The Monument
The memorial commemorating the Battle of Crysler’s Farm towers from its lofty position over the St. Lawrence River, flanked by two cannons. The tree lined manmade escarpment upon which it sits was created out of the once blood-soaked battlefield soil scooped from the former John Crysler farm prior to the flooding of the St. Lawrence River for the Seaway and Power Project. The memorial formerly stood at road-side level on the north side of Highway 2 facing the river, surrounded by farmers' fields.
The roadway itself once hugged its way along the riverbank, having been widened from a footpath during the arrival of the United Empire Loyalist settlers post 1784. In the late fall of 1813 residents living along the roadway with a clear view of the river may have straightened up from their chores to stare with wary curiosity at the sight of battleships in full sail gliding past their very doorsteps. The sound of cannon and musket fire echoing along the river would confirm their worst fears.
Crysler's Farm Battlefield and Memorial, 1929. Upper Canada Village Archive.
The creation of the Seaway and the damming of the river for the power project resulted in the inundation in 1958 of family farms, graves, and towns, and an overall destruction of the area’s founding history as orchards were leveled and family homes were moved or burned. This also would see the original Crysler's Farm battlefield and memorial site submerged. [Note: More information about the Seaway Project and the Lost Villages can be found here on the Lost Villages Museum's website.]
In the years that followed the battle, it has been said that farmers often plowed up the hastily buried human remains of the fallen. Frost continued to push to the surface the buried reminder of a day of conflict and a lifetime of sorrows. Little else remained to remind the residents, let alone the Colony, of the sacrifices made on that day other than stories told on winter nights. As is often the case, though, those stories are felt best to be forgotten. A medal may have been pulled from a drawer, turned over and contemplated before being put away, but those too were few in number.
Only twenty-four General Military Service Medals were handed to members of the Dundas Militia. Soldiers were given the choice of a medal or cash for their service — a yearly pension of twenty dollars in 1875 would be awarded to any surviving veterans of the war. With families to feed, the choice was perhaps all too obvious. Land grants could also be applied for, though realization of the actual land would be held up for years; Peter Fetterly Jr. applied for land as the son of a UEL on 22 April 1816 and was not granted land until 16 March 1832.
It was not until 1893 that the federal government, then under the leadership of Prime Minister John Thompson, finally decided to erect a monument to the battle and its veterans. It would take two years of planning and work before it was unveiled on the former battlefield.
The History of an Idea
By the time the federal government made its decision, the idea to erect a monument to commemorate the Battle of Crysler's Farm was at least almost half a century old.
One of the early mentions of a potential monument comes from Dundas; or A Sketch of Canadian History (1861), in which author James Croil noted that the idea was brought up around 1847/1848 when commemorative medals were being issued to veterans of the Battle of Crysler's Farm and other battles of the War of 1812. He wrote:
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"At the time of issuing the medals, something was said in regard to the erection of suitable stone monuments, on each battle-field, by the Canadian government. This would indeed be a graceful acknowledgement of the services of the militia in conjunction with the Queen's troops: but as we have heard no more of the matter, the inference is that the pious purpose has been abandoned. Though it may be a matter of questionable policy with the government, there is nothing to hinder the inhabitants of each county where the battles were fought, from rearing a monument, that might indicate to future ages the hallowed spot where Britain's sons rallies round her standard, and shed their blood to perpetuate British institutions.
[...] And should the time ever come, which may God forbid, that our descendants, should be called upon to arm themselves in defence of their country, such monuments as these we speak of would recall to their minds the bravery of their ancestors, inflame their patriotism, and inspire them with devotion to their sovereign. The expense of carrying out the idea would be quite inconsiderable and whether it were done by municipalities, or by private subscription, or by both, it would scarcely be felt; and while doing honor to those whom honor is due, they would at the same reflect credit on themselves."
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Croil had a personal interest in seeing a monument erected, as he owned part of the former Crysler Farm (Lots 12 and 13, Concession 1 of Williamsburg Township), having purchased the land back in 1845. Though the Cryslers had originally owned several adjoining lots near the site of the battlefield, by November 1813, their farm only occupied Lot 13. The battle was primarily fought on Lots 9 to 12, owned by the families Casselman and Loucks (Lot 9), Fetterly and Atkinson (Lot 10), Bouck and Hanes (Lot 11), and Jones (Lot 12).
