Walking the Berkshires

Gone Fishing

These words are written on my grandfather's grave, carved on local field stone plucked and scoured by ice and sea.  There is a family story that goes with it, and this other meaning will pass from general knowledge when none of us now living is around to explain it.  That is one of the reasons I started this blog nearly a decade ago, back in the fall of 2005 when my head and heart were full of ideas and memories that needed a new outlet for expression.  It was to leave a record, even in this most ephemeral of electronic media, for others to find and follow.

Since then, my interests have taken new directions and found new outlets.  I started writing a nature column for the local paper,  and that is where my environmental writing has gone ever since.  There is enough material now to compile into book form, a project I hope to pursue.  Social media supplanted blogging as an outlet for the short form post with immediate reader feedback.  My personal life took new directions as well, and I no longer spend nights up late at night, avoiding unhappiness at home.

I stopped writing here on a regular basis several years ago, but I still blog elsewhere.  Instead of a general purpose blog I have three specialized ones.

My interest in 18th century material culture research and living history finds serious expression in the newest of these: "Another Pair Not Fellows; Adventures in Research and Reinterpreting the American Revolution."  I am still proud of the historical research I conducted and present here at Walking the Berkshires, especially the series which was recognized with a Cliopatria Award in 2008 and the documentation behind four posts on the march of Burgoyne's Convention Troops through Connecticut which was accepted in research paper form as an addition to the collections of the David Library of the American Revolution.Over time, I will probably archive relevant material from Walking the Berkshires here, possibly after first reformatting them as .pdfs on Scribd.  There are a couple that ought to be presented as scholarly research papers, and a seventeen post series with broken links is not really the best way to present that material. 

My irreverent sense of humor and love of the scholarly send up produced the fictional Journal of Constant Belcher, a wholly contrived character whose misadventures during the American Revolution make such convincing use of actual documentary evidence that I inadvertently mislead the entire Revolutionary War Reenacting community when I announced its "discovery."  I had assumed that entries such as the following made with tongue planted firmly in cheek would have been a dead giveaway - Maj. Bloomfield bid me make a place for his horse in the boat for crossing to Cuckoldstown /  Gave it green pippins from his haversack So that it might ease our passage with a copious wind/.  Sadly it was all too believable, and there are places in the hobby today where the mere mention of Belcher's name causes eyes to roll and brows to furrow.  There is a Facebook Page for Constant Belcher, too, where the social media are alerted to my latest discoveries from his journal.

Finally, there is a blog called Cornflower Blue & Corduroy; Wargaming the German - Herero and Nama Wars of 1904 -1908.  This is a new direction for two old interests - a love of painted miniatures and of Namibia.  I have a very small circle of people with whom to share this area of historical inquiry and recreational pursuit, but it has involved my learning to decipher and translate German in the old Fraktur font and presenting my findings, sometimes for the first time,  in English translation.

As for Walking the Berkshires, it is so well diffused in the electronic media stream that I still get contacted through email by people who have found one of my old posts.  I see my role for now as its curator, tending the archives without adding new acquisitions.  This blog made many important connections and friendships for me, in particular with the genea-blogging community, many of whom I still find on Facebook.  It deserves to be cared for rather than abandoned.

Gone fishing was requested as an epitaph by my grandfather, Robert Howard Barker, after talking about the great uncertainties of death with his young son Robbie.  The idea of burial and what happens to the body and spirit is a lot for any person to absorb, particularly a young child.  Robbie had been learning about the water table in school, and so resolved this great mystery by announcing that after he was buried, he would go fishing in the water table.  My grandfather announced then and there that "Gone Fishing" is what he wanted on his gravestone. 

Three decades or so later, I'd like to think he got his wish.

The "Obligation to Dialogue" in the Age of Social Media

Haverford College was a special place for me, and I continue to feel its influence in my life nearly a quarter century since graduation.  Its Quaker foundations were self evident without being overbearing, more the medium for the culture of a flourishing community than a rigid behavioral directive.

Among its notable attributes was a self enforcing honor code, a commitment to consensus, and an obligation to dialogue. The latter proved a challenging concept, for to do it well meant to be open to new insight gained through engagement, while also confronting difficult issues and relationships with clear-eyed candor. 

Some of my classmates were predisposed toward confrontation rather than dialogue, and more at home speaking truth to power instead of listening and reflecting closely.  Others became paralyzed by self reflection, unable to navigate the existential crisis that often attends a dawning awareness of complicity in systems of power and privilege.  I tried to find the center of these extremes, though not always successfully, and not always risking the more uncomfortable, but perhaps more candid approach.

Since my time at Haverford, I have grappled with the implications of the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel;

"...indifference to evil is worse than evil itself...in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible." 

I come at this from the perspective of one who prefers - in fact, who has found it professionally quite useful - to find common ground with those who may hold other values quite different from my own. There are readers of this blog who share my love of history but not my politics.  There are friends of mine in the reenacting community whose company I greatly enjoy, but who hold certain beliefs and share things on Facebook that make me cringe: statements with which I have no wish to be associated.

Social media, and Facebook in particular, offer the quick and the simple over the thoughtful and nuanced. It is not a forum for serious and searching debate. It wants to sort and group us (and market to us based on those associations).  It rewards our every utterance with "Likes" from a collective of "friends" who in aggregate may have very few points of common interest or continuity in our lives.  In fact, I suspect that having all of my Facebook Friends get together for a social function might prove less successful than just asking 400 random people to drop by for food and conversation and letting the chips fall as they invariably may. 

On the other hand, having a dozen of my reenacting friends who did not previously know each other come down the shore for a weekend of sun and discovery together last year worked far better.  People made connections and found they shared interests beyond this hobby, and our conversations did not devolve to spurious quotes, political rants, or occasionally tone deaf humor, as tends to happen with social media. 

This is understandable.  People behave differently when the conventions of courtesy and hospitality apply to social interaction.  We do not wipe our muddy feet on our host's carpet, but what gets posted on one wall ends up in a friend's feed, and sometimes it has a similar effect.

Walt Whitman was comfortable with his own shifting viewpoints; "Do I contradict myself?  Very well then, I contradict myself.  I am large, I contain multitudes." I think the obligation to dialogue that I learned at Haverford requires conviction leavened by humility.  There are a few absolutes that for me remain immutable.  Cross those lines and I risk "indifference to evil".   Beyond that, though, there are many, many, many ways to approach ideas that challenge my own and make me uncomfortable.   It doesn't work so well when I am defensive, or tired, or lack the time to give a thoughtful and considered reaction.  Sometimes I have to sit with that feeling and puzzle it out.

