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Parks Pares Canada Canada FORT WELLINGTON National Historic Park A Self-guiding Tour Historic prints courtesy of The Public Archives of Canada. Design & Illustrations: Ludvic Saleh — Ottawa A Brief History Parks Pares Canada Canada Two Fort Wellingtons have occupied the gained supporters for an invasion of Upper Published under the authority height of land above the St. Lawrence Canada. Disquieted by the threat, the of the Minister of the River at Prescott. They were built to guard government, in 1838, ordered the re­ Environment Ottawa 1980 the international border during the periods construction of Fort Wellington. Com­ in the nineteenth century when Canada's pleted in 1839, the fort itself was never QS-C0605-000-BB-A1 existence was repeatedly threatened. attacked. Its garrison, however, took part © Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1980 in the Battle of the Windmill (1838), at a The first Fort Wellington was built during site a little more than a kilometre east of the War of 1812 to protect British shipping the fort. between Upper and Lower Canada. Situated just upstream from an eighty Fort Wellington was garrisoned until the kilometre stretch of rapids, the fort was early 1850's, by which time relations be­ constructed at a strategic location where tween the United States and Britain had the batteaux and Durham boats, used to considerably improved. From 1866-1870 navigate the rapids, transferred their it was again garrisoned because of the cargoes to lake vessels. Although peace threat of border raids by the Fenians, a was signed late in 1814, Fort Wellington group of Irish-Americans hostile to British was garrisoned for several years more. rule. That threat, too, passed away, and, The improvement of British relations with thereafter, the fort served as a militia depot the United States reduced its military for a number of years. importance, however, and by the 1830'sit was in ruins. In 1923, Fort Wellington was declared a National Historic Site. It is now ad­ The second Fort Wellington was built as a ministered by Parks Canada, and its build­ result of the Upper Canadian Rebellion of ings and earthworks have been restored to 1837-38. Because the rebels failed to over­ represent the fort as it was in 1845 when throw the colony's government, many of garrisoned by a company of the Royal them fled to the United States where they Canadian Rifle Regiment. 1845 RCRR rifleman at rest. Bateau descending Lachine rapids. Bateau qui descend les rapides de Lachine. Encampment at Fort Wellington during the Fenian Threat. Points of Interest 1. The Main Gates The kitchen was equipped for the prepara­ GROUND FLOOR: tion of elaborate meals. While enlisted 4. The Blockhouse Guard Room and Storerooms Consisting of large double doors mounted men suffered a diet of boiled meat and A massive stone structure, the Blockhouse To the right of the entrance is a room in a stone archway, the Main Gates are the potatoes, an officer expected to dine on is a fort within the fort. Its walls are almost originally used as a Guardroom. Here, the only entrance to the fort. They were the fresh venison, roast beef, veal and a wide a metre thick at ground level. Loop-holes sentries rested between shifts. Later it was most vulnerable part of the fort and, be­ assortment of well-prepared dishes. cut into the walls allowed defenders to fire the Artillery Stores' Room. cause an attack was likely to come from on enemy soldiers who had gained entry to Opposite the Guardroom is the Armoury. the direction of the river, were situated in The living quarters are well furnished and the fort. On the third floor level, there is a Over 1700 muskets were stored here for the north wall. The carronade, a piece of comfortable. Because an officer moved walkway, the machicoulis, which over­ issue to the local militia in the event of an artillery mounted over the Gates, protect­ often from post to post, most of his furni­ hangs the blockhouse wall, enabling de­ invasion or rebellion. ed the northern approach to the fort. ture was designed to be easily transport­ fenders to fire directly down on the enemy able. The dresser in the bedroom is an through trap doors. To protect the Block­ To the right of the stairs is a room original­ example. Made in two sections, with house against mortar shells, the roof ly built for the Commissariat Stores. In it 2. The Officers' handles at both ends, it is light enough to structure was filled with layers of cedar were stored various pieces of equipment, Quarters be carried by only two men. logs. Within the Blockhouse, a well- uniform items, cartridge paper and barrels supplied garrison would have been able to of flour, salt pork and beef. Later it was a This