American forces prepare to fire their muskets during the battle. Thompson Goddard Photo

MORRISBURG – After months of planning, the first Battle of Crysler’s Farm Re-enactment weekend since the pandemic began in 2020, began on Fri., July 15. Early Friday morning, members of the Friends of the Crysler Farm Battlefield, with assistance from Upper Canada Village and the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, began preparing the site, located near the Battlefield Memorial Building for the influx of re-enactors, sutlers and guests over the weekend.

The Morrisburg and District Lions Club, in collaboration with Riverside RA, provided meals to volunteers and re-enactors over the weekend, as well as refreshments to people and volunteers throughout the event. Hundreds of people visited the re-enactment over the weekend and were treated with seeing a period military lifestyle, visiting booths of various historical organizations, and watching the children’s muster, listen to military music from the Regency Period and the re-enactment of a long ago battle with commentary. Afterwards, visitors were invited to tour the re-enactment tent lines.

On behalf of the FCFB, past president Dave Conners offered a “sincere thank you to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and Upper Canada Village for their support and assistance during the planning and execution of the event.” Connors also thanked the four student volunteers who assisted during the re-enactment weekend and those who attended the event.

New this year to the event was the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the encampment, the BMB and the memorial atop a hill composed of soil from the original battlefield during the construction of the Seaway. People were able to purchase the opportunity to fire a cannon from atop a hill, with FCFB commenting how participants were outfitted in period attire; with one family seizing the opportunity.