I’m kicking off my FAVORITE FRONTIER FICTION series with fellow author Michelle Griep! Her summer release, The Captured Bride, looks quite at home on our cabin porch. Without further adieu, here’s a guest post by Michelle that gives us a realistic look at the research, history, and inspiration behind this new novel…
A Visit to Fort Niagara
Whether you’re a history buff or don’t have a clue what the French and Indian War was about, there’s a destination in upstate New York that’s fun to visit for the whole family . . .
Fort Niagara.
My husband and I made the trek to this living history site last summer. I had no idea what to expect, other than what was advertised as a “reenactment camp.” For those who don’t know, this is when volunteers who adore history come together to present a particular event, such as a battle. These people usually choose a real person from the era upon whom they fashion their modern day persona. They dress, speak, eat and live as that person might have. Here I am with some of my new friends:
Generally around the 4th of July, the 1759 Battle of Fort Niagara is recreated in a 3-day extravaganza of soldiers, muskets, canons and an entire market place to peruse selling period-related items.
Some of the things that surprised me about stepping back into the mid-eighteenth century were:
• How much smoke muskets kick out
• Once the battle begins, it’s hard to see who is your enemy or ally
• Canons are really loud
• Everything wasn’t as black and white as it seems in pictures—gowns and uniforms were very colorful
What makes this event so spectacular is that they take the entire 20 day siege and condense it into 3 days. If you visit every day, you’ll see and experience exactly what happened. You’ll be there to see the British, Colonial regulars and Iroquois allies sneak out of the tree line to shoot at some French soldiers who were pigeon hunting just outside the fort. You’ll hear the war whoops and barrage of angry French epithets roaring on the air. You’ll even get a chance to taste some of their food as you wander around inside the French Encampment set up inside the fort walls.
To experience a bit of the danger, sights and sounds of what Mercy and Elias lived through in The Captured Bride, Fort Niagara really is a fantastic place to visit.
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Hi Michelle! I just finished reading The Captive Bride and absolutely loved it!! It had a very “Last of the Mohicans” feel, which really appealed to me. I’ve taken my kids to a few reinactments over in Andersonville, GA at the site of the former Confederate prison. They do an amazing job of bringing the history to life. Looking forward to reading more of your work. God bless!
Bless you, Stacey, for seeing this post that has been in hiding! Your mention of Andersonville is all too familiar to my family. My great-great grandfather was imprisoned there after being captured on the KY/TN line as a mounted infantry Union soldier. His life was never the same upon his release. Truly a horrible experience. I would so like to travel to see the site, though! I know it is remarkable for its history. Thank you for sharing this. Fascinating!
I can’t imagine anyone coming away from that place the same 😔. It looked horrific from the information we saw there. Amazing that you have a relative who lived through it. If you ever make it this way, we live very close to the area. I would love to take you 💛. Coming during the reinactment or the Andersonville days (they have a little town square across from the prison site) are some of the best times to come. We’ve been there several times and it’s always interesting.
Just saw this and now you whet my appetite to experience that! Such rich history where you are, Stacey! I’d love to show you a bit of KY too like Boone’s fort on the river or Boone Tavern. We have Boone everything here:) Thanks for sharing a love of history with me. You’re the best!