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War of 1812 reenactment ties history to PdC

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The British forces fired their three-pound cannon at Fort Shelby during the War of 1812 Battle of Prairie du Chien reenactment in 2017. The community is invited to attend the reenactment battles and other festivities this weekend at the Villa Louis. (Courier Press file photo)

This painting, attributed to Peter Rindisbacher, shows the abandonment of Fort McKay by the British at the close of the War of 1812.

Although Prairie du Chien belonged to the United States after the American Revolution, its pioneer residents were tied by trade, tradition and family to the French-British community at Mackinac and to the St. Lawrence River ports.

During the War of 1812, Gov. William Clark of Missouri recognized the strategic importance of Prairie du Chien’s location, and sent about 150 soldiers to build a fort here. When it was dedicated June 19, 1814, the American flag was raised for the first time over a Wisconsin fort.

Pro-British residents alerted the British at Mackinac and a force of 150 militia and 400 Indians was quickly sent to Prairie du Chien. Fort Shelby was surrendered on July 20 and was renamed Fort McKay by the British.

When the war ended, the British burned the fort and withdrew to Mackinac. The Americans began construction of another fort, July 3, 1816, and named it Fort Crawford. A reconstructed blockhouse and footings from the first fort mark one corner of the first Fort Crawford on the present Villa Louis grounds in Prairie du Chien. 

On that land specifically—now the west lawn of the Villa Louis estate—a War of 1812 Battle of Prairie du Chien reenactment and historic encampment will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The live battle reenactment scenario will take place at 2:30 p.m. both days. Visitors may also tour the camps and learn about military life in 1814, when U.S. and British-Canadian soldiers clashed in Prairie du Chien.

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