I was raised by two loving parents who are staunchly non violent.  I love living history and reenact Revolutionary War battles.  It does not follow that I support the NRA, or vote 100% for one party over another, or even understand the Constitution and our Founding generation the way that others may.  There are not enough data points in this sample for someone to make those assumptions about me, and I try to accord others the same courtesy.

I am reaching the point, however, where I am no longer willing just to ignore or block the tone and content of what sometimes gets shared on Facebook about 2nd amendment rights.  I add things up differently, and for me nothing trumps 20 murdered first graders and six fine educators, each killed by multiple rounds fired from a legally obtained semi automatic rifle. 

The Constitution has been amended 27 times precisely because times change and the Founders, however wise and farsighted, were not omniscient.  I see a need today to reconcile an individual's right to bear arms with the need for reasonable and prudent safeguards to apply to legal gun ownership. 

If that ends up meaning that as a result of new legislation, I require a firearms permit for my replica antique flintlock, and some sort of firearms safety training, and even a background check, before I take the field to play at war with my friends, I am willing to abide by those conditions if it means our children and  grandchildren are safer at school.  I do not believe that if we give an inch on gun safety laws we will lose our right to bear arms, but I do believe we cannot replace the lives of those children, and too many others, who are killed in gun violence every day in this country. 

I find I still have an obligation to dialogue on this and other difficult, challenging issues - respectful, direct, courageous and sincere dialogue.  Facebook is not the place for that, and it probably won't happen in the comments to this blog post either.  The next time you and I get together, though, around a campfire or across the dinner table, we can talk about this stuff.  We have to.  I promise to listen to you and consider your words carefully.  I hope despite what differences may remain, that we continue to hold each other in respect and will remain friends,in the truest sense of that word.

 

 

My Year of Reenacting 2012

There were a large number of outakes from the photo montage at left, and not every living history event that I attended this year made the cut.  True, it would have been be difficult to provide a photograph from the Battle of Trenton reenactment since it will take place next week, but even so there were so many great moments this year it was very hard to select a representative sample.

This year I fell out with four different units, and can now prick and prime a cannon, row a battoe, dig a firebox and construct a brush arbor (not once but twice!). 

I spent another weekend in the huts at Jockey Hollow (not, however, the most recent one, though I am absolutely game to help with the phoenix-like reconstruction of hut #3 when that gets underway in the New Year). 

I also visited three schools in NY and CT, the Union County Historical Society in NJ, and took part in an event sponsored by my employer to celebrate the history of the Housatonic River in our region.  I got a ride in an antique car when I showed up at my Town's Memorial Day parade in my continental regimentals. 

This was the year that my two children got to participate in my hobby, attending the two day event at Rockford Plantation in Lancaster, PA as well as Germantown.  Emily can wear Talya's clothes, and Talya converted a linen shirt and trousers of hers to fit Elias.  I am deeply grateful to her for not only tolorating this hobby of mine but finding ways to participate that work for her.  She did five events this year in full costume, including stays, ,as well as the Housatonic River day.

My militia kit got a huge boost thanks to the sewing skills of Heather Clark Vogeley and Cozy Bendezky. I now have more fashion choices than the average ragged Continental.  We have a good tent, modified to be a better representation of period examples.

Best of all, though, are the friendships that continue to grow and strengthen through our participation in reenacting.  We invited a long list of friends and aquaintances from the hobby to join us at Windrock and about a dozen of them took us up on the offer.  My dear friend Larry Schmidt and I met up in New York to pore through an unpublished journal from the Revolution, looking for clues about a flag associated with Maxwell's New Jersey Brigade.  The 2nd NJ and the 35th Regt of Foote had a first, last supper at Oriskany  complete with white linen and a china plate halo.  I am greatly looking forward to seeing many of these good friends at Trenton on the 29th, and to new adventures together in 2013.

Elias Dayton's Account of the Battle of Germantown

Today is the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Germantown during the Philadelphia Campaign.  The family and I will take part in a reenactment of one of its central actions, the fight around the Chew House or "Cliveden", in which the 1st and 3rd NJ regiments commanded by my ancestors Matthias Ogden and Elias Dayton suffered their heaviest casualties of the war (with Brandywine several weeks before a close second).

Col Elias Dayton of the 3rd NJ wrote about the battle of Germantown:

"The evening of the third we marched off with the whole army, with the design to attach the enemy, who lay near Germantown; about fifteen miles distant from us; unfortunately for us the night proved very dark, which so retarded our march that we did not reach the enemy's advanced post until sunrise, whereas our design was to attack them at first dawn of day.  At sunrise the fire began: their advanced party soon gave way, our people pursued them closely to the main body, which they immediately attacked likewise, and they soon gave way, and were pursued from field to field with great loss on their side. 

We suffered considerable in advancing, by a party of the enemy had thrown into a large stone house, said to belong to Benj. Chew.  At this place fell Capt. McMyer and Ensign Hurley of Col. Ogden's regiment; Capt. Conway, Capt. Morrison, Capt. Baldwin and Lt. Robinson wounded, of the same regiment, together with about 20 men; Of my regiment Lt. Clark and Ensign Bloomfield were wounded and 18 men killed and wounded; my horse was shot under me at the same place, within about three yards of the corner of the house. 

About this time came on perhaps the thickest fog known in the memory of man, which, together with the smoke, brought on almost midnight darkness, it was not possible at one time (I believe for the space of near half an hour) to distinguish friend from foe five yards distance.  This obliged all our parties to give over the pursuit, as they were in danger of firing upon their friends, and probably did several times before the fire ceased.  At this instant the enemy rallied their scattered forces and advanced upon us, when we retreated in turn, though with very little loss.  I believe every man we had either killed or wounded met his fate full in front as he was advancing.  We had one Brigadier General who was shot in the thigh with a cannon ball, of which wound he died three days afterwards.  Our good Major Witherspoon was shot dead by a cannon shot in the head as we were advancing through the streets of Germantown."