By 1869, over twenty years had passed since the idea of a government monument had started to circulate, but there had been no significant action taken to bring this idea to fruition. Unsatisfied, Croil decided to take on the task himself and began soliciting the public for donations towards a monument.
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James Croil, 1866. Photo by William Notman. McCord Museum, Object Number I-23104.1
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On 22 November 1869, the Ottawa Daily Citizen wrote:
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"It is now proposed to erect on the spot a suitable monument to commemorate the [battle]... Mr. James Croil has taken the matter in hand, and solicits subscriptions for the same, which will be received of from 10c. upwards and acknowledged through the press. It was Mr. Croil's intention at first to erect a monument at his own expense, but it having been suggested to him to make it a national affair, he has issued an appeal to the public. Mr. A. G. McDonnell, Barrister, Morrisburgh, has consented to act as treasurer. The nature of the monument has not yet been decided upon - that depending on the amount of public aid received - but it will be in the form of an obelisk, rising to the height of about 50 feet, and be erected on the site of the old Chrysler house, which was occupied by Colonel Morrison during the engagement."
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Battle of Crysler's Farm diorama at the Battle Memorial Building at Upper Canada Village. The three buildings in the foreground represent the Crysler house and farm.
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The old Crysler house was located along the north side of the #2 Highway, immediately west of the main battlefield. During the Battle of Crysler's Farm, it had been used as the headquarters of the British Military, which made it a fitting location for a memorial.
It was also conveniently on Croil's property (Lot 13), meaning he would not have to seek permission from another landowner to erect the monument. It seemed like a promising endeavor.
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But time passed, and no monument was built. It is unclear why Croil's efforts failed - it may have been a lack of funds, or something else entirely. Regardless, in October 1870, less than a year after the above article was published, Croil sold his land in Dundas County and moved to Montreal.
Following Croil's attempt, there were at least three proposals made to the federal government by local Members of Parliament (MPs). The first two came from Dr. Charles Erastus Hickey, a physician and surgeon from Morrisburg who was elected to represent the federal riding of Dundas in 1882. He would hold this office until 1891.
On 16 May 1883, Dr. Hickey gave the following statement in the House of Commons:
Dr. Charles E. Hickey. From Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry: A History (1946) by James G. Harkness
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"It has been said this is an age of economists and calculators, but I am pleased, and I am sure the House is pleased, to see that the spirit of chivalry is not altogether absent from our midst and destroyed by our activity of life, but that this spirit shows signs of being more prominent and stronger in the future. Monuments erected in honor of the illustrious dead, add to the national glory of the country in which they are erected, and we have not so many heroes in our past, or fields of victory in our country, that we can afford to neglect those that add lustre to our history. I think that the battle of Chrysler's Farm is of sufficient importance in our history to demand the attention of the Government. A few hundred dollars expended in raising a monument to commemorate that victory, and to show to future generations that we, at heart, honored the valor of our sires, would be a fitting action on or part, and I hope, in another year, an estimate will be brought down to erect a monument to our worthy sires who fought and bled in this battle, and gained a victory which, the best historians say, maintained this country in its British connection."
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The next day, the Ottawa Daily Citizen reported that Hickey's proposal was met with applause, and the item was passed. However, much like the previous efforts, nothing came of it. Not to be deterred, Dr. Hickey made another effort in 1890.
On 12 March 1890, Dr. John Ferguson (MP for Welland, Ontario) spoke to the House of Commons about the Battle of Lundy's Lane, which took place in his riding, as he wished to see a suitable memorial erected to honour those who died in that battle. Dr. Hickey used this opportunity to urge the government to also commemorate the Battle of Crysler's Farm.
He stated:
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"I have the honor to represent a county in which a memorable battle was fought on the 11th November, 1813 - I refer to the battle of Chrysler's Farm. I do not intend to go into the particulars of this battle, as was done by the mover of this resolution, in the battle of Lundy's Lane. We are glad such places are few and far between in Canada, but we recognise not the less clearly, because three-quarters of a century and more has passed by, that these battle-fields are like corner stones in our national edifice, corner stones which have been well and truly laid, and cemented by that blood which, all over the world, has been freely shed for the flag that is the emblem of liberty and freedom, and the superstructure which has been reared upon this foundation, we rejoice to known, has from year to year become more beautiful and grand.
