Showing posts with label re-enactments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label re-enactments. Show all posts
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Battle Road 2013 Postscript: Videos!
I've just posted to flickr four very short videos from the Battle Road "Bloody Angle" tactical demonstration last Saturday. If you're interested, check them out!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Battle Road 2013
April 19th marks the 238th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is commemorated annually with the Battle Road reenactment weekend. Though our unit as a whole has taken an active part in this event for several years, this was the first time I was able to attend. I unfortunately could only be there for the first day of the three-day weekend, but it was nonetheless a very special experience and one that I look forward to repeating next year, hopefully with more time to spend in the area in order to take in the full experience of all the event has to offer.
Saturday morning dawned wet, dark, dreary, and cold, which meant three petticoats, mitts, and long cloaks all around! We arrived at Minute Man National Park just after 7:30am in time for registration and to get accustomed to the lay of the land before the troops would be called to assemble for the first public event of the weekend.
We ladies spent our time before public hours chatting and meeting new friends from other groups, all the while desperately trying to keep our damp feet warm (there are only so many layers of stockings you can fit in period footwear!). Hartwell Tavern was a-buzz with the ladies of The Hive setting up their sewing, quilting, spinning, and cooking demonstrations for the day, and we found some brief warm respite inside before heading out to find a spot to watch our men-at-arms in action at the first tactical demonstration of the day.
The weekend officially opened on Battle Road itself, where the "local" militia clashed with British Regulars between Hartwell Tavern and the "Bloody Angle," on the very same ground where gunshots first rang out 238 years ago.
The militia marching down Battle Road...
Although I've seen countless battle reenactments and tactical demonstrations over the years, I have to admit that there was something eerie about this particular experience. Knowing it took place on that very same ground, almost to the day, and then seeing and hearing the seemingly endless stream of redcoats marching up the road towards us, horses' hooves quite literally thundering, the solidarity of the troops' numbers and even their physical statures overwhelming and threatening - it was all prodigiously impressive and yes, even scary. It was so easy - much easier than it usually is - to imagine how our colonial ancestors must have felt, bravely staring into those faces, ready to fight for what they believed in.
The British are coming!
The colonial militia begins to push the Redcoats back.
Militia men assembling for a final parade at the end of the battle,
with cheers and applause from the spectators watching.
After enjoying lunch out with another unit, we all headed into Lexington for Tower Park, the second battle demonstration of the day. The crowds lining the closed-off streets of the town were multiple people deep, everyone peeping over the heads of those in front of them, and children perched atop the long stone wall enclosing the battle site to try to get the best view possible. With some time to spare before the demonstration began, and our gents engaged in pre-battle drilling and preparations, we ladies headed up the street a bit to explore Munroe Tavern.
Munroe Tavern, built in 1735, was overtaken by British forces on April 19th, 1775, and occupied as a field hospital and the headquarters of Brigadier General Earl Percy for a couple of hours on that fateful day. From 1770 to 1827, William Munroe served as the tavern's owner and proprietor; on April 19th, he responded to the call to arms, serving with Captain John Parker as orderly sergeant. When his wife, Anna, heard the gunfire and saw the British troops approaching her home, she took her children and fled into the woods behind the house. When she returned home, she found her front dining room strewn with bloody bandages and the remains of hastily eaten meals.
While the house is largely interpreted as it looked under Percy's occupation, with the goal of recounting the British experience during the Battles of Lexington and Concord, it also saw another significant piece of history that is commemorated in an upstairs chamber. George Washington toured the Lexington battle sites in 1789 and stopped to dine at Munroe Tavern. The chair in which he sat, the table at which he dined, the set of dishes and cutlery he used, and even the metal bar to which he tied his horse, were all preserved by the Munroe family and passed down through the generations. Munroe family descendants owned the property and its family heirlooms until the middle part of the twentieth century, when they gifted it all to the town. In 2010, a major restoration restored the tavern to its 1775 appearance, and it now stands as a unique representation of "the other side" of Lexington's dramatic Revolutionary War story.
For dinner that evening, we all gathered together to enjoy each other's company and some tasty traditional New England fare in true 18th-century style at Concord's famed historic Colonial Inn. Our evening ended with plans for about half of us to meet up in the morning to explore some of the many local historical sites and museums. A full account of those adventures will be offered in the next post, so stay tuned for more!
