250th ANNIVERSAY OF SIEGE OF FORT CUMBERLAND

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On August 8, 2026 a day of presentations and events was held at Fort Beausèjour National Historic Site near Amherst, Nova Scotia.  The activities were organized to mark the 250th anniversary of the Eddy Rebellion and Siege of the Fort in November 1776 when it was called Fort Cumberland. Jonathon Eddy led a rebel force in an unsuccessful siege of the Fort that was garrisoned by Lieut. -  Col. Joseph Goreham and members of the Royal Fencible American Regiment.   As an historian interested in the American Revolution I attended. 

The present - day name of the site was selected by the Government of Canada to recognize that Fort Beausèjour was the name the French, who were the first Europeans to settle in the area, called it when constructed in 1751. British and American colonial forces captured the Fort on June 16, 1755 and renamed it Fort Cumberland. In 1920 the National Historic Site was designated there and it was renamed Fort Beausèjour. 


With historian and author Ernest Clarke

In the morning I watched an excellent presentation by historian and author Ernest Clarke.  He described the period history and referred to his book The Siege of Fort Cumberland.  For several years he worked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and in 1979 was the first Vice - President of the Halifax - Dartmouth Branch of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada.  After leaving that work he moved back to his native New Brunswick and pursues projects as an architect, designer, and artist.  

I was pleased to have my copy of his book, which I had brought with me, autographed by Ernest Clarke.  He also gave out a calendar he had prepared,  detailing the daily events of the Siege.


 Siege Events Calendar

Later in the morning, I filmed the entrance of members of the Delancey's Brigade with one member of the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) as they marched into the Fort.   I prepared a video and uploaded it to YouTube. It can be watched using a link below. As well I did one with Steve Fowler, commander of the Loyalist soldiers, speaking in the Fort about the anniversary. 

With Tony Matthews of Delancey's Brigade and Alistair James Hamilton of  84th Regiment


Military historian and author Dr. Gary Campbell made an informative and interesting presentation on New Brunswick history during the time of the American Revolution.  It was particularly focused on connections to Fort Cumberland.  He mentioned for further reading publications including his book The Road to Canada: The Grand Communications Route from Saint John to Quebec. 



            Gary Campbell during his presentation 


In the evening local descendants of participants in the events of the Eddy Rebellion and Siege of Fort Cumberland made presentations at nearby  St. Mark's Church Hall on Camphill in Mount Whatley.  This was also the site where the re-enactors camped overnight and held a church service the next day.


Further Reference:

250th Anniversay of Siege of Fort Cumberland ,  video by Brian McConnell,  UE 

Steve Fowler of Delancey's Brigade , video by Brian McConnell,  UE 

Campbell, Gary, The Road to Canada: The Grand Communications Route from Saint John to Quebec, published by Goose Lane Publicatons & NBMHP, 2005

Clarke, Ernest, The Siege of Fort Cumberland, 1776 - An Episode in the American Revolution, published by McGill - Queen's University Press, 1995






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