[...] I would like to see monuments erected on all our battlefields, not only on account of the national sentiments they would engender, but also in order to reflect the gratitude of the people over the graves of those who sleep in honor, though under the unhallowed grass of a neglected cemetery. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the dead sleep in honor, the wounded bled for their country, and both deserve the gratitude of those who possess their heritage. Nor must we forget those few veterans who still survive, fighting in memory their battles o'er again; while their shadows are nearly paralleled by the rays of the setting sun. It is true they have received some recognition from this Parliament by a small pension which has been paid them for some years, but it is due to them also, that they may see that their fallen comrades are remembered by a grateful country."
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A lengthy discussion followed, with most of those contributing being in favour of some sort of memorial to honor the fallen soldiers. Adolphe-Philippe Caron, Minister of Militia and Defence (1880-1892), suggested erecting about ten monuments, each at a cost of about $1,000 over the course of several years. He wished to see them placed at Burlington Heights, Amherstburg, Lundy's Lane, Stoney Creek, Crysler's Farm, Chateauguay, Beaver Dams, Odelltown, Lacolle, and Montreal.
At the end of the discussion, the following motion was passed:
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Sir Joseph Philippe René Adolphe Caron, 1886. Library and Archives Canada ID 3213705.
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"Resolved, That, in the opinion of this House, it is expedient that the Government of the Dominion should take steps as soon as possible to enquire how best to honor and perpetuate the memory of the men who lost their lives in defending their country during the war of 1812, and to preserve from desecration the last resting-places of those brave men on the battle-fields where they gave their lives for Canada."
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In August of the following year, there was a vote that resulted in $2,000 being designated in the federal milita budget for the purpose of erecting several monuments. There was a revote in June 1892, at which time the Minister of Militia and Defence, Mackenzie Bowell (later Prime Minister of Canada), stated that the Government would seek to erect one monument in Ontario, and one in Quebec.
When John Thompson became Prime Minister in late 1892, Bowell was replaced by James Patterson, MP for Huron West. The issue of monuments was revisited in Feb 1893 and voted on once more, at which time Patterson said that Chateauguay, Stoney Creek, and Lundy's Lane were being contemplated as sites to be marked.
By this time, Dr. Hickey was no longer MP for Dundas County, having not sought re-election in 1891. The riding was now represented by Hugo Homer Ross, a teacher and merchant from Iroquois.
About a month after the second revote, on 29 March 1893, Ross brought attention to the proposed sites to be commemorated and implored the House to consider including the Battle of Crysler's Farm:
Hugo Homer Ross. From Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry: A History by J. G. Harkness.
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Mr. Ross (Dundas): "...I notice that when the militia items in the main Estimates were voted, there was a re-vote of $2,000 for certain monuments on the battle-fields of Canada. In the conversation that occurred, when that item was passed, I understood the Minister to say that the points likely to be chosen for monuments this year – and I was glad to see the government contemplated immediate action – were Lundy’s Lane, Stoney Creek, and possibly Chateauguay. I wish to put in a word for the battle-field of Crysler’s Farm. We all know that Queenston Heights, a scene of one of the battles of the war of 1812 is largely provided with a fine monument and rightly so. I see that private enterprise has taken hold of Lundy’s Lane, and I daresay the Minister of Militia would be glad if private enterprise should also erect a monument at Crysler’s Farm. Now we have two battle-fields in the western peninsula provided for and I think a word ought to be said for Central Canada and for the Province of Quebec.
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When we consider what the American plan of campaign was on that occasion when we consider that the object they had in view was the capture of Montreal, expeditions being sent from Sackett’s Harbor, 10,000 men under Wilkinson and a large force under Hampton, lying at Chateauguay, with the design of advancing when the western force had proceeded far enough – when we consider the importance of the attack. I think we ought to give due weight to the battles that destroyed that combination. Wilkinson’s army proceeded safely after escaping some of the British arrangements to prevent progress. They got down the St. Lawrence as far as Crysler’s Farm, and there they halted for the night. Colonel Morrison who was in command, managed to draw them into battle, and there is no doubt that battle was one of the best evidences of the prowess of the British arms which has ever been given [...]
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James Colebrooke Patterson, Dec 1893. Library and Archives Canada ID 3467955.
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Mr. Patterson (Huron): There is no doubt that the plan of campaign on the part of the American’s was well arranged; and although their leaders were not capable of seizing the points of the situation further evidence was given that, although the armies matched against each other at the battle of Crysler’s Farm were very unequal in point of numbers, as soon as the British soldier gets a chance in a fair field with the bayonet, seemingly nothing can stand before him.