And since no reenactment event is complete without an account of its wardrobe...! I had finished a new gown of pink worsted in the hotel on Friday night, and wore it Saturday paired with a new kerchief. Unfortunately, the incredibly damp and chilly weather meant that my new outfit stayed well-concealed inside the warmth of my cloak the entire day long, so I only have one picture - with cloak shed momentarily just for this purpose! - to show for it! So consider this a teaser, and the next time I wear this gown, I'll be sure to give it the proper Threaded Bliss treatment with additional photos and details!
While you await the tale of our Sunday museum-hopping in the next post, a prodigious amount of additional photos from Saturday morning's Battle Road event can be found on our flickr photostream.
The long walk along Battle Road, past the Captain William Smith House,
to reach the morning's battle site.
to reach the morning's battle site.
Saturday morning dawned wet, dark, dreary, and cold, which meant three petticoats, mitts, and long cloaks all around! We arrived at Minute Man National Park just after 7:30am in time for registration and to get accustomed to the lay of the land before the troops would be called to assemble for the first public event of the weekend.
"Local" militia assembling.
We ladies spent our time before public hours chatting and meeting new friends from other groups, all the while desperately trying to keep our damp feet warm (there are only so many layers of stockings you can fit in period footwear!). Hartwell Tavern was a-buzz with the ladies of The Hive setting up their sewing, quilting, spinning, and cooking demonstrations for the day, and we found some brief warm respite inside before heading out to find a spot to watch our men-at-arms in action at the first tactical demonstration of the day.
Hartwell Tavern, quiet in the early morning before being inundated with hundreds of visitors.
B warming up near the hearth in Hartwell Tavern.
Militiamen congregating in the yard of the tavern.
The weekend officially opened on Battle Road itself, where the "local" militia clashed with British Regulars between Hartwell Tavern and the "Bloody Angle," on the very same ground where gunshots first rang out 238 years ago.
The militia marching down Battle Road...
...hiding amongst the trees in preparation for a confrontation
with the approaching Crown forces.
Although I've seen countless battle reenactments and tactical demonstrations over the years, I have to admit that there was something eerie about this particular experience. Knowing it took place on that very same ground, almost to the day, and then seeing and hearing the seemingly endless stream of redcoats marching up the road towards us, horses' hooves quite literally thundering, the solidarity of the troops' numbers and even their physical statures overwhelming and threatening - it was all prodigiously impressive and yes, even scary. It was so easy - much easier than it usually is - to imagine how our colonial ancestors must have felt, bravely staring into those faces, ready to fight for what they believed in.
The British are coming!
The colonial militia begins to push the Redcoats back.
Militia men assembling for a final parade at the end of the battle,
with cheers and applause from the spectators watching.
After enjoying lunch out with another unit, we all headed into Lexington for Tower Park, the second battle demonstration of the day. The crowds lining the closed-off streets of the town were multiple people deep, everyone peeping over the heads of those in front of them, and children perched atop the long stone wall enclosing the battle site to try to get the best view possible. With some time to spare before the demonstration began, and our gents engaged in pre-battle drilling and preparations, we ladies headed up the street a bit to explore Munroe Tavern.
Munroe Tavern in Lexington, occupied once again by Crown forces.
Munroe Tavern, built in 1735, was overtaken by British forces on April 19th, 1775, and occupied as a field hospital and the headquarters of Brigadier General Earl Percy for a couple of hours on that fateful day. From 1770 to 1827, William Munroe served as the tavern's owner and proprietor; on April 19th, he responded to the call to arms, serving with Captain John Parker as orderly sergeant. When his wife, Anna, heard the gunfire and saw the British troops approaching her home, she took her children and fled into the woods behind the house. When she returned home, she found her front dining room strewn with bloody bandages and the remains of hastily eaten meals.
