Old Fort Niagara, the French Castle.


declared war on Great Britain. The war saw large naval engagements on the Great Lakes and on the high seas with both capi- tal cities, Washington and York (now Toronto) being burned, largely as a result of naval bombardments. The fighting on land was mainly con-


ducted by local militias, supported by the British and American regular army and most significantly, by their respective native allies. It spanned the North Ameri- can continent from the head of the Great Lakes to the city of New Orleans. The first land battle involved the British capture of Fort Mackinac—the American garrison had unfortunately not been informed that the two countries were at war, so it was a fairly easy victory—and the final battle saw a British army defeated at the Battle of New Orleans, a victory which took place after the peace treaty had been signed in 1814. But much of the fighting took place along the Niagara River, and some of the battle- fields and forts are still there, just waiting


to be visited by Beemer riders. So here is a suggested tour, which takes about a day but really takes you back a couple of hundred years. Start by crossing to the Canadian side.


Your U.S. dollar goes a lot farther over here. Don’t forget to bring your passport! A quick half hour trip from the Fairgrounds via Highway 5 and the I-190 will bring you to the Peace Bridge which crosses to the Canadian side. Times for crossing the bridge vary according to the humour of the customs people, but another half an hour should do it. Once over the bridge, follow Highway 124 and Lakeshore Boulevard to Old Fort Erie. The fort itself was fought over, destroyed and rebuilt a couple of times during the fighting and spent most of the war in American hands. It was the jump-off point for the American invasion of Niagara in 1814, and the British siege of the fort later in that year makes it Canada’s bloodiest battlefield. It is well preserved as an historical site with an interpretive center


and appropriately-clothed interactors who are happy to give you a tour. From Old Fort Erie, hop back onto Lake-


shore Boulevard (which turns into the Niagara Parkway) and follow a slow (30 minute) but very pleasant ride along the riverside to the next historical stop, the Chippawa Battlefield. Unique in the Niag- ara area as it has been used only as farm- land since the battle 202 years ago, it really is only an open field with a monument and a walking tour. It was a significant battle, however, as it was the first time that the fledging American regular army fought and defeated British Army regulars—and Napoleonic veterans to boot. Trained and led by Brigadier General Winfield Scott, the Americans forced the British back onto their defences


around Queenston and


required them to reinforce the region. The Americans were eventually pushed back to Old Fort Erie, but they maintained owner- ship of that Fort and a footprint on the Canadian side of the border for the remain-


May 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS 109


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