Reenactment 250 years in the making.It was a deadly battle, lasting only 15 minutes

YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) - It was 250 years in the making as Old Fort Niagara, along with thousands of reenactors recreated the biggest battle since 1759.

It was a deadly battle, lasting only 15 minutes.

"It was a very strategic falling of the French," said Kathryn.

As the French approached, the British continued it's block of Fort Niagara.

Kathryn said, "That happened on July 24, 1759."

And 250 years later, reenactors are at the very same place in history reliving those moments.

"When you do the battle of the sight that stuff took place 250 years ago, it's almost a spiritual experience," said reenactor Robert Straywolf.

"It's so much more exciting than reading it from a book," said Robert Emerson, Executive Director of Old Fort Niagara.

Robert Emerson is Old Fort Niagara's Executive Director, he's also been a reenactor for 30 years and couldn't wait for this weekend at the Fort.

It's been planned for five years now.

"You're educating the public, you're sharing their heritage with them and bringing it alive and that's a great thing to do," said Emerson.

For the past few days, the Fort in Youngstown has played host to thousands of visitors coming to see over 2,500 reenactors play out battles from the French and Indian War.

John Snyder is playing the role of Sir William Johnson.

"I've been researching him for about three years now," said John Snyder, a reenactor.

They've come from all over the country and Canada to take part. Many have been here for several days, living in these traditional camps, eating the old fashioned way, no grills or stoves out here.

Pat Ensminger of Tonawanda said, "That's not hard to do when you talk about having a one pot stew, or one pot or one pot boiled New England dinner."

They try to stick to the time period so everything you see in the camp is of a certain era, but there are ways of hiding the modern day ammenities.

All this attention has brought thousands of visitors to the Fort, many who say they haven't visited since grade school.