While the house is largely interpreted as it looked under Percy's occupation, with the goal of recounting the British experience during the Battles of Lexington and Concord, it also saw another significant piece of history that is commemorated in an upstairs chamber. George Washington toured the Lexington battle sites in 1789 and stopped to dine at Munroe Tavern. The chair in which he sat, the table at which he dined, the set of dishes and cutlery he used, and even the metal bar to which he tied his horse, were all preserved by the Munroe family and passed down through the generations. Munroe family descendants owned the property and its family heirlooms until the middle part of the twentieth century, when they gifted it all to the town. In 2010, a major restoration restored the tavern to its 1775 appearance, and it now stands as a unique representation of "the other side" of Lexington's dramatic Revolutionary War story.
For dinner that evening, we all gathered together to enjoy each other's company and some tasty traditional New England fare in true 18th-century style at Concord's famed historic Colonial Inn. Our evening ended with plans for about half of us to meet up in the morning to explore some of the many local historical sites and museums. A full account of those adventures will be offered in the next post, so stay tuned for more!
And since no reenactment event is complete without an account of its wardrobe...! I had finished a new gown of pink worsted in the hotel on Friday night, and wore it Saturday paired with a new kerchief. Unfortunately, the incredibly damp and chilly weather meant that my new outfit stayed well-concealed inside the warmth of my cloak the entire day long, so I only have one picture - with cloak shed momentarily just for this purpose! - to show for it! So consider this a teaser, and the next time I wear this gown, I'll be sure to give it the proper Threaded Bliss treatment with additional photos and details!
A sneak peak at my new pink worsted gown!
While you await the tale of our Sunday museum-hopping in the next post, a prodigious amount of additional photos from Saturday morning's Battle Road event can be found on our flickr photostream.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Prelude to Victory 2012
Palace Green overtaken by Washington's troops.
We apologize for seeming so negligent of this blog lately. We've both been swamped with work and other things, and haven't had much time at all to devote to sewing or attending events, let alone to blogging about them! Last weekend, however, was the annual Prelude to Victory event at Colonial Williamsburg, and we certainly didn't want to miss out on that!
This is the first year our regiment was invited to take part in this event (we've done Under the Redcoat in our British persona in the past), so we were all thrilled to be there to help perpetuate the amazing programming that CW puts together yearly to commemorate the victory at Yorktown.
Washington's Generals review the troops behind the Courthouse.
Saturday was an absolutely stunning day with ideal weather that was warm, sunny, and with just enough of a breeze to keep us comfortable as we stood out in the sunshine around the fire, chatting with visitors and sharing the stories and experiences of our Revolutionary troops. While the number of regiments in attendance was significantly less than we've typically experienced at Under the Redcoat, we all remarked amongst ourselves how much more engaged and enthusiastic and genuinely interested the guests were. We had visitors walking into camp in a constant stream, nonstop, throughout the day, asking thoughtful questions about everything from the early American ancestors we represent to our own modern-day motivations and experiences as reenactors. The children, as always, were a delight to watch, learning 18th-century games and even helping me with my dish washing after lunch! Strange how chores suddenly become fun in another century...(parents, take note!). :-)
Me in front of the Palace with our regiment's flag. I don't
have any action shots from camp because, of course,
I couldn't whip out the camera with all the visitors around!
The special part of Saturday was getting to spend time (I only wish I had more of it!) with Virginia friends who were also in town for the weekend, and making the acquaintance of the lovely Miss Lauren and her mum. It was so nice to meet you both! I was also able to make a trip to the milliner's shop...but more on that (complete with pretty pictures) in a subsequent post!
That evening, we were treated to a lovely dinner by CW. This was most appreciated on many levels; as one of the ladies in our group put it, "It's so nice just to know I don't have to cook and clean up another meal today!" This was followed by a dance, and we all enjoyed the chance to relax and unwind and get acquainted with some of the other visiting reenactors. Many thanks to the PTV organizers and the folks at CW for making us feel so welcome and at home during the weekend.
Returning to camp at the end of the day.
Sunday's weather was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum; cold rain and dark skies replaced the sun and 80-something-degrees that we'd enjoyed the day before. I was incredibly glad that I thought to throw my cloak into the car because it certainly came in handy as we scurried from building to building throughtout the day in the midst of downpours, or huddled around the fire trying to dry out chilled and soaking feet. We are nothing if not dedicated! Colonial Williamsburg was fantastic about the weather, though. All of the programs went on as normal, and as the day went on, the rain subsided and the guests were still able to enjoy the drilling and demonstrations put on by our troops.