building is furnished to represent the hold out against the enemy until the arrival canteen, where soldiers bought beer and living quarters of a captain of the Royal 3. The Latrine of reinforcements from Kingston. other items. Canadian Rifle Regiment. The northern­ Building most room is the bedroom; the centre room, the kitchen and servant's quarters; This building, which has not yet been and the south room, the dining room and restored, housed the officers' latrine and office. the men's and women's privies. The officer's servant was an enlisted man chosen from the ranks of the company. He slept in the kitchen, on a cot which folded into a bench for daytime use. He cleaned the quarters, cared for the officer's uni­ form and cooked his meals. Officer's Dining Room. Salle à diner de l'officier The Blockhouse from Lossing's Pictorial Field-book. I860 Le Blockhaus Pira de tossing "Pictorial Field-book, 1860 The Powder Magazine, to the left of the When gunpowder was measured into Commissariat Stores, is large enough to musket or cannon cartridges, the barrels hold over four hundred barrels of gun­ were moved, one at a time, into the ad­ powder, an amount which, if exploded, jacent Shifting Room. As a precaution, it would have destroyed the blockhouse. was separated from the magazine by two Many precautions were taken to prevent heavy wooden doors covered with copper. such an occurrence. The use of iron from SECOND and THIRD FLOORS: which a dangerous spark might have been Barracks struck was avoided: the fittings of the doors were of brass, the doors were The Barracks housed the men of the sheathed in copper and the ventilation garrison and their wives and children. In Daily life, 1845. shafts were clad with copper. Iron nails contrast to officers, they lived under ap­ Vie quotidienne, 1845. were used to hold the boards in place, but palling conditions which were crowded the boards were elaborately laid to avoid and unsanitary. exposing them. Because an enemy soldier From the third floor, a number of low could have fired into the magazine through doorways provided access to the machi­ the ventilation shafts, they were designed coulis, mentioned earlier as part of the to zig-zag through the outer walls. defences of the Blockhouse. Daily routine. La routine quotidienne. 5. The Caponnière of 2286 metres. Minutes before morning parade. The 12 pounder on the north earthworks Quelques minutes avant la parade du matin. The Caponnière is of stone thick enough to were to protect the areas to the north, east stop small calibre cannon balls; its roof is and west of the fort, while the carronade, made of heavy timbers covered with a mounted over the Main Gates, protected layer of earth to make it bomb proof. the northern approaches. Joined to the fort by a passage under the earthworks, the Caponnière allowed de­ fenders a secure position from which to fire at attackers who had reached the ditch. 8. The Lost Buildings Two other buildings once stood within the ramparts of Fort Wellington: the Guard­ 6. The Earthworks house, to the east of the Main Gates, and the Cookhouse, between the Officers' The outer defences of the fort consisted of Quarters and the Latrine. Off-duty sentries the ditch, the palisade and the ramparts. rested in the Guardhouse between shifts, Attacking soldiers would have had to and the Cookhouse was used for the pre­ contend with these lines of defence while paration of the soldiers' meals. under fire from the fort. At various times, the fort's garrison used Receiving orders. Fort Wellington was not, however, a buildings outside of the fort. There were Attentif aux ordres. large-scale fortification. It was not design­ storehouses, stables and other military ed to withstand a well-equipped, deter­ structures which were torn down as mined enemy, and its earthen ramparts Prescott expanded. were defenceless against large calibre mortars. 7. Artillery Fort Wellington was equipped with two 24 pounder cannons, two 12 pounder cannons, two 10 inch mortars and a car- ronade. Mounted on traversing platforms, the 24 pounders fired cannon balls weighing 24 pounds (52.8 kg). They face the river and For more detailed information on Fort could have been used to fire at enemy Wellington, contact: shipping or to destroy buildings in the Area Superintendent, American town of Ogdensburg. The Fort Wellington National Historic Park, mortars, mounted south of the block­ P.O.Box479, house, served the same purpose. They PRESCOTT, Ontario KOE no fired a 10 inch diameter exploding shell, weighing about 41 kilograms, a distance Telephone: (613) 925-2896 1. La porte principale 2. Le logement des officiers 3. The Latrine Building 3. Le bâtiment des latrines 4. The Blockhouse 4.

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