Forts Ontario and Niagara, New York

The views on this page were drawn expressly for us by Mr. Kilburn, and are characterized by his accustomed spirit and fidelity. The first represents Fort Ontario on the east side of the Oswego River. Its situation is pretty, and the breakwater and lighthouse in front of it add to the effect of the scene. The sail and steamboats seen dashing along over the water convey an idea of the animation and activity that prevail in its vicinity. The original fort, which stood on the site of the present one, was erected by the English in 1755. The first vessel launched on Lake Ontario was built here in the same year. On the 11th of August, in the year 1756, the place capitulated to the Marquis of Montcalm, after a siege of three days. The French obtained possession of a large amount of arms, provisions and vessels. Three boxes of silver and the military chest, containing £18,000, also became their prize. The traditions connected with this money gave rise to various schemes of money-digging, some of which are put in practice even now, in the vicinity of the old fort. The victors, after securing their botty, destroyed the fort completely and gave the land to the Onondaga Indians, to “be held by them forever.” In 1759 the fort was rebuilt by the English, and was very much strengthened and improved just prior to the outbreak of our revolutionary war. They held possession of it until 1776, when it was surrendered formally to the United States. In 1814, the British attacked the fort, and Col. Mitchell, who commanded it, finding his position untenable, succeeded in retreating in good order with a large proportion of his stores. The British landed and destroyed the ordnance, and after taking a large quantity of property from the village, re-embarked and retired. The fort, within a few years, has been strongly repaired and is now in a very defensible condition. Our second engraving on this page presents a view of Fort Niagara, which stands on a point of land at the junction of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. The scenery here is quite pleasing; the fort with its bastions and angles, surmounted by the stars and stripes, and the fresh, bright water covered with graceful craft. The historical associations connected with this spot render it a peculiarly interesting one. Fort Niagara, on the American side, is one of the most interesting places on the frontier. In 1668, La Salle erected some buildings at this place and enclosed them with palisades; they were burned by the Senecas in 1675. To revenge this was one of the causes of the French expedition under Denonville, into the country of the Senecas. On their return in 1687, they took formal possession in the name of the king of France, to build a fort thereon. The place seems to have been abandoned from 1688 till 1725, at which time the mess-house and store houses were built. On the 6th of July, 1759, Gen. Prideaux landed on the lake shore just below the mouth of the river, with a large force of English and “a thousand fighting men” of Indians, and besieged Niagara. The English took possession, which they held till 1796; it was then given up to the Americans. It was again taken by the English in 1813, and retained by them until after the peace of 1815. Within a few years it has been thoroughly strengthened and repaired, and is now a formidable fortress.