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Fort Mississauga

Photos by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2009

Plaque Location

The Region of Niagara
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
On the inside wall of Fort Mississauga National Historic Site
at the intersection of Front and Simcoe streets

Coordinates: N 43 15.704 W 79 04.598

Plaque Text

This tower and earthwork are all that survive of the barracks, guardroom, and cells of Fort Mississauga. Built between 1814 and 1816 to replace Fort George as the counterpoise to the American Fort Niagara immediately opposite, it was garrisoned until 1826. Repaired and rearmed following the Rebellion of 1837, it continued to be maintained until 1854 in response to border disputes with the United States. It was manned during the tense years of the American Civil War and the Fenian scare of 1866, but by 1870 it was no longer considered of military value.

Related Ontario plaques
Fort George
1837 Rebellion
Battle of Ridgeway

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Information

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Military

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Niagara-on-the-Lake Plaques

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted March 18, 2013
Re: Comment of Mar. 14 - References to the unit I have seen call it the "Colored Corps", without a "u". The provincial marker to the unit uses this historic spelling. I would guess Nicolls also omitted the "u" in his writing, but a look at the source would enlighten that. It would be interesting to learn when the "u" was introduced and why.
I'd submit "African-Canadian" is a modern construct, and that 'African-American' is possibly more accurate for a couple reasons: The term is a continental reference, irrespective of nations, and can be applied before and after the creation of any country. But even if one interprets "American" as meaning only the United States portion of America, folks in the Colored Corps likely hailed from the U.S., or had parents who did, reaching Upper Canada in a quest for freedom following the Revolution.
-Wayne

Posted March 14, 2013
The fort was constructed by the Coloured Corps, the first African Canadian militia unit in Canada. By 1814 it had been attached to the Engineer Department as a labouring unit. Lt. Col. Gustavus Nicolls, their commander, wrote, "When I visited the Niagara Frontier... I found that a corps of Free Men of Colour had, during the war been raised for the Quarter Mr. General's Department, but had been turned over to that of the Engineers, any necessity for this I never could learn, but it seems to have been the fashion to heap all kinds of duties upon the latter." The construction of the fort was very difficult and dangerous work.

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