A return of the 3rd NJ on October 6th, 1777 shows 26 officers, 16 NCOs, 9 musicians and 150 Rank and File present fit for duty, and lists casualties from Germantown as 1 NCO and 5 Rank and file killed, 2 officers, 1 NCO and 12 Rank and File wounded, and 1 NCO and 4 men missing. 

The breakdown of casualties in the 1st NJ were likely as great or perhaps even higher given the high toll of officers killed and wounded.  Ensign Martin Hurely was wounded but did not die in battle, but rather was captured and executed by the British afterward as a deserter from the 44th Regiment of foot back in 1775 in Boston.  He later served in the 1st NJ beginning in its 1st establishment, rising from private to sergeant and then to Ensign.

235th Battle of Brandywine Philadelphia Campaign Reenactment Pictures

The following pictures of the reenactment of the Battle of Brandywine held on Sept 15-16 at Brandywine Creek State park in Wilmington Delaware were mostly taken by me, by Talya Leodari, by Conrad Quinn aka Matthias Ogden,or by other Facebook friends who made them publically available.  It was a great time.

   

A Brandywine Brush Arbor and Other Adventures in Authenticity

(photo at left courtesy of Brandywine Creek State Park.  Other photos by Tim Abbott or Talya Leodari)

Last weekend was the 235th Anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, a key engagement in the American Revolution that took place in 1777 during the Philadelphia Campaign.  Talya and I along several hundred reenactors gathered at Brandywine Creek State Park in Wilmington, Delaware to commemorate it with a living history encampment. 

The host unit for this event was the 2nd Virginia Regiment, known in our hobby as valuing serious research and for setting the bar very high for authenticity.  In coordination with the site, they arranged for both the Crown and Continental forces to have access to wood for constructing brush shelters, and excavated field kitchens for those who wished to prepare their meals as the soldiers we depict often did.

Reenacting culture varies from unit to unit in our hobby, and not everyone wishes to sleep rough and do a minimal, "campaigner" impression.  This was an opportunity to demonstrate both to the public and to our fellow reenactors the techniques used to create and utilize these 18th century amenities.  I had determined months ago that I would take full advantage of these options, and encouraged any in our regiment who wanted to help set up a brush arbor or dig a firebox and maintain an authentic camp kitchen to join me in that effort.

A brush arbor is a temporary structure designed to provide shade to a small group of soldiers who historically would not have had the benefit of the large, canvas awning flies that are prevalent in Revolutionary War reenacting but which belong to a later era.  It consists of a number of pole saplings cut and trimmed and set in holes int he ground as uprights.  To these are added additional poles as roof beams and supports, upon which are piled cut branches and vegetation to provide the shade. 

I had prior experience erecting a small, emergency arbor at an August reenactment where temperatures reached the high 90s, but looked forward to making something more substantial at this event.  To aid me I had my fascine knife and the assistance of fellow 1st NJ members Jeff Cox and Bob Boer.  Jeff brought along a modern ax but we largely used the fascine knife to cut and trim the poles and branches we needed.  There was a post hole digger available as well which proved a Godsend, because we soon learned we needed to sink the uprights at least 18 inches into the ground for them to be stable and secure.  I suppose the 18th century way would have been to dig out a much larger post hole with a mattock ir pick which we did not have.  We also learned that using dead wood for a long, diagonal rafter without a central support would place too much stress on the weight bearing wood, and our arbor came down inside its frame later on Friday night.  Saturday morning, though, we had the kinks worked out of the design, and the result became a focal point for many reenactors and the public as they entered our encampment.

Next to the brush arbor was our field kitchen, which consisted of a 2' deep circular trench about 16' in diameter with the excavated earth piled in the center.  We were to dig our own fireboxes into the side of the trench, about 1' square and 1.5' deep about 4" below grade.  Above this, we cleared a flat shelf and dug a 4" shaft about 11" back from the inner wall of the trench connecting to the firebox.  It was over this hole that we were to cook our food.

Jeff and I dug out the firebox, taking our queue from one that had already be placed around the circle.  The idea was that up to 12 6-man messes could cook at this location, using less fuel than an open cooking fire and more easily supervised by their officers.  We should have started our firebox higher up from the floor of the trench than we did, and closer to grade level, becasue we found that we needed a hotter fire to cook our food.  We also found that smaller diameter twigs and pieces of wood worked best in the fire box, which was rather smokey.  Noentheless, both we and our comrade John Funk cooked several meals in this manner, including a brisket and two large dutch ovens filled with chicken cordon bleu, which if not strictly an authentic soldier recipe was damned fine eating.

In addition to these two creations, there were other aspects of this event that provided added opportunities to demonstrate field fortification techniques, such as the construction of fascines, which were 6' bundles of wood used to reinforce the top of gun emplacements and to provide a degree of cover to exposed troops.  There was also an authentic regimental sutler impression near the Continental field kitchen, and a presentation on the roles of black soldiers int he Continental army.

The upshot of all this effort was an event that it created more opportunities to inform the public, engage their curiosity and inspire impromptu living history demonstrations than are customary at reenactments.  People were drawn to the unfamiliar fires and the shade of the arbor, and a number of the distaff and camp followers with period skills sat before their kitchen areas weaving baskets and providing additional teaching moments. 

Some of this activity was spontaneous, and allowed participants to be even more creative with their impressions than is customary.  I found it invigorating and am grateful to Todd Post of the 2nd VA, Thaddeus Weaver of the German Regiment, ours hosts the 2nd VA and the management and staff of Brandywine Creek State Park for making it possible for us to do this.

Low Cost Investments in Authenticity for Revolutionary War Reenacting

I am one of several thousand people who are involved today in the hobby of reenacting the Revolutionary War.  We do so for varying reasons, including a passion for the time period and the enjoyment we get from being with others who share our interests and a commitment to bringing a favorite period of history to life.  For some of us this might rightly be described as an all-consuming obsession.

Ongoing research, by individuals and institutions alike, is changing our understanding of the material culture of the people and military organizations we depict.  This has lead to changing standards of reenactor authenticity.  Places like Fort Ticonderoga are now asking reenactors to meet a much higher standard if they want to participate in events at the site. Ticonderoga, Friends of Minuteman Park, and other groups now offer a number of workshops and trainings to encourage more of us in the reenacting community to better represent the period in how we dress, and increasingly how we behave, at living history events. 

One Massachusetts based group - The Hive - just sponsored a reenacting challenge leading to a juried event last weekend at Minuteman National Park.

