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IMAGES From
Nostalgiaville
NEW YORK- FORT NIAGARA, NY- 8/24/04 |
NOTE:
A Click of your Mouse on most of the pictures will enlarge them for
better viewing
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OLD FORT NIAGARA
The promontory at the outlet of the Niagara River into Lake Ontario was a
strategic point for controlling the route to the Interior Great Lakes
region. The French early recognized its importance, and La Salle, in
1678 and Demonville, in 1687, erected temporary fortifications.
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| In 1726, DeLery built, for the
fur trade, Fort Niagara, an imposing structure with massive stone walls.
Resembling a French chateau, it was called "The Castle". The fortification
irritated the British as rivalry with France for control of North America
intensified. Captain Pouchot, a French engineer, strengthened the fort in
anticipation of a British attack. British troops, with colonials and
Indians, assaulted it, and after an 18 day siege, Sir William Johnson forced
the French to surrender, July 25, 1759.
The British improved Fort Niagara, used it for fur
trading, and during the American evolution, made it their base for raiding
the New York frontier. They did not relinquish it until 1796.
Following an American invasion of Canada in the War of 1812. British
forces again captured Fort Niagara on December 19, 1813. The peace
treaty of 1814 returned the fort to the United States.
Old Fort Niagara stands today as a memorial to
soldiers who served here under three flags. |
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