Chatting in camp after "public hours" on Saturday evening,
preparing to head to dinner.
preparing to head to dinner.
The only trouble with being part of the programming for events like these is that you tend to have to miss a good deal of what goes on outside of camp, so I apologize for not having more to share than my own camp-side experience and these few photos! But aside from one minor mishap (what's a trip to CW without a visit to the ER for our group?! (yes, everyone is just fine now!)), the weekend was a splendid one and we're all very much hoping to be able to attend again next year!
Palace Green.
A few additional photos can be found in this event's flickr set.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Celebrating in Revolutionary Style
Camp in the morning, waiting for the townsfolk to arrive.
This weekend, our regiment was asked by the townsfolk of one of central CT's historic towns to come and help them celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of their Congregational Church. On Friday night, we were treated to a lovely dinner with the parishioners while we entertained them with some pretty rousing renditions of some of our groups' favorite 18th century traditional, tavern, and sea songs. We also joined them for a dance before saying farewell until the next morning.
For example, this weekend's program featured a drilling demonstration; a discussion with a period military surgeon, complete with all the tools of his trade, coffin included; a full foodways demonstration by our lovely Mistress J, who not only prepared lunch, but also two stunning pies in the Dutch oven, much to the delight and awe of the townsfolk;
J watching over her pie.
R and Ashley demonstrating the game of graces.
The young folks are recruited and drilled.
a clothing display and fashion show hosted by us and Mistress R (sorry, I didn't think to ask anyone to take pictures during the fashion show!);
The clothing table.
a canon-firing demonstration (with the help of another local Rev War group), and a full-fledged Continental vs. Brits skirmish to conclude the day, with the 54th Regiment of Foot (our go-to "Rent-a-Brits"!).
We all had a lovely day and thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by to visit the camp. The kids were especially (and impressively!) enthusiastic about learning, asking questions, eagerly trying out activities, and listening intently as they moved around the site. Many thanks to our host community and congratulations on your 300th anniversary!
As always, additional photos can be found in this event's flickr set.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Revolutionary Rock Ford
This past weekend we enjoyed an excellent encampment at Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Prior to our plans to attend this year's event, most of the members of our regiment had never heard of this lovely property and we were as excited to learn about the place itself as we were to be part of this large reenactment weekend. Below is a review of the encampment; a separate post about the plantation home will follow soon.
We arrived on the property early Saturday morning, hoping to enjoy breakfast with our regiment before the public hours began. It was a picturesque drive along the lovely fields of rural Pennsylvania to the Lancaster County Park property. We had some initial issues reaching the site due to a bunch of misleading signs and mutiple closed-off entrances to the park, and then some additional troubles with parking. In the end, we all arrived in camp a little frustrated and sad to have missed breakfast, but at least we were able to get a good chuckle out of our story for the remainder of the weekend.
Besides the initial parking issue, we all had a wonderful time! It was quite warm on Saturday, but luckily overcast enough throughout most of the day to keep much of the direct sun off of us. The encampments were set on the beautiful grounds of the Lancaster County Park which surround the Rock Ford estate. The grounds not only provided us with some gorgeous, scenic strolls, but also an ideal camping area. The staff and volunteers organized this event superbly and provided both reenactors and visitors with an exceptional experience! It was also lovely to meet some of our blog readers over the course of the weekend (hi!) and we are so glad that you stopped us to say hello!
Saturday morning we all headed to the sutler area for one of our favorite pastimes - shopping! With about two dozen sutlers selling all types of 18th century wares, almost everyone in our group came back to camp with some purchase. Predictably, I spent most of my shopping time with Burnley & Trowbridge and purchased some stunning changeable silk taffeta. Rebecca also found some silk for a petticoat, in a color she has been looking for, and a new printed neckerchief. In the afternoon, the ladies enjoyed some quiet time in camp together discoursing on fashion and plans for upcoming distaff events, while the men headed to the battlefield.
Since we are both still fairly new to the reenacting community, we are continuously learning more and more about the ins and outs and skills of camp life. Preparations for Saturday dinner provided us with an excellent opportunity to practice our cooking skills.