"The Authenticity Guidelines for The Challenge are specifically designed to take the existing Battle Road and Park volunteer standards to a higher level with the addition of an inspection and documentation element for all participants.

Very few of the people who will sign up currently meet all the standards for this event—if they did, it wouldn't be a challenge. The standards are specifically stricter to increase the overall authenticity of the event, and to push participants to make improvements. However, the standards are still attainable yet are among the highest in the hobby.

We are striving for 100% hand stitched clothing, but will allow machine seams if they are not visible. The clothing itself must be documentable to 1773. We would like to avoid styles of clothing that are too far behind the times and more importantly eliminate fashion that is too far forward. In addition, we are asking participants to create an impression of a New Englander, so even though certain garments can be documented to the period, they also need to be appropriate for this location. Items that may be fitting for the French Court in 1773 are not necessarily appropriate for Concord in 1773.

This appeals to me on many levels, but it represents a new and very challenging direction for the 18th century reenacting community and is not always presented with sensitivity nor received as encouragement.   It can be frustrating - not to say off-putting - to some in our hobby who have been doing 18th century living history for many years to be told that what was perfectly acceptible in our hobby when they were gearing up is now inauthentic.  It can be equally frustrating to those who have made available their research, as well as for those events and historic sites that are now striving for a higher standard, to find many reenactors not making the effort to improve their impressions even when there are options available to them to do so. How we get to a higher standard in our hobby, and encourage others to do so, takes interpersonal and communication skills and patient leadership along with specialized knowledge, and these are not everyone's strengths.

Authenticity standards are more of a priority for some of us than others in this hobby.  My feeling is that taking what steps you can, within your resources, to enhance your impression is in everyone's best interest.   I am a long way from achieving the standard I am aiming for, but I am making steady progress, and am happy to share what I have discovered and continue to learn along the way. 

This is not an inexpensive hobby, even for those with the skills to make much of their own clothing and equipment.  There are very few of us with the discretionary income to commit to a custom made musket and a handmade uniform with period authentic specialist fabrics all in one go.  It is also the case that some things that were once thought to be authentic are later discredited based on subsequent scholarship.  It is understandable that some might hesitate to make a big investment in revamping their impression until there is consensus that the current standards are based on assumptions backed by solid scholarship.  When the evidence and the opportunity are there, aiming for a higher standard is fair and appropriate.

Luckily, there are a number of fairly inexpensive things that anyone reenacting this period can do, right now, to  upgrade their own standard of authenticity.   These are small investments you can make that will enhance your existing clothing and accouterments. 

Shirt Buttons:   Replace the bone, wood or horn shirt button at the neck of your linen shirt with one made of thread.  Most of the shirts of this time period were closed at the neck with thread buttons, for the simple reason that other materials did not hold up well when underclothes were boiled, beaten and wrung out against posts.  5/8" linen thread buttons with or without a metal ring used as an inner form were commonly used as neck closures.  Dorset wheel patterned shirt buttons and other styles can be had from Blue Cat Buttonworks or William Booth, Draper for $1.50 each.  

Sleeve Links:  While linen thread buttons could also be used for sleeve closures, there are numerous examples from the archaeological record at both military and civilian sites that sleeve links were in common usage.  To give just two examples, nearly three dozen of these  in brass or white metal were excavated from Fort Stanwix in New York's Mohawk valley, and others are known from Fort Montgomery in the Hudson Highlands.  There are some wonderful examples in brass available from At the Eastern Door for $30.00 (though at that price I would be worried about adding mine inadvertantly to the archaeological record).  Two thread buttons tied together as shirt links might do in a pinch, and William Booth, Draper has small domed sleeve buttons in brass or German silver for $7.50.

Hair:  Not all of us are in a position to grow our hair out and style it in an 18th century manner.  It costs relatively little, however, to purchase a queue made from human hair matched to our own. I have an ear to ear queue made for me by Madam Joan's Wee Wiggies that cost me $44.00, and except for the fact that it can be a bit awkward when I doff my cocked hat in deference to my betters, it is a fine solution and adds a great deal to my overall impression.  It fits reasonably well under hats sized to my head without the hair extension, unlike a full wig which will usually require a wider hat size.

Tent Stakes:    Wooden tent pegs are cheap and metal ones are inauthentic for our period.  My pegs are made from oak and I bought two dozen from Avalon Forge for $18.00. You will want a hunk of wood or a wooden mallet to drive them with, and I made a small ticking bag to hold them.  I have broken only one during this campaign season.

Tent Modifications:    Speaking of tents, I do not have one made by hand from linen canvas (yet), but I did modify a standard cotton canvas 6'6" Enlisted Man's one machine made by Tentsmiths so that it has hemp rope loops with wooden washers and waxed linen thread grommets instead of cloth stake loops.  It is also closed at the front with these stake loops rather than ties.  My tent poles are made of aged spruce poles with an iron ferrule at the top (I have a friend who made these for me) and the pins do not pierce through the ridge of the tent.  Some of these modifications would be possible to do for an existing tent with a seam ripper and something to punch holes through the heavy canvas for the stake loops.  I found a sailmaker's palm useful when sewing the grommets.

Stockings:  So many of us put the effort into our clothing, only to undermine it with modern stockings.  There are sutlers available who make knitted wool and linen thread stockings with heels and toes (and sometimes even a back seam) that will run you between $30.00 and $60.00 but are totally worth it.  I own several pairs made by Mona Hubbartt of Westwood Traders: wwtrdrATattglobalDOTnet.

Hemp straps and webbing:  For a Continental army impression - with leather scarce and reserved for use for shoes, scabbards and cartridge pouches - musket slings, bayonet slings, cartridge pouch slings and canteen straps were often made of cloth, but not from cotton.  Hemp webbing is now widely available from sutlers, and some like David Hannon of Minuteman Armoury offers many of his leather accouterments with hemp slings.  He does excellent work, though I would advise giving him the sling measurement that will let your equipment hang at the proper height without having to shorten the sling afterward.

Finally, we can take the interpretive aspects of our hobby just as seriously as the recreational time that happens after the public goes home.  For those doing a military impression, putting the time and effort into mastering the elements of drill and the duties of an 18th century encampment can do even more to convincingly portray the life of a soldier from this period than having a perfectly researched and constructed uniform. 

