1812 timeline found on www.1812ontario.ca includes the following excerpt from Charles Askin’s diary, written while he travelled with Brock to Amherstberg.
Saturday 8th. We all embarked in boats, for Amherstburg except the Norfolk Militia, under Major Salmon … I embarked on board the largest boat with the 41st. … Our boat being much loaded having the 6 pounder [cannon] on board & many other things we did not get off so soon as the other boats. We attempted to get to the carrying place but could not find the small creek that lead[s] to it nor could we get on shore therefore anchored among the rushes and stayed there all night. Sunday 9th. Early in the morning we got under way and soon saw the General’s boat and several other[s]. We got in the creek and went up to the carrying place. We had to take out most all our loading and then invite assistance of the other boats crew. Had great difficulty to get our boat over. We had to caulk our boat here and then load and were so long doing this that most of the boats were seven or eight miles ahead of us before we sailed but the wind was fair and we came up to them. The General put in at Kettle Creek and all our brigade.
Monday 10th. Left Kettle Creek early in the morning, the wind fair and a good breeze. The wind increased so and there was such an appearance of a storm, that McCaul who sailed our boat thought it advisable to put in at Port Talbot, distance 7 miles from Kettle Creek. This was a very bad port for our boat, for we could not get her into the creek, and had to haul her up on the beach. Here we remained all day. … Tuesday 11th. Left Port Talbot. We sailed some time, then the wind changed and we had to row. We were left behind by all the boats. At length the wind increased so much that we went ashore and anchored off. The General who had put on shore a mile further came down & had our boat taken up nearly a mile above where his boat lay. We stayed here the remainder of the day. In the evening we got orders to get under way at 12 o’clock but that the General’s boat would have a light in it and no boat should pass it.
Wednesday 12th. About 4 o’clock in the morn[ing] we saw a boat with a light passing. We got off as soon as possible but all the boats were a great way ahead of us . . .
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