Description

By: James P. Barry

Author James Barry made his first voyage on a lake freighter at the age of eight, and soon afterward learned to sail in a Mackinaw boat. His interest in the Great Lakes continued through a career as a Regular Army Officer, a university administrator, director of an arts organization, and editor of a quarterly review.

                Seven of his previous books have dealt with various aspects of the Lakes. Barry’s other published books include: Georgian Bay, The Sixth Great Lake; The Fate of the Lakes; The Battle of Lake Erie; The Great Lakes: Ships of the Great Lakes; Wrecks and Rescues of the Great Lakes; Georgian Bay, An Illustrated History.

                This fascinating book traces the development of Great Lakes forts from the 1600’s to the American Civil War. The French, British, and Americans built military forts and established fortified trading posts and missions. Barry gives dramatic background, showing the forces that led to the building of the forts and sometimes to their destruction. He compellingly describes campaigns and battles. He gives us such colorful historical figures as Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac, Sir William Johnson, Chief Pontiac, Robert Rogers and Anthony Wayne.

                Some twenty Great Lakes forts can still be seen, and the author clearly describes each as it is today and tells how history shaped it. From the strongest for on the Lakes, Fort Henry, to the forts at key historic places along the Niagara Frontier and at Mackinac, the fur trade outposts at Grand Portage and Fort William, the mission of Sainte Marie, or the naval base at Penetanguishene, all are vividly presented. Here is particular information about forts that grew into cities as did Fort York at Toronto or forts that defended cities, such as Fort Ontario at Oswego and Fort Wayne at Detroit.

                Rare drawings, paintings, prints, maps and vintage photos on nearly every page show clearly the people and conditions that shaped history throughout the region. Modern photos give a striking impression of the forts that remain today. The illustrations and text together offer an incomparable pageant of Great Lakes history.