Very few of our living history events are done in the first person, but staying in character for periods of time can really add to the experiece.  The silence of a long column advancing into a dark ravine anticipating an ambush that ultimately took place was a highlight for many of us who participated in the recent 235th Anniversary of the Battle of Oriskany.  Those moments when it truly feels like being there are part of what draws many of us to reenacting and they can happen when each of us is "in the moment."

When the public ventures into our encampments, we often seem unapproachable, and if our interaction is exclusively with each other we will miss many learning opportunities and teaching moments.  Doing things in camp other than sitting and eating helps draw people to us, aids in recruitment, instills a passion for history and historic sites. 

 Make a brush arbor.  Dig a field kitchen.  Stand guard duty.  Go to the surgeon.  Learn a few of the authentic songs of the period.  Try cooking food that would have been available to soldiers of the period using the implements to which they would have had access.There are all sorts of activities that can be done in camp that will add depth and character to your experience as well as to the quality of your interpretation.  It is more interesting to the public to see us doing these things in camp as well.

I am looking forward to an upcoming reenactment at Brandywine Creek State Park next month where I plan to arrive early to make a brush arbor to shade our dining area rather than using the large canvas fly that is more appropriate for 19th century encampments.  I will help dig and stoke a camp kitchen.  I will be on the lookout for members of the public who are curious about what we are doing, and if they hang around long enough I'll sing them a few verses of Thomas Paine's "Liberty Tree".  Hope to see you there!

 

235th Battle of Oriskany After Action Report

  Last weekend's Revolutionary War reenactment at Gelston Castle in Mohawk, NY was epic in many respects.

It was a huge event by the standards of our hobby, despite being organized on the same weekend as an annual reenactment at Old Sturbridge Village that is usually among the largest in New England. There are no official returns, but there were likely as many as 1,000 reenactors present, with 350-400 muskets on the American side from what I could see and another 150 distaff and non-combatants belonging to the army.  It was likely somewhat similar (perhaps a tad less under arms) on the British side.

The weather was extremely hot and humid, producing a number of (thankfully non-fatal) heat casualties, but the rain held off until the final minutes of our battle on Sunday and most of us had broken camp before then in anticipation of the violent thunderstorms that followed many of us home. 

It was also an event that, although long on our regiment's schedule and one of just 2 national events this year for the Continental Line and British Brigade umbrella groups in our hobby, when the returns came back for the 1st NJ it turned out only my partner and I had confirmed we would be going.  As a result the unit scratched.

Undeterred, although my better half wisely elected to stay at home, I promptly did something I had been meaning to do for a while and paid my dues to join our sister unit the 2nd NJ.  I love these guys, and had an outstanding time.

This was the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Oriskany, a brutal fight in 1777 between Tryon County NY militia regiments and their Oneida Iroquois allies under General Herkimer against a force of Loyalists, Hessian Jaegers and a much larger assemblage of British-allied Iroquois warriors.  There were a number of battle scenarios planned for the reenactment, covering both Oriskany and other engagements in the Saratoga campaign as well as a hypothetical defense of besieged Fort Stanwix.

It was an opportunity for hundreds of us on both sides to field as militia, and I greatly enjoyed seeing our Royalist adversaries dressing down for the occasion. I accepted delivery (by a Major of Royal Marines, no less) of a fabulous new green wool frock coat made by fellow 1st NJ member Heather Clark Vogeley of Pennock & Hyde, with custom-made Death Head wool thread buttons by Cheryl Childress of Blue Cat Buttonworks.  I cannot speak highly enough to the quality of these talented craftspeople.  The wool was deliciously soft and a close color match to the buttons, and the coat lined in natural linen as I had requested.  It is a gorgeous look, but given the weather we experienced, I opted to use it for evening wear though it is appropriate for less formal uses.  Instead, I went into battle in a used natural linen coat I picked up last June at Rock Ford, and was I glad to have it with temperatures in the mid to high 90s and relative humidity upwards of 75%!

Our hosts were Mitch Lee as Col. Commandant and the 1st New York Regt. (Continental), shown here at left along with General Herkimer on horseback.  My hat is off to them for putting together a successful and in some respects unique experience under such challenging conditions. 

For one thing, the order of battle initially seemed to be madness, with untried commanders promoted from the ranks to lead mixed companies of units from the deep south to the midwest to Canada who had never served together before.  It proved to be the work of a mad genius in the case of the 4th Company (David Skorka's) of Klock's 2nd Regiment, for I have seldom made so many good friends or been in a group that performed so well together on and off the field. 

The 2nd New Jersey under veteran NCO and now Captain David Skorka fielded three muskets and a musician (Chuck Beale, Adam Young and myself with William Crawford as our drummer).  The 2nd NJ were in the first platoon with 2 fine men from the Hillsboro (NC) District Militia and three members of the Wisconsin-based 4th MA with Terry Chatfield acting as Sgt. along with Michael Tapavica and Nicole Dickman as Debora Sampson in the flesh.  The other platoon was lead by Chase Paterson acting as Sgt. with half a dozen of his fellows from Ontario who field as a light company of the 2nd CT when playing at RevWar.  This company was capably of firing on the spot, extending the line for light infantry fighting, and performed with great elan and distinction in all three of our engagements during the weekend and I am now friends on Facebook with the majority of them (the photo of our company in column is a detail from one taken by Lisa Gambacorta of the 1st NY).

The opening engagement was a reenactor-only affair that took place before the public were admitted to the site.  We mustered in what was already proving to be an extremely warm morning at 8:30 and formed up as 4 regiments of Tryon County (NY) Militia to represent the relief column that was heading to Fort Stanwix to blunt St. Leger's thrust down the Mohawk to join up with Burgoyne's Army.  General Herkimer was harangued by his officers for his reluctance to march through heavily wooded country the last few miles to the fort due to the large number of hostile Iroquois that could be waiting in ambush.  Against his better judgement and in the face of accusations of cowardice he ordered the army to wheel from line into column and lead us out of the valley where we were encamped and up to a high ridged and the entrance to a deep and forested ravine that we subsequently entered in a column just two files wide.  It was eerie as the idle talk fell away and the only sounds were the rustle of the marching soldiers and the occasional clink of a tin cup or stray drum beat.  We knew they were there, on either side of us, and paused from time to time facing back to back away from the column.  We did see a few heads and shoulders watching us in the gloom, but whether it was our native allies or the enemy was not fully resolved until a single shot rang out from the right and then a general engagement began.

