French and Indian War Assemblage October 6 - 7 at Fort de Chartres

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, IL - One of the most historically correct re-enactments of an often little-known conflict will be held during the annual French and Indian War Assemblage scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7 at Fort de Chartres State Historic Site near Prairie du Rocher, Illinois. Saturday evening candlelight tours and a lecture by a noted author and historian will be new features this year.

Candles and torches will illuminate the Fort's buildings from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 6, allowing visitors to see the bastion at night much as the French soldiers stationed there would have seen it nearly 250 years ago. At 7 p.m. Carl J. Ekberg will present "Stealing Indian Women" based on his book that will be available starting October 8, Stealing Indian Women: Native Slavery in the Illinois Country. Ekberg, professor emeritus of history at Illinois State University, is a top authority on the Illinois Country during the French and Spanish colonial period and has written several books on the subject.

The traditional Assemblage events also return this year. The colors will be raised at 9 each morning, and throughout each day visitors may watch teams of re-enactors portraying 1700s French and British units that fought in the French and Indian War.

Saturday, October 6 will feature live smoothbore firing competitions for units and individuals. The Trial of Chetivau, based on actual events, will recreate the prosecution of an accused card cheat at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The closing colors ceremony will take place at 5 p.m., with the Fort re-opening at 6 p.m. for the candlelight tours and lecture.

On Sunday, October 8 at approximately 1 p.m. there will be a tactical event (mock battle) in front of the Fort. This will be a good chance for the visiting public to see how 18th century military tactics were used. Individual shooting competition will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon, the Chetivau Trial at 11 a.m., and closing colors at 3 p.m.

The French and Indian War Assemblage is sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (www.Illinois-History.gov), which administers Fort de Chartres. The Fort is a reconstruction of the mid-1700s fort built by the French at that location. It is open Wednesday through Sunday for free public tours, and is located four miles west of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois on State Route 155.