Fun at Fort Meigs - Muster on the Maumee

We had a great afternoon out Saturday at Fort Meigs up near Toledo. A host of re-enactors from Roman times up to Vietnam were there, strutting their stuff with a mass of interesting stories and facts about their periods. Thanks to all we spoke to. 

I also met up with a group from the Great Lakes Gamers who were putting on a display of wargames in the information center. A nice bunch of guys, they were happy to meet a fellow gamer and talk games and gaming.  Plenty of Too Fat Lardies rules were in evidence; the chaps are big fans of their rules systems.

 French-Indian War in 28mm. 

 Frank Demana discusses the period with my better half.

 Romans in Germania Libera - Can they avoid the Varus Disaster?

Italy, WW2

US Artillery, War of 1812

Small-craft action on the Great Lakes

Roman legionary in Dacian-fighting armor

Grunts in 'Nam

   

Gebirgsjager - WW2 German mountain troops

 

WW2 Russians

British WW2 - ATS (Auxiliary Transport Service) and Somerset Light Infantry

In the photo are my favourite rifle - the Lee-Enfield - and pistol - the Webley (or in this case a clone). It might or might not stop a charging enemy at fifty paces, but it'll certainly make his eyes water. 

A sniper in ghillie suit takes his ease

US Marines at rest

 WW2 US Army HQ tent with staff and 50mm mortar

 A Wyandot warrior from both FIW and 1812 - in the latter period the British gorget signifies personal wealth rather than allegiance

Rider on her way to the mounted medieval warfare demonstration

 Camp of the ACW Ohio Volunteer Infantry

L-R, Canadian Essex Regt. Arquebusier, Ronin, US Army War of 1812, British Foot, another Canadian Essex Regt.

Tomorrow I'll post a video of the ACW live cannon firing demo. Who doesn't like a loud bang and cloud of nasty-smelling smoke? ;)

Fort Meigs - War of 1812

Fort Meigs was established next the Maumee River here in Ohio two hundred years ago as part of the defenses against British/Canadian incursions. It wasn't long before those defenses were tested in the first of two sieges. A number of special events are being held this year to commemorate the siege and the lives of those who took part. Re-enactors will be present in large numbers, and there'll be a spectacular night cannonade from the fort and the site of the British siege batteries across the river!

Details of these event may be found here. 

 * * * *   

My wife and I are still homeless and getting by with the help of good friends. I can at least use the internet to look for work. But, it's so wearying being unable to stop anywhere, to relax, to put stuff down and know we have to move it again within days.

We have made an offer on a house and there's another we like in case the first falls through. Both places have space for a Man Cave as it's called here. I live in hope. In the meantime, as Churchill said we'll keep buggering on...

 

An update

Family matters have prevented me from doing much of anything game- or modelling wise lately, and I've got work to prepare for ARCHON 35 when I get a chance. Even so, I hope to have some spare time these next two weeks to game the Attack on Yabhouti.

In the meantime, here are a couple photos of Fort Meigs, Ohio, taken during a visit there last month.

Between June, 1812 and February, 1813, the United States lost Fort Mackinac and Fort Detroit in the Michigan Territory and Fort Dearborn in the Illinois Territory, as well as suffering a major defeat at the Battle of the River Raisin in Michigan. This placed Fort Meigs in the front line during the War of 1812. It was besieged twice, but held out. Had it fallen, the British army would've been able to penetrate into the heart of Ohio. 

The reconstructed fort stands on the exact footprint of the original, with the exception of the main gate, which circumstances dictated had to be sited three feet off the site of the prototype.

A view of the fort's interior, showing the earthen berms thrown up by the American defenders to prevent roundshot from bouncing through the enclosure. The British used 8- and 24 pounder cannon, along with howitzers and mortars. Since the 9 pounder was the standard foot artillery equipment of the time, I suspect the weapons used during the siege were drawn from naval stores. 

A party of re-enactors demonstrate field drill. Thankfully, the weather that day was overcast and quite cool - a change from the hellish heat this summer - so the men didn't suffer in those heavy wool coats. 

A splendid 54mm diorama of Fort Meigs in its heyday, located in one of the seven blockhouses.   

The exterior of a blockhouse. Each has walls two feet thick to withstand artillery fire, and held a garrison of thirty. Nowadays, the reconstructed versions hold various exhibits and washrooms.

A corner of the main gun battery overlooking the Maumee River, the reason for the fort's existence. The modern bridge in the distance stands just downriver from the rapids which once blocked easy passage along the river. These forced boat traffic to portage around them, and created a natural choke-point for the fort to control. The British siege batteries were located where the woods are to the extreme left of the picture. Originally, this battery was protected from assault by a thick abatis. 

*

We enjoyed our visit to the fort. The cooler weather certainly helped! I was even able to pick up a wagon pencil sharpener at the museum store, which will convert nicely for Colonial wargaming purposes. If I'd had the money at the time, I'd have bought out their whole stock.

One quibble - the visitor center does provide wheelchairs for disabled or elderly visitors, but the pathways throughout the fort are cinder or trodden earth, and some are quite steep. They're difficult to push a chair over. Those with powered buggies may have an easier time.