Skorka's 4th Company faced left and fired several volley's at the ridge above us, though it was unclear there there was much firing coming back at us from that quarter although we could see loyalist units in the road ahead firing directly on our column.  We advanced toward the embankment in open order firing on the spot by platoons, and then saw movement from the left that could have been militia from the enemy or our column.  We were urged to climb the hill by a man in a gray frock coat who proved to Captain Bob Allegretto in militia mufti who urged us to support his company that was in danger of being cut off as it worked along our flank. 

The 2nd CT needed no further urging, and I being near them moved up as well to gain the ridge, followed shortly by the rest of our company.  We found a force of 4th New Jersey Loyalist greenjackets to our front, and Captain Bull's war party on our flank and rear, so we took on the greens back to back with Allegretto's men and held our ground firing from cover.  I took a hit to the arm midway through the fight and was adamant that, however things transpired, I was not to be left behind to the scalping knives of the foe.  Those down in the ravine had it worse than those who fought upslope to engage our attackers.  Our aggressiveness bought us time but when the ceasefire was called it was not yet clear whether we could hold them off much longer or were fated to be pushed back to the embankment or overrun. 

It was a long, hot march back to camp, and once we had replenished our water I announced that whether or not we were campaigning light without a dining fly, we needed shade and I was going to construct a brush arbor.  I took out my new fascine knife and was joined by Adam Young with a beautiful forged tomahawk and Chuck Beale with an ax.  Together we felled several ash saplings and fashioned 9 poles from their stems,  We dragged them back to our camp and used a spade and many broken wooden tent staves to shim them into place. 

While busily employed at this task, my fascine knife blade suddenly parted company with its handle, narrowly grazing my arm as it flew back after a cutting stroke with the back blade.  Up to this point, the curved cutting side had performed brilliantly, but on closer examination I found the tang did not extend far enough into the handle to absorb the stress of a chopping blow on the back edge.  The excellent craftsman who made this knife promptly agreed to fix it for me at no cost and to extend the tang and add at least one more pin and a hickory handle, and I look forward to having it back in good working order in a couple of weeks.

In any event, we continued to work in the oppressive heat and humidity to erect our brush arbor, and everyone in the 2nd NJ camp including Fallon Sarafin and Lauren Curtis Skorka who had prepared a nourishing split pea soup for our noon repast helped to complete it.  The resulting arbor was a life saver, and although it was neither plumb nor able to withstand the strong winds that came through after midnight, it was an authentic solution to the problem of finding shade in camp and became a welcome spot for us and others in the 4th company to shelter that afternoon before the next fight.

Our next fight was loosely based on the Battle of Freeman's Farm during the Saratoga Campaign, and for this we took the field as regulars though still in our lightest clothing.  I still wore my linen coat but took my bayonet along in place of my fascine knife. I was also very glad to have my handmade brown wool felt fantail hat by Morgan Shea of Blackleaf Leather and Hats as it provided good shade.  We were meant to depict Learned's Brigade, and marched in column up to the ridge but then turned right, passing the ruins of the estate's Gelston Castle that had been destroyed some time ago by fire.  We also discovered that the public had been enjoying such delicacies as corn dogs and ice cream from vendors located in this vicinity, and sorely wished they accepted Continental script as we marched by.  We proceeded down the trail, with one flanking company driving back a small force of Highlanders we found on the road.  Finally, we turned into a field, where the 4th Company was positioned at the right wheel of Jim Stinson's artillery piece.  He and his gunners engaged in a duel with an enemy field piece across a field of chest-high grass while we stood in support.  We could see several grenadier companies on the enemy right, but nothing to our front at the center, and shortly we were order forward into the grass to flush out whatever may have been lurking there.

This proved to be a very strong force that rose up from behind a swale as we advanced, and included many of the line companies of the enemy army including (based on prisoners and casualties taken)  the 43rd Rgt. of foot, the Royal Marines and the 1st NJV.  They moved aggressively toward us, but Skorka's 4th Company performed prodigies and gave them one crisp volley after another by platoons and altogether while the rest of our regiment started to roll up the enemy's left flank.  After a brief parley to remove yet another heat casualty (there were over a dozen that day) and a brief, taunting chorus of "Skorka's Raiders" just in case any of our friends the Grenadiers were in earshot, the fighting resumed and we drove the enemy from the field. It was one of the sharpest, fasted, most well executed battles I have yet experienced, and it forged our company into a singular unit rather than an amalgamation of unfamiliar ones.  We were truly the lads and lass of the company Captain S.  (The photo at left is by Terry Chatfield of the 4th MA).

That evening I put on my new finery and my black cocked hat and went with Captain Skorka and some of our fellows to meet our now quite friendly adversaries in John Van Vliet's grenadier company of the 35th Regt. of Foot.  All has been well forgiven since the epic encounter in the wee hours of morning last year at Wyoming that has now become the stuff of legend, and we were treated to a splendid table and a platter of bangers and mash courtesy of the errant Batman Pve. McCamanaugh and the good lady Ruth.  The men and women of the 35th are fine adversaries but even finer friends, and there was much song and good cheer all around until after sunset when we departed to seek refreshment at the evening's regularly scheduled jollification where there was still more drink and song, including a reprise of the Ballad of Skorka's raiders.  My night ended at the dining fly of the German Regiment of our army, singing Scottish murder ballads and Thomas Paine's Liberty Tree before turning in.

The dawn broke with a strong, cooler wind though still very humid and with ominous predictions of rain and hail.  It was determined that there would be just one battle that day instead of two (though I understand this decision was not fully understood by some units), and that we would be allowed to break down and pack much of our gear and camp if we moved our vehicles to the side before the public arrived.  I left my tent standing but got the rest of my gear stowed.  Usually on a Sunday the numbers are smaller than the previous day, but even with bad weather in the offing our company was only down by one man and there were plenty left on both sides to take the field.

