A Weekend of 18th Century Military and Civilian Life

The Year is 1782…

…1782?

But nothing happened in 1782—did it?

1782 was the pivotal year of the American Revolution in many ways. France agreed to support a U.S. invasion of Canada—a two–pronged attack aimed at Montreal and Fort Niagara. The only thing that prevented Congress—with French military aid—from trying to take Canada was the news of the Battle of the Saints (fought off Dominica April 9-11 1782). News of the French and Spanish catastrophe there effectively ended French military presence in North America. But if the news of the defeat had come even a week later…

Governor Haldimand and General Von Riedesel were not caught napping; there were full garrisons in the major fortifications, and native–led patrols were covering the ground as far south as Lake George and Tioga, searching for the projected invasion. Fortified camps were prepared by the British at Sorel and another was projected near Niagara.

So here we are, in the fortified marching camp called Fort George, and the long projected Franco–American invasion of Canada has begun. News of the disaster off Dominica will be delayed until Sunday, while General Washington’s best trained army faces the best British army of the war—in a contest for Canada…