After dinner clean-up, many of us opted to change into better (and dare I say, cleaner!) attire for the evening festivities. We all assembled at the Rock Ford Barn where we were met with snacks and refreshments. Inside, some found a reprieve from the heat and enjoyed the displays of rifles upstairs (many of our men were excited to have the opportunity to handle some of the originals). Outside, under a large tent, we all gathered at tables and enjoyed each others company and the sounds of a lovely group of musicians. We were also fortunate to have some dancing that evening and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to dance with some men in uniform! ;-)
The heat and humidity were more intense on Sunday, but it was still lovely to be outdoors enjoying our 18th century ambiance. In the morning, we all joined a small crowd in front of the house for a clothing demonstration given by Lindsey of Adventures of a Costumer and Three Graces Historical Clothing. During the demonstration, two ladies simultaneously dressed, one being a gentry woman and the other being a working woman. Afterward, we enjoyed browsing the sutlers again before convening back in camp for our midday meal and to begin cleaning up. This day we followed our men to the battle where they defeated the redcoats and we joined in cheering "huzzahs!"
If you would like to see some additional photos from our weekend at Rock Ford Plantation, please visit our set on flickr. Also, stay tuned for an upcoming post about General Hand and our visit to his Rock Ford house.
Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster, PA
June 2012
June 2012
We arrived on the property early Saturday morning, hoping to enjoy breakfast with our regiment before the public hours began. It was a picturesque drive along the lovely fields of rural Pennsylvania to the Lancaster County Park property. We had some initial issues reaching the site due to a bunch of misleading signs and mutiple closed-off entrances to the park, and then some additional troubles with parking. In the end, we all arrived in camp a little frustrated and sad to have missed breakfast, but at least we were able to get a good chuckle out of our story for the remainder of the weekend.
The Continental camps at Rock Ford Plantation
June 9, 2012
Besides the initial parking issue, we all had a wonderful time! It was quite warm on Saturday, but luckily overcast enough throughout most of the day to keep much of the direct sun off of us. The encampments were set on the beautiful grounds of the Lancaster County Park which surround the Rock Ford estate. The grounds not only provided us with some gorgeous, scenic strolls, but also an ideal camping area. The staff and volunteers organized this event superbly and provided both reenactors and visitors with an exceptional experience! It was also lovely to meet some of our blog readers over the course of the weekend (hi!) and we are so glad that you stopped us to say hello!
Saturday morning we all headed to the sutler area for one of our favorite pastimes - shopping! With about two dozen sutlers selling all types of 18th century wares, almost everyone in our group came back to camp with some purchase. Predictably, I spent most of my shopping time with Burnley & Trowbridge and purchased some stunning changeable silk taffeta. Rebecca also found some silk for a petticoat, in a color she has been looking for, and a new printed neckerchief. In the afternoon, the ladies enjoyed some quiet time in camp together discoursing on fashion and plans for upcoming distaff events, while the men headed to the battlefield.
Preparing for battle at Rock Ford Plantation
June 9, 2012
Since we are both still fairly new to the reenacting community, we are continuously learning more and more about the ins and outs and skills of camp life. Preparations for Saturday dinner provided us with an excellent opportunity to practice our cooking skills.
Some members of our group were a little skeptical of Rebecca's cooking skills.
June 9, 2012
Clothing demonstration at Rock Ford Plantation.
June 10, 2012
The heat and humidity were more intense on Sunday, but it was still lovely to be outdoors enjoying our 18th century ambiance. In the morning, we all joined a small crowd in front of the house for a clothing demonstration given by Lindsey of Adventures of a Costumer and Three Graces Historical Clothing. During the demonstration, two ladies simultaneously dressed, one being a gentry woman and the other being a working woman. Afterward, we enjoyed browsing the sutlers again before convening back in camp for our midday meal and to begin cleaning up. This day we followed our men to the battle where they defeated the redcoats and we joined in cheering "huzzahs!"
Ashley washing up in camp.