[...] All the forces in the country were united for one purpose, and I hope that will always be the case. I trust I have referred to a matter on which we are all agreed, and the Minister of Militia will consider that this is deserving of serious consideration. There is a chimney standing there still, and when the Minister visits the scene he will not find it very difficult to locate the battle-field.
Mr. Mills (Bothwell) : What better monument do you want?
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Mr. Ross (Dundas): If we had ivy growing there over the ruins, or even a tablet erected that might prove sufficient. What is deserved, however, is that the matter should receive attention. Speaking of the topography of the place, I notice one of the Kingston newspapers in attempting to locate the battle-field places it opposite to Ogdensburg. I think Crysler’s Farm deserves to be better marked.
Sir Richard Cartwright: I think the Minister of Militia should give a short description of the several battle-fields, stating his preferences.
Mr. Patterson (Huron): Nothing could withstand the hon. gentleman's eloquence. If the matter is not attended to by private enterprise, I will be very happy to bring the matter up next session."
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Finally, after nearly five decades of discussion, words would soon become action. In 1894, $4,000 was alocated for monuments at Crysler's Farm, Lundy's Lane, and Chateauguay, and on 20 November of that year, there was a call for tenders. All three contracts were awarded to D. McIntosh & Sons, marble and granite dealers from Toronto. Earlier that year, this company had also won the contract to produce parts of the Northwest Rebellion Monument, which would be unveilled at Queen's Park, Toronto in 1896.
Frederick W. White, Chief Architect for the Department of Militia and Defence, laid out the memorial's specifications and sent them to D. McIntosh & Sons to be completed.
The Crysler's Farm Monument is Unveiled
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The long-awaited monument was unveiled to the public on 25 September 1895 to a crowd of about 5,000. It was a nice fall day - sunny and warm.
The event was chaired by Donald McNaughton, Warden of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Speakers included Prime Minister Mackenzie Bowell, Minister of Railways and Canals John Graham Haggart, Minister of Militia and Defence Arthur Rupert Dickey.
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Invitation to the Unveiling of the Crysler's Farm Monument, 1895. Upper Canada Village Archive.
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Everyone gathered at the farm of Abraham Van Allen, located on Lot 12, Concession 1. The day began with a salute from a nine-pounder cannon, marking the arrival of the government officials. A flintlock musket used during the Battle of Crysler's Farm, which had been in the possession of Delacey Pruner for about forty years, was also fired. Two twenty-four-pounder guns from Quebec flanked the monument to the east and west.
Crysler's Farm Monument, 1911. From the Canadian Antiquarian and Numismatic Journal, Vol. 8 (Apr 1911).
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The monument stood proudly at the riverside, towering over the crowd throughout the ceremony. A 38-foot high obelisk of Stanstead granite, it would have certainly been a wonder to see on the former battlefield. Near the top on the south side of the monument (facing the river), the year 1813 appeared in bronze. A wreath of maple leaves with two crossed swords, also in bronze, was mounted on the stone just above the base. On the base, the following was engraved:
IN HONOUR OF
THE BRAVE MEN WHO FOUGHT AND FELL IN THE VICTORY OF CHRYSLER'S FARM ON THE 11TH NOVEMBER 1813 THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT, 1895. |
Besides the politicians, there were several important guests: Samuel Crysler, 90; Samuel Johnston, 90; and George Weaver, 92, all of whom witnessed parts of the battle when they were children. Samuel Crysler was the son of Captain John Crysler. He passed away just a few months after the unveiling.
Other notable guests included James Croil, who had campaigned for a monument almost thirty years prior, as well as former Dundas County MPs Dr. C. E. Hickey and H. H. Ross, whose efforts in the House of Commons resulted in the monument being erected. Without these three men and their persistence, it is possible that Crysler's Farm may have never gotten the memorial it deserved. At the very least, the goal would have taken much longer to achieve.
Unveiling of the Crysler's Farm Monument, Sep 1895. Upper Canada Village Archive.
A chain fence was added around the site of the monument and cannons in 1901.