This last fight was a "what if" scenario, and played out as an assault and defense on the besieged fort Stanwix.  As the 2nd CT put on their "pretty hats", Col. Lee told Capt. Skorka that he would soon see why his company included Light Infantry.  We went to the top of the ridge and our company was detached to protect a two gun battery with a panoramic view of the action.  There was a long, sloping field below teeming with the enemy, and a sharp fight developing far beyond and off in the woods below as well.  Despite my best efforts at cleaning my gun, it was so fouled by the humidity that it refused to fire, so after half a dozen volleys I became a casualty, and therefore a spectator, up on the ridge beside the guns where I enjoyed the show as a light rain began to fall.  You can get a brief glimpse of what I saw in this clip I posted on Youtube.  The rest of the company fought in open order, firing from the ridge and engaging the enemy as it charged and counter charged until just Captain Skorka and 4 diehards from the 2nd CT remained. 

 

(The following two photographs were taken by Terry Chatfield of the 4th MA)

We marched back to camp in a light rain with our muskets at secure arms to protect the locks, and a short while later we were bidding goodbye to our new comrades and heading back to our lives in the modern world.  It took me three hours of patient cleaning to get my musket back in order, but that was a smal price to pay for an experience that I am proud to have shared with such fine fellows.  The level of professionalism, of good will despite adversity, and of ready friendship made the weekend spectacular and a grand success rather than a miserable disaster which could otherwise have been the result. 

Huzzah for the 1st NY for giving us this opportunity! 

Huzzah for the 2nd NJ for welcoming a kissing cousin of the 1st into their ranks as a true member of the "sloppy seconds" (even if he is too great a clothes horse and not yet sloppy enough to meet their standards). 

Huzzah for the 2nd CT, the 4th MA, the Hillsboro Militia, and the many friends I now have in these units. 

Huzzah for the 4th Company and the irrepressible Captain S!

(Photo credits from left to right below as follows - 1st picture by Jennie Sanders, next 2 pictures by Janice E. Smith;next picture by Kimberly Griffith; next picture by Terry Chatfied; and those after that by me).

 

 

 

 

 

Some Rock Ford Files from a Revolutionary Weekend

 (Photo at left courtesy of Rock Ford Plantation) It has been a week since we returned from taking Emily and Elias to their first reenactment.  We had thought to ease them into this hobby, perhaps waiting for a day event or one of the smaller encampments, but as things turned out we all bundled into my station wagon - tent poles strapped to the roof - skipped school and drove nearly 6 hours to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to take part in one of the largest Revolutionary War events of the year.  From the picture at left, captured by a site photographer, they clearly took to it like fish to water. 

As shakedown cruises go it highlighted some things we will want to anticipate for next time and some things that worked very well.  Both of them were thrilled and excited on the way home as well as the way to the event, which in no small measure is due to the kindness (and forbearance) of those who interacted with them.  Emily got a private fife tutorial from our dear friend Thaddeus Weaver of the German Regt., and Elias was elected Captain of the small gang of children who fought their own skirmishes throguh the camp.  It was a big weekend for them and for us and is something we'll do again, though probably the next time they will fall out with us will be in October at Germantown. 

We arrived early in the afternoon on Friday and went to work setting up our tent, secured a site for our kitchen, dug the fire pit and gathered wood. Some friends in the 2nd NJ loaned us a smaller tent for the kids that arrived at 11 p.m. on Friday night and which worked well for them.  Our unit trailer was unable to get tot he event, but everybody pitched in to bring what we needed to have a camp kitchen, spare tents, and other necessary items.

Rock Ford is a privately run historic site located within a public park, and was the estate of Revolutionary War general Edward Hand.  It is an amazing place and because of the terrain is a challenging one to pull off a large event.  Organizationally, things went remarkably well.  We had ample water and free ice, the porta-johns were in good shape, and the after hours festivities were grand fun (I did not witness the exploding keg but heard it was an epic geyser).   There was 18th century music and dancing and we had exclusive access to the historical treasures of Rock Ford (the matchess horde of Pennsylvania rifles and a dress given to Mrs. Hand by President Washington were truly breathtaking).  Our camp was laid out according to Steuben and we posted guard, but there was plenty of time to seek shade and socialize.  We dealt with the long trek to long-term parking, the climb up hill and down to the sutlers and a Monmouth-worthy heat wave and still felt it was a grand weekend.The Continental Line and British Brigade, two of the umbrella organizations in our hobby, made this event one of the two major gatherings of their member units of the year.  I have not seen full returns for the event but there were upwards of 400 of the enemy opposing us on Saturday and we probably fielded 300-350 on our side.  I believe some of our dragoons were galvanized because we so outnumber the Brits in that department.  We had five or six cannon on the Patriot side of things.

It was a small but resolute contingent of 1st NJ soldiers in Captain Tom Vogeley's Company.  For Saturday's fight in addition to myself this included half a dozen muskets, including my good friend Larry Schmidt, who came out for the day from Cape May, NJ.   There were enough in our amalgamated unit on Saturday for two platoons and I was in the 2nd under brevet Ensign/Lt. Skorka of the 2nd NJ, and we were down to 4 1st NJ muskets on Sunday. There were six distaff in camp along with Talya and the children.

The battle plan for Saturday called for us to wear full kit, including coats and packs, tools etc if we had them, and march down to the Plantation as if we were occupying the ground.  After an hour of that, the forces of Tyranny and Oppression were to come sweeping out of the forest.  The next day, we would return the favor.  This is not how it played out, naturally. 

Instead we marched in full kit with Vogeley's company at the head of the column and immediately moved through the Plantation and up the trail toward the high ground from which we knew our enemy would soon be advancing.  We were on a wide horse trail at the very end of the property, with two scouts out ahead to give warning of the enemy advance.  Soon they started coming through the tangled vines and shrubs (nearly all of them non-native exotics, also invaders of our shores).  Skorka's platoon fired half a dozen brisk volleys before we started to fall back.  At one point Capt. Vogeley refused the line so that 2nd Platoon could defend our flank.  We were hit by the 23rd Fusiliers in front and Highlanders and jaegers and lord knows what else besides on our left flank.  We made our way passed Coren's gun and into the open, where the rest of our battalion and the militia had come on line.  More of the bloody backs had broken through on the right, however, and we were stubbornly and relentlessly pushed back. 

We did not break, but we did not prevail.  I fell somewhere in the center of the field when we were hit by canister fired by the Royal Irish (just deserts for me, as I had recently impersonated them in a May reenactment at Dighton MA in the #3 position with Crane's "galvanized" artillery).  Vogeley's company took heavy casualties and it was hot as blazes.  The heat was a more dangerous enemy, and it was difficult to cool down for a while back at the fly even after having hydrated religiously all day.  I blame myself for carrying a pack and full gear, even though that was the order of the day.  On Sunday, I went out in white linen, thank you very much, and it was still over 90 degrees.