June 10, 2012
If you would like to see some additional photos from our weekend at Rock Ford Plantation, please visit our set on flickr. Also, stay tuned for an upcoming post about General Hand and our visit to his Rock Ford house.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Memorial Day 2012
Camp after public hours. We were so busy during the day that
no one got any pictures until then!
Over the weekend, we joined our Rev War re-enacting group to present a special Memorial Day "encampment" program for the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum in Wethersfield, CT. Wethersfield is officially Connecticut's oldest town (founded in 1633), and is most famous for being the place where Washington and Rochambeau planned the Battle of Yorktown. The house that served as Washington's headquarters during that time - the house that saw and heard the strategizing of those two brilliant military minds and where Washington slept while in town - is now part of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum and is open to the public. Take a look at Ashley's post from last year's visit if you're interested in learning more about the museum and its incredible contributions to our nation's history.
Ashley at the end of the day.
Our group contributed to the Memorial Day festivities by setting up a miniature encampment next to the museum. A row of sleeping tents and our kitchen fly provided the backdrop for day-long demonstrations of military tactics, 18th century foodways, medical history, and period music. Ashley and I offered a display and discussion of clothing during the 1770s and early 1780s.
Our fashion display next to the camp site.
Our display of fashions was intended to represent the wide variety of clothing types, styles, textiles, and accessories. We included everything from a bedgown, jacket, and four different styles of gowns, to cloaks, hats, a muff and mitts, and supplemented it all with period prints and paintings to help illustrate how the different types of clothing and accessories functioned during the period. Knowing very little about gentleman's fashions of the period, we enlisted the help of one of the gents of the regiment to help us cover that half of the discussion. The kids delighted in seeing how they would have been dressed during the Revolution - especially the little girls, who got a kick out of imagining their brothers in long gowns with silk sashes! We also thoroughly enjoyed meeting several blog readers who introduced themselves throughout the day. Thank you for saying hello and it was lovely to meet you!
I took the excuse of not have camp duties for the day
to get slightly more poshed up than usual!
My new birthday pinball ring debuted with its new
pinball made of red silk velvet gifted from Ashley
especially for the purpose.
especially for the purpose.
The gentleman of the unit also provided a rousing skirmish for the crowd of spectators as they fended off a couple of rogue Redcoats who dared to venture too near to camp, undoubtedly the visitors' favorite part of the day's program!
The gentleman prepare to serve as impromptu honor
guard for an on-site wedding after our official program
had closed for the day.
We saw over 750 guests during the course of the day, many of whom were very enthusiastic to learn as much as they could about all of the different aspects of 18th century civilian and military life and took their time moving from one part of camp to another observing, listening, and asking thought-provoking questions. The level of interest displayed by the many people we spoke with - families, children, and young and old individuals alike - was so impressive and inspiring to see. Our entire group thoroughly enjoyed our fourth year doing this program and look forward to returning again next year!
End-of-day chatter in camp before clean-up.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Battle of Williamsburg
Last weekend we ventured into the tumultuous year of 1862 in Williamsburg, VA. As I'm sure you all know, the country is in the midst of commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and this was the first opportunity we have had to take part in these events. Most of us know Williamsburg as the restored 18th century capitol of Virginia, and while we love to spend our time there visiting the late 1700s, it is easy to forget that other important historical events also took place there. As one of our most excellent guides pointed out over the weekend, all of the original 18th century buildings standing today have also survived the Civil War, and Williamsburg certainly saw its share of that dark time in our nation's history.
The events of the weekend were presented more as an educational and commemorative experience rather than as a reenactment of the events that took place on 4-6 May 1862. There were a small number of Civil War reenactors encamped in town who provided a glimpse into what the soldiers there might have experienced. While we were expecting this to be a larger event, I feel that it was a very proper homage in tone and scale. It was an especially moving experience for us, having recently discovered the roles that many of our ancestors played in the war. We were most especially honored to pay homage to our great-great-uncle James, who was actually present in Williamsburg on May 5, 1862 and fought with his unit in the battle.
I prepared for our Civil War excursion by (what else?!) dressing the part! This was our first encounter with recreating 1860s apparel and we had a fun time assembling my ensemble. Rebecca will be sharing more details about my gown and bonnet in some upcoming posts. I thoroughly enjoyed dressing for this "new" time period, although I definitely prefer my stays over a corset any day!