About a decade after the memorial was unveilled, J. Smyth Carter wrote A Story of Dundas (1905), in which he stated:
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"The services of the militia of Dundas and sister counties deserve an honoured place in history, and in no better way can we cherish the memory of those brave fellows than by paying tribute to the spot on which they fought and bled for their country. At the Crysler’s Farm battle-ground the erection of a monument was a worthy act, but nothing further has been done. If on the anniversary of the battle some kind of gathering were instituted which would bring together on this landmark the descendents of those worthy heroes of earlier days, who could estimate its patriotic influence on this generation? Surely the people of Eastern Ontario might move in this direction. Let a public demonstration be annually held."
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Although yearly gatherings and re-enactments were still decades away, a major celebration was indeed held eight years later for the battle's centenary. On 27 and 28 August 1913, people joined one another on the former battlefield to mark the 100th anniversary of this decisive victory.
Prime Minister Robert Borden and Dundas MPP Andrew Broder both gave addresses. Ontario Premier James P. Whitney (who was also MPP for Dundas) was supposed to speak as well, but illness prevented him from being at the event.
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Estimates of attendance ranged from about 8,000 to 10,000. Hundreds, if not a thousand, military troops from various units participated in the event, including marches, and band performances.
The Womens Institutes of Dundas County organized a Museum of Historical Relics, which was held in the local branch of the Ontario Department of Agriculture. It had various items from local residents related to both the battle and the history of the area.
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Museum of Historical Relics at Crysler's Farm Centenary, 1913. Organized by the Women's Institutes of Dundas County. Upper Canada Village Archive.
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In 1920, twenty-five years after it was erected, the monument was declared a National Historic Site of Canada by the newly created Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. Historically significant but no longer required by the Department of Militia and Defence, the monument was transferred the following year to the Department of the Interior. A caretaker was hired to maintain the property.
By this time, the bronze maple leaf wreath and two crossed swords, which had been located just above the monument's main inscription, had been stolen.
Near the end of 1921, plans to add another plaque to the monument were being formed by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board. This one would specifically commemorate some of the fallen officers, as well as the 49th and 89th Regiments of Foot, the Canadian Fencibles, and the Voltigeurs from Quebec. It was installed in 1923 on the west side of the monument (left of the main inscription) and read:
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Plaque. Photo by Ashley Harper, Jul 2023.
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ERECTED BY
THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA BATTLEFIELD OF CRYSLER'S FARM PRO PATRIA IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JOHN NAIRNE AND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM CLAUS OF THE 49TH REGIMENT, LIEUTENANT CHARLES DE LORIMIER OF THE CANADIAN FENCIBLES REGIMENT AND THE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 49TH, 89TH, AND CANADIAN FENCIBLE REGIMENTS AND THE CANADIAN VOLTIGEURS KILLED IN ACTION. HISTORIC SITES AND MONUMENTS BOARD OF CANADA |
Helen Morrison McMillan would later write to the Board in 1934 informing them of an error in the name of Captain Nairne, and a corrected plaque was installed in 1935 or 1936, bearing the names of Thomas Nairne (not John) and Daniel Claus (not William).
The federal government also added a plaque to the monument in 1923, which was updated to include a French translation in September 1980. It reads:
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BATTLE OF CRYSLER'S FARM
Here, on the farm of John Crysler, was fought one of the decisive battles of the War of 1812. On 11 November 1813 Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Morrison, with 800 British and Canadian regulars, militia and Indians, engaged an American force of 4,000 under Brigadier-General John Boyd. The open terrain was suited to the training of the well-drilled British regulars who, after two hours of heavy fighting, routed the enemy. This victory ended a major American thrust at Montreal. Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Government of Canada 1923 |
Government of Canada Plaque. Photo by Ashley Harper, Mar 2017.
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Early in the morning of 5 September 1944, local residents were awoken by the violent tremors of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, later known as the Cornwall-Massena Earthquake. The top three stones of the obelisk were shifted south-west by the quake. While the damage was not a risk of getting worse (except in the case of a second earthquake), it did "spoil" the appearance according to one National Parks Bureau official. It was fixed the following year.
The Crysler Monument Gets a New Home on Old Ground
The St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project loomed over the region in the 1950s. The Ontario-St. Lawrence Development Commission worked with the Ontario Hydro Commission and the federal government to identify important historical sites in the areas to be flooded, of which the Crysler's Farm Monument was one. One suggested solution was that the site of the memorial be raised to create an island, but this was dismissed early on as being impractical. Another suggestion was that it be removed to a "small park" along the new Highway 2, north of the flooded area.