For Sunday's fight, Talya once again took excellent battle photos from the sidelines and some of thse appear here. .  I went into battle wearing a bloody linen bandage, which was cooler than my other headgear and attracted a good deal of picture taking.  On this day we again lead the column up to the high ground and pushed hard and fast down to the field.  We ignored the yips of the savages in the bush and took on skirmishes from the 64th and a wall of thr 43rd and Marines at close quarters near a lone apple tree.  We were charged at once and "redeployed to the rear", but then quickly reformed and pushed on.  The volleys from the dismounted dragoons of the 4th LC on our right blew the leaves from the apple tree.  We were protected by a small swale and fired from a kneeling position. 

The British did not want to lose, and as they still outnumbered us it was hard to make them give ground.  I used 22 rounds before my gun stopped sparking reliably and down I went, only to be revived by an angel with cold water and propped up against that hard fought apple tree.  There was much mopping of fevered brows. The battle continued on our of the view of the spectators and as our surgeon had packed up at this point I made my way back to camp to do likewise.

It was a helluva time. The trees were brimming with fireflies at night and we sang "The Flowers of Bermuda" and long with Tom paine's "Liberty Tree."  So may good memories were made, despite the heat and challenges of doing this with the children.  My thanks to all who did so much to make it work as well as those who came out to watch.  Looking forward to Oriskany!

 

A Galvanized Matross from the Mid Atlantic Region Has a Blast at Dighton

This past weekend, Talya and I fell in with our friends in Crane's (3rd Continental) Artillery at a Revolutionary War event in Dighton, MA.  This was unusual for us in a number of respects.  We are both members of Col. Ogden's 1st NJ (Continental) Regt. which can generally be found at events south and west of Manhattan.  Living in northwestern CT, we are well placed to take advantage of reenacting opportunities in New England, but had not had the chance to do so prior to this weekend. 

Neither had I served on a gun crew before, and I must admit it didn't feel right packing the car without my musket and accouterments so in they went, though they stayed unused in our tent. 

Finally, the forces of the Crown were greatly outnumbered at Dighton and lacked artillery of their own, so Crane's was "galvanized" and took the field as the Royal Irish Artillery, making me a blue-coated redcoat for this event.  We had a marvelous time, and what follows are my impressions informed by the novelty of the experience.

Dighton celebrates its 300th anniversary this year and the reenactment was staged as one of the highlights of the tricentennial.  Sponsored by the Town and the 13th Continental Regt. the planned military actions at the event were billed as a hypothetical Battle at Segregansett scenario that could have taken place had the Ministerial Forces pushed north from their stronghold at Newport, Rhode Island in 1778. 

There were several hundred reenactors present from units based in southern New England, with perhaps a 3 to 1 advantage going to the patriot forces.  There were very few units that we recognized as having fought beside (or against) us at engagements in the mid Atlantic states, but among these were two members of the 1st NY (Continental Line); the United Train of Artillery; Crane's Artillery and the 2nd Mass. Regt.   This last group seems to fill the singing niche occupied after hours by the 2nd NJ Regt. in the Mid Atlantic Region, and I shall have to ask Sgt. Skorka and co. whether they can take credit for the proliferation of the "I'm thirsty!" call and response we heard coming from their campfire.

There is a highly developed fife and drum culture in eastern MA and its environs, and it was much in evidence this weekend.  Not only that, but there were a number of instrumentalists of other sorts in camp as well, and one was seldom out of earshot of musicians rehearsing or performing.  Not to be outdone, the Light Infantry Co. of the 64th  Regt. of foot had a hunting horn player, and to top everything off on Saturday Night there was a grand performance by The Jolly Rogues with a poly-instrumental piper/accordionist/flutist/violinist sitting in.

The encampments themselves were not laid out on strictly military lines, which caused some initial confusion for me (which I may never live down) as we set up our tent with Brits only to find that Crane's were set up somewhere else.  There were a few sutlers present, most of whom were based locally, and a couple of "rural characters"  among the civilians in camp, including a dead robbing crone and a fellow with an extraordinary blue and red wagon bed.  Several of the camp followers also picked over the battlefield and retrieved the wounded (or their belongings) at the close of the fight.  It was good to see Bob Allegretto, Chairman of the Continental Line, visiting the encampments on Saturday evening as well.

We were generously welcomed by the members of Crane's Artillery, and made a number of new friendships.  Some of my comrades in the infantry kidded me beforehand that I would be little more than a dragrope man at this event, but I was able not just to serve the field piece but to fire the morning gun.  Crane's is the Revolutionary War impression of the Artillery Company of Newport, RI, the oldest chartered militia company in the nation.  They have four original cannons (and full documentation) that were cast in the 1790s for Rhode Island by Paul Revere's foundry.  As Crane's 3rd Artillery, they take the field with an iron 3 pounder they have christened "Baby Tyga", and she makes a mighty growl.

The artillery coats worn by Crane's are dark blue with red facings and rectangles of mustard yellow tape around the coat buttons.  These are very close to those worn by the Royal Irish Artillery, and allowed us to stand in for them at this event.  On Saturday we were at the center of the line in a  reconnaissance in force of British and loyalist infantry.  We had the Light Bobs of the 64th Regt of Foot on our left and the 54th Regt. of Foot amalgamated with some Royal Marines on our right.  Butler's Rangers and King's Ranger's guarded our flanks.  Arrayed against us were a large number of patriot militia from various units, members of Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts Continental Line regiments, mounted and dismounted dragoons, and a two gun section of the United Train of Artillery.  That is all I could identify in the fog of battle, but it was more than enough to contain the Royalist Raiders.  Still, we gave a very good showing, and then I and the rest of Crane's returned to our allegiance after the smoke had cleared. 

It was a fine weekend with especially fine weather though cool indeed at night) and both of us plan to heft a rammer or sponge with our friends in the Artillery when our regular campaign schedule with the Jersey's permits, most likely this year in mid October.  Our thanks to Low Spark, Mike, Leslie, Steve, Kathy, Craig, and the two Kellys who made us feel so welcome.  It was an honor to serve with you.   "Three huzzahs and a Baby Tiga!."