So we headed down out of the North Country and headed west of I-81 for the first time. I was kind of in search of the stacks you could see south on a clear night, kind of in search of a good US fort and wanting to skip stones at Rudy's. Oswego was what you want in a small US city - college town, well maintained historical buildings, guys dressed up in Revolutionary War get up, good ice cream at the end of the day. Good hotel too. Fort Ontario played a roll in the French and Indian Wars, the War of Independence, the War of 1812 as well as the mad arms race of the first half of the 1800s - canals. The marine museum was well stocked with knowledgable and friendly retired folk who explained every thing to us and helped the kids climb over a D-Day tug boat that was moored at the docks.
Later: here is a short short movie of the cannon being moved off the rampart [2.9 MB]
Here also are some more pics of Fort Ontario as well as Rudy's and Bev's out on the Lake Ontario shore.
Comments
John of Argghhh! - July 13, 2004 9:35 am
Cannon! Ummmmm, cannon!
We artillerymen haven't dressed that well in a long time, either! 8^D
Alan - July 13, 2004 10:00 am
Pretty snazzy get-ups, you are right. I did have some digital movies of the cannon firing but had to delete them or 27 other photos. Plesae refer to this post about the recreation of the Battle of Ogdensburg from last winter for all your cannon blasting movie needs.
mark - July 13, 2004 10:33 am
Awesome warriors. I particularly like the tiny brass mortar parked in front of the powder bucket. I would have been a volunteer to work the mortar. You get to hide behind buildings and hills while you are firing it.
Alan - July 13, 2004 11:37 am
The mortar was pretty loud for such a small unit. Apparently they sent up explosive shells that could be timed to the quarter second to ensure they blew 50 feet up.
John of Argghhh! - July 13, 2004 1:42 pm
Re: the movie. Ah, yes. The soldier as mule. Reminds me of the Larkhill Gun Run, a silly thing I did once, lashing myself to a 25pdr and gallivanting about the countryside at Larkhill. With a group of other idiots, of course.
And Mark - for my 20 years of being a gunner - I would always observe that the smartest people on the battlefield learned how to kill the enemy without having to see the enemy - meaning the enemy couldn't see you, either. Generally. Bad form if he could!
Mrs Mecomber - October 19, 2006 8:48 pm
Great pictures. I love history. All our vacations and trips involve history in some way or another (especially American Revolutionary Days). Thanks for visiting my blog!
Alan - October 19, 2006 9:07 pm
No problem. I am looking to learn more about the past of NY state so it is a great fit for me - even with having to read the history with a mirror, as it were.
cm - October 20, 2006 8:17 am
I do love a gun run.
Alex - May 13, 2007 9:47 am
I volunteer here at the fort. I was at this event and those were some great shots you had. I love rudys and bevs, In facts i went to bevs last night.
thats was the 250th of anniversary, seize of fort Ontario in the French and Indian war.