By the fall of 1955, the plan for the "small park" had expanded into a major park along both the new highway and the river, which would house the Development Commission headquarters, the monument, and some historical buildings from the flooded areas. The Hydro Commission would foot the bill for the relocation and any landscaping required in the creation of the monument's new home, while the Development Commission would pay for the property's upkeep. The relocation plan was approved by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board in December 1955.
Concept Drawing A by N. Sherriff, 1954. Upper Canada Village Archive.
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Concept Drawing B by N. Sherriff, 1954. Upper Canada Village Archive.
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Digs were done around the site of the monument and battlefield throughout the summer and fall of 1957 in search of any human remains. In the century and a half that had passed since the battle, farmers in the area had uncovered cannon balls, bones, and other relics of the war that had been pushed to the surface by frost, or tilled up while working the fields. However, no remains were found during this search.
The monument was moved in late 1957 to the Hydro Commission's storage yard at the new Crysler Park, where it remained until May or June 1958 when the 35-foot high "mound," built up using soil from the original battlefield site, was completed. The former site was flooded on Inundation Day, 1 July 1958.
Construction of the new mound for the Crysler's Farm Monument, 17 Sep 1959. Upper Canada Village Archive.
In August 1959, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board requested approval from the Ministry of Northern Affairs to correct the spelling of Crysler on the bronze plaque that was installed in 1923, as it used the spelling "Chrysler". The Ministry approved the change, and it was sent to Winnipeg to be recast. It was completed and installed by December of that year.
Sometime after the Battlefield Memorial Building (BMB) was completed at the northern base of the mound, the recast bronze plaque was removed from the monument and placed inside the BMB, where it remains today.
The monument was rededicated during the opening ceremony for the Crysler's Farm Battlefield Park and Upper Canada Village on 24 June 1961. At this time, the BMB was opened, which helped to interpret the history of the battle for visitors.
On 17 July 1963, a gathering to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle was held, which focused on the continuing peace between Canada and the United States. Five new plaques were erected on the grounds, including four dedicated to the 49th and 89th Regiments of Foot, the Battle of Crysler's Farm, and Tecumseh. The fifth was mounted on the monument. It reads:
150th Anniversary Plaque on the Crysler's Farm Monument. Photo by Ashley Harper, Mar 2017.
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IN COMMEMORATION OF
THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF CRYSLER'S FARM THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE CANADIAN AND AMERICAN NATIONS WHOSE COMMON MEMORIES OF OLD UNHAPPY FAR-OFF THINGS AND BATTLES LONG AGO NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR SEPARATE HERITAGES AND TRADITIONS BUT FORM A BOND BETWEEN TWO FRIENDLY PEOPLES ERECTED BY THE ONTARIO-ST. LAWRENCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JULY 1963 |
Ontario Premier John Robarts, provincial Attorney General (and Grenville-Dundas MPP) Fred Cass, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and other government officials attended the ceremony. There was a march past by various military groups, including: the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards; Les Voltigeurs de Quebec; the Brockville Rifles; and the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, as well as colour parties from the local legion.
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Fifty years later, the bicentennial of Crysler's Farm was celebrated on Remembrance Day 2013 with a grand ceremony - much larger than the usual annual service, which had been occuring for a few decades by that point. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in attendance and laid a wreath at the base of the monument. Many improvements had been made to the BMB in the lead-up to this major anniversary, aided by funding from the federal government.
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Jill Thompson / Library and Archives Canada / Stephen J. Harper fonds / R16093-46755-4-E. Copyright: Jill Thompson.
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Both soldiers and re-enactors were present at the service, with some carrying the colours of the regiments present at the battle, and others laying wreaths.
A national War of 1812 monument, named Triumph Through Diversity, was unveiled on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on 6 November 2014. Nearby, a maple tree was planted for the occassion using soil from ten battlefields across Canada, including two liters that had been collected from the mound, which was originally sourced from the Crysler's Farm battlefield.
Over sixty years after it was moved from its original site, the monument remains perched upon the mound, overlooking the former battlefield that lies beneath the St. Lawrence River. Tourists and locals alike continue to visit the memorial to learn about the Battle That Saved Canada and pay their respects to those who fell on that cold, wet November day in 1813.
Crysler's Farm Monument and Mound, undated. Courtesy of Ashley Harper.
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