The winter of 1813 was one of extreme cold and heavy snows. Between February and April, New Brunswick’s 104th Regiment of Foot marched more than 1100 kilometres from Fredericton, New Brunswick to Kingston, Ontario to reinforce British troops and thwart an expected invasion by the Americans. This effort by a regiment of poorly clothed, frostbitten and hungry soldiers stands as an incredible feat in military history.

Partners in the provinces of New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario are proud to be commemorating this epic winter march with a re-enactment in the winter and spring of 2013.  This re-enactment will re-trace the steps the soldiers of New Brunswick’s 104^th Regiment of Foot marched on their way to the theatre of war.

Key Re-Enactment Event Dates include:

• February 16 - Fredericton, New Brunswick: Mustering of the march in Officers’ Square and Commemorative Ceremony, Garrison District National Historic Site, 549 Queen St., Fredericton, N.B.
• March 10 - Cabano, Quebec: Hand off of march from New Brunswick to Quebec at Fort Ingall Historic Site, 81 Caldwell St. Temiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Québec
• April 6 - Bainsville, Ontario: Hand off of march from Quebec to Ontario at the Ontario Travel Information Centre, 22064 North Service Road, Bainsville, ON

• April 12 - Kingston, Ontario: Conclusion of the March and Commemorative Ceremony

If you would like to participate, please post your comments, questions or suggestions on the event page.

Ontario

Schedule of Public Meetings and Media Opportunities

• April 6: at Bainsville and Cornwall
• April 7: at Morrisburg
• April 8: at Cardinal
• April 9: at Brockville
• April 10: at Rockport, Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
• April 11: at Gananoque
• April 12: Point Frederick, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston

Contact Michael Berk for more information.

(Completed Portion of March)

Québec

Eight regiments from Québec will participate in the re-enactment march, traversing the whole of Quebec mostly by foot, but by other historical means as well. The dates include:

• March 10 Cabano, QC on Sunday, March 10, at Fort Ingall Historic Site.
• March 12 at Lévis
• March 15 at Québec City
• March 17 at Drummondville
• March 23 at Montréal 
• Arrival Ontario border on April 6.

A full calendar of events and more information is available online from the Voltigeurs de Québec or contact Mike Reshitnyk

New Brunswick

Other community re-enactment events will take place over the following three weekends and will be held in communities along the route of the march 200 years ago. These events include:

●    Woodstock on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Carleton Civic Centre;
●    Florenceville-Bristol on Sunday, Feb. 24, at Riverside Park;
●    Perth-Andover on Saturday, March 2, behind Southern Victoria High School;
●    Grand Falls on Sunday, March 3, downtown on Broadway Boulevard;
●    Edmundston on Saturday, March 9, at the Pavillion l'Estacade; and
●    Cabano, QC on Sunday, March 10, at Fort Ingall Historic Site.

A full calendar of events and more information is available online from the St. John River Society and from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, or contact Molly Demma

Additional Resources:

Map of 104th New Brunswick March Route from Fredericton, N.B. to Kingston, Ont. (Bilingual)

“Merry Hearts Make Light Days: The War of 1812 Journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur, 104th Foot”, edited by Donald E. Graves

Speech delivered during the commemoration of the 104th March at Plains of Abraham