Press-Republican

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September 9, 2009

Almost 200 re-enactors expected for battle

PLATTSBURGH — The city will soon be invaded by more than 190 re-enactors re-living the 1814 Battle of Plattsburgh on land and water.

The 12th-annual Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration, now under way, will include the arrival Friday of re-enactors at the Kent-Delord Museum on Cumberland Avenue.

"Projected numbers are never really firm until the final sign-in, but this year appears to be the largest one in 12 years," Don Craig, who chairs the re-enactor committee, said in a news release.

"In 1998, we saw only about 40 to 50 troops."

The group is getting so large, it's possible that it will have to be split next year, with having the Americans on the opposite side of the river mouth as one option.

"Attendance (by re-enactors) has more than doubled in the past nine years," Craig said. "The museum grounds are getting crowded. We plan to assess the situation after this re-enactment and start planning for next year immediately."

Re-enactments will take place Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Champlain Monument, and the re-enactors can also be seen on the Kent-Delord Museum grounds across the street.

The Battle of Plattsburgh Challenge Cup bateau race will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the mouth of the Saranac River.

"As many as 15 boats may fight the water battle this year," Craig said. "We are clearly the largest congregation of bateau in the Northeast."

The entire course can be viewed from the Champlain monument slope.

Here's the schedule for today:

Noon: Culver Hill Memorial on Route 22, 2 miles north of the intersection with Route 374. Immediately following: Halsey's Corners Memorial at the corner of Beekman Street and Boynton Avenue.

5 p.m.: Riverside Cemetery Memorial.

7 to 8 p.m.: Dr. Tim Abel, "History Beneath Our Feet: An Archaeological Record of the War of 1812 in Sackets Harbor, New York" lecture, War of 1812 Museum, 31 Washington Road, Old Base.

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: U.S. Navy Northeast Ceremonial and Concert Band, with the Afterthoughts in concert, Stafford Middle School.

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