Saturday morning we arrived in town early to catch the first presentation in front of the Courthouse, which provided an overview of the events that led to, surrounded, and followed the Battle of Williamsburg. It was a bright and steamy day and everyone huddled in the shade to listen.
We then headed down the street to the Capitol where the Union camp was set up. A guide provided us with some information about the conditions of the camps just outside of town and then took us through the camp as reenactors described various aspects of their camp life, describing how soldiers coped during war time. All of the information was provided in third person, which meant that the reenactors were able to provide some of their personal perspectives on reenacting this historic time, as well as contributing a lot of very interesting historical information. In the Union camp, for instance, we learned about rations and how they were cooked in camp, and also heard a fantastic discussion about field music. Some ladies provided us with insight into the U.S. Sanitary Commission, which collected fresh food from towns to distribute to the camps and helped soldiers by aiding with health issues, as well as writing letters or reading for those unable to do so for themselves.
Next, we stopped in the Courthouse which, as in 1862, was set up as one of the many field hospitals. Mr. Hudson met us in the main room and provided us with an overview of how injured men were triaged at the time. We examined some of the medical instruments and supplies that were laid out and then ventured into a side room where the surgeon was speaking.
Following the ceremony, we took a brief reprieve from the heat in the Governor's Palace gardens and enjoyed the colorful flowers in bloom. This was also our opportunity to capture some photos of my new outfit with a picturesque background! Although some clouds were beginning to roll in, we did not want to miss that afternoon's Rev City events, so we grabbed our umbrellas and made our way down to the backyard of Charleton's Coffeehouse.
The "Revolutionary City" scenes that afternoon were chosen for their relevance to the issues of the Civil War era, but I will cover my thoughts about those in a separate post. Immediately after that, we planned to attend the military music demonstration, but unfortunately it was rained out. Fittingly, the day closed with a deluge of rain, much like it did at the actual battle on that same day, exactly 150 years ago.
That evening, we attended a concert program, "Uncivil Harmony: Music of the Civil War". I saw the Christmas version of this program last December and greatly enjoyed it. I was excited for the rest of my family to experience it this time, and the presentation did not disappoint! Once again, Mr. Hudson, along with several other talented performers, combined his many talents to give us a evening filled with stirring stories and music. If anyone has the opportunity to see this program, I highly recommend going!
The next morning, we paid a visit to the Confederate camp where they were laying out blankets and clothes after a second night of camping in the rain. We had a lovely chat with the washerwoman, met some ladies who were sewing while preparing lunch, and watched the cavalry taking care of their horses. One reenactor described how coffee was made in camp and how he's adjusted his period recipe to make it more enjoyable today! Sunday evening, we participated in a walking tour that focused on the experiences of female residents of Williamsburg during the occupation of the city. We met a tavern keeper who was working as a spy and a mother who described the recent marriage of her daughter to a soldier. The final woman we met was Dorothea Dix, superintendent of Union nurses, who described how she chose and managed the nursing staff throughout the war.
Additional photos from the Civil War commemoration weekend in Williamsburg may be found in our flickr set. Stay tuned for more posts about our 18th century activities during this visit and Rebecca's "Threaded Bliss" review of my 1860s ensemble.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
The events of the weekend were presented more as an educational and commemorative experience rather than as a reenactment of the events that took place on 4-6 May 1862. There were a small number of Civil War reenactors encamped in town who provided a glimpse into what the soldiers there might have experienced. While we were expecting this to be a larger event, I feel that it was a very proper homage in tone and scale. It was an especially moving experience for us, having recently discovered the roles that many of our ancestors played in the war. We were most especially honored to pay homage to our great-great-uncle James, who was actually present in Williamsburg on May 5, 1862 and fought with his unit in the battle.
I prepared for our Civil War excursion by (what else?!) dressing the part! This was our first encounter with recreating 1860s apparel and we had a fun time assembling my ensemble. Rebecca will be sharing more details about my gown and bonnet in some upcoming posts. I thoroughly enjoyed dressing for this "new" time period, although I definitely prefer my stays over a corset any day!
Saturday morning we arrived in town early to catch the first presentation in front of the Courthouse, which provided an overview of the events that led to, surrounded, and followed the Battle of Williamsburg. It was a bright and steamy day and everyone huddled in the shade to listen.
Union soldiers drilling in camp.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
We then headed down the street to the Capitol where the Union camp was set up. A guide provided us with some information about the conditions of the camps just outside of town and then took us through the camp as reenactors described various aspects of their camp life, describing how soldiers coped during war time. All of the information was provided in third person, which meant that the reenactors were able to provide some of their personal perspectives on reenacting this historic time, as well as contributing a lot of very interesting historical information. In the Union camp, for instance, we learned about rations and how they were cooked in camp, and also heard a fantastic discussion about field music. Some ladies provided us with insight into the U.S. Sanitary Commission, which collected fresh food from towns to distribute to the camps and helped soldiers by aiding with health issues, as well as writing letters or reading for those unable to do so for themselves.
Ladies of the Sanitary Commission describe their role in the Union camp.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
Carson Hudson describes military medicine during the Civil War.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
He described some of the most common procedures that would have been performed at a field hospital, which of course included amputation and the techniques used to accomplish it successfully. A young soldier entered the room while we were there with a "gun shot wound" in his arm. The surgeon examined him quickly and decided that the bullet could easily be extracted with minimal damage. Across the way in another room was a pharmacist discussing the types of medicines used and how they would have been prepared, including how pills were prepared and how poisonous some of the medications actually were.
The surgeon examines a soldier with a gun shot wound, pronouncing it easily removable.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
After lunch, we joined the crowds surrounding Market Square to witness the commemoration ceremony. Both Union and Confederate troops marched onto the field and stood together as an introduction was made. Dr. James Robertson from Virginia Tech spoke eloquently about how crucial it is for us to remember and preserve our nation's history, eliciting a number of cheers from the crowd. Following a salute, the soldiers and cavalry paraded around the grounds before returning to their camps.
Union troops listening to the words of Dr. Robertson.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
Union troops in the commemoration ceremony.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
Conferedate troops and cavalry march after the ceremony.
Colonial Williamsburg, May 2012
Following the ceremony, we took a brief reprieve from the heat in the Governor's Palace gardens and enjoyed the colorful flowers in bloom. This was also our opportunity to capture some photos of my new outfit with a picturesque background! Although some clouds were beginning to roll in, we did not want to miss that afternoon's Rev City events, so we grabbed our umbrellas and made our way down to the backyard of Charleton's Coffeehouse.
The "Revolutionary City" scenes that afternoon were chosen for their relevance to the issues of the Civil War era, but I will cover my thoughts about those in a separate post. Immediately after that, we planned to attend the military music demonstration, but unfortunately it was rained out. Fittingly, the day closed with a deluge of rain, much like it did at the actual battle on that same day, exactly 150 years ago.
Ashley walking in the rain.
Photo by RH from a post on the Colonial Williamsburg facebook page.
That evening, we attended a concert program, "Uncivil Harmony: Music of the Civil War". I saw the Christmas version of this program last December and greatly enjoyed it. I was excited for the rest of my family to experience it this time, and the presentation did not disappoint! Once again, Mr. Hudson, along with several other talented performers, combined his many talents to give us a evening filled with stirring stories and music. If anyone has the opportunity to see this program, I highly recommend going!
The next morning, we paid a visit to the Confederate camp where they were laying out blankets and clothes after a second night of camping in the rain. We had a lovely chat with the washerwoman, met some ladies who were sewing while preparing lunch, and watched the cavalry taking care of their horses. One reenactor described how coffee was made in camp and how he's adjusted his period recipe to make it more enjoyable today! Sunday evening, we participated in a walking tour that focused on the experiences of female residents of Williamsburg during the occupation of the city. We met a tavern keeper who was working as a spy and a mother who described the recent marriage of her daughter to a soldier. The final woman we met was Dorothea Dix, superintendent of Union nurses, who described how she chose and managed the nursing staff throughout the war.
Additional photos from the Civil War commemoration weekend in Williamsburg may be found in our flickr set. Stay tuned for more posts about our 18th century activities during this visit and Rebecca's "Threaded Bliss" review of my 1860s ensemble.
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