Friends,
First, a draft of next year’s schedule is at the end of this issue. PRINT IT OUT AND KEEP A COPY.
Now to the Captain’s comments.
It has been two full years since I put out a Petite Guerre. The reasons are complex — mostly an increased writing schedule. Partly a feeling that no one reads it… Partly a focus on ancient Greece. In that time, we’ve begun to refocus ourselves on rangering, and that’s where we’re headed. At the same, time, the world of mainstream reenacting continues to move forward, and I need your help in putting together the kind of quality events that people expect from us this summer, at Lansing Manor and at Fort George.
Our company is growing younger, through the gradual accumulation of younger reenactors. That’s having an impact on everything from the presence of women in the ranks (and its acceptance) to the activity on the trek. I don’t see that as bad — far from it.
Our hobby is just 15 years from the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. By then, if there are any historical sites left, our hobby, if it has survived, will be ready to illustrate and educate — and never, I think, will a set of history lessons be more valuable. But the people we are recruiting now will be the hobby leaders in 2025–2034. They will decide how events are shaped, what authenticity standards are, how the hobby will grow, and what lessons people will learn. It is not that far away!
Our job is to keep making the incremental improvements and to keep providing the adventures that keep people committed to the hobby, and to the hobby’s most difficult aspects.
This year, I expect every one of you to help me put together two “mainstream” events — Lansing Manor in May, and Ft. George in July. Both of these events are vital to the survival of our hobby. This is not penny–ante stuff. Lansing is an event in New York State, a state which is being threatened with the closure of dozens of historical sites including Johnson Hall and Sackets Harbor. The very existence of reenacting in New York was threatened last year due to black powder legislation. And Lansing Manor is a site where we get to do the kind of public interpretation that matters, and that helps people learn.
Fort George is the first British Brigade/Continental Line joint show since 2008. Bad luck plagued last season, but the hobby, as a whole, needs a successful mass event. WE ARE THE HOSTS. This is our show. I need — nay, I’ll go a step farther and say I expect — every man and woman in the company to attend and help.
But mainstream reenacting is just part of our agenda — and not even the most important part. So we started this season with a social event at Fort Niagara and we’ve already had a trek — the most interesting winter trek in years and without doubt the coldest (–25). This summer we’re looking at the most difficult trek in five years, across Metcalf Ridge, and in the fall we’ll do an immersion event at Meyer’s Hill aimed at preparing us for next year’s winter treks, of which we’ll have TWO. I plan to add several equipment–making events to the schedule; workshops in Rochester and in Toronto, to build kit we either never had (toboggans) or need to replace (tarps and moccasins). I aim to learn and employ new ranger skills on trek (brush hut construction). In addition, I’m preparing the equipment to allow for safe period martial arts to take place every event (small sword, single stick and wrestling) because one of my lessons learned from Classical Greece is that martial arts add enormously to the fun.
Finally, we’re looking at the purchase of a pair of 20–foot Huron birch bark canoes, because the Captain’s long term plans include recreating the 1776 boat raid on Lake Champlain as well as recreating the CSM camp on Mount Hope, near Fort Ticonderoga, in 2011 and 2012.
We have two new research articles just up on the site. First, Justin Clement’s notes on making a period capote, which should be read with my photos from creating the rosettes and lacing the coat (on Facebook). Second, a set of notes by engineer Lt. Benjamin Slack (Practioner–Engineer Slack) on the practical route from Montreal to Fort Stanwix affords a great deal of insight into scouting as it was really practiced, as well as reinforcing the idea that tarps were mostly oilskin, even in the Army.
And, for those excited by such stuff, I have a couple of other tidbits. I recommend anyone interested in making a tarp take a look at David Morier’s painting “Hussars Assault a baggage wagon” (1755) which can be seen at The Royal Collection's online gallery. And while you are there, feel free to look at his painting of the Royal Artillery in the Low Countries, painted from the life in about 1758. Both illustrate baggage tumbrils, which I think we need to have. Maybe two. All we need is for Jim Matthews to like the idea…
And thanks to Len Heidebrecht for this timely piece for Winter Trekkers…
Lieut. Wm Cox, Asst Adj of the 21st Regt (RNBF) recorded this Memorandum in Standing Orders (1784-1792) when the Regiment was posted to Sydney Nova Scotia in 1790:
“Memorandum,
Should there be any occasion to send Out a detachment during the Winter, it will be necessary they should be supplied with the following articles.
Viz.
A spare Flint each Man,
A piece of Cloth to keep the lock dry,
a pair of creepers each,
a quantity of Old Blanket to wear in the Mawkasons,
a Blanket & Slings,
a Pair of Mitts each,
a Tin Pint each,
a Camp Kettle to Six Men,
a Haversack and Canteen,
Foraging Cap,
Salt and matches,
One Shirt and a piece of Soap,
a Razor, Comb, Needles and thread,
a Pocket knife
Sydney 14th Feby 1790 (Tabacans)”
Wm Cox was listed as a prisoner in the Convention Army as a volunteer with the 21st Regt and appears to depart the army in 1793, though through death or resignation I do not know at this time.
The Orderly Book is in the collection of the Baldwyn Room of the Toronto Reference Library.
Mitch Snyder and Will Walsh are veterans now, but we can welcome them anyway. Welcome aboard! Now we need each of you to find two more like you.
The 2009 Order of Merit recipient was Jamie McKenna, who has been the Captain’s right hand for two years in carrying the camp, setting up, taking down, and transporting. No good deed remains unpunished. McKenna, to get the Captain back, appeared in Continental kit at the 12th Night Ball. Run, McKenna.
The 2010 recipient has already been chosen and will receive the award on parade at Fort George in front of a great many people. In addition, we will return to the halcyon year’s practice of giving out silver rings for service. I will give out rings for treks and special service from 2007 to Fort George at the Fort George event. Sergeants should compile a list of their sections, male and female, who have ring–brooches coming since 2007.
I have haversacks in stock. I also have 31st and 34th cap badges. All of our seasonal orders are being placed right now, so if you need a musket tool, a worm, new clothing, etc., now is the time to order from me.
| January 9 | Twelfth Night Ball – It was excellent! | ||
| February 6 – 7 | Winter Trek – Minus 25 degrees and that means very, very cold. To paraphrase Aurora Simmons, “The cold was like a live monster.” It was – darned cold. On the other hand we were never smoked out, we had a pleasant evening, and the snowshoe patrol – about 5.5 miles – was splendid, in ideal snowshoeing conditions that were more like 18th century conditions than many outings we’ve had – crisp, high pressure and deep cold. Next year we will aim to have TWO winter events – a long trek with mobile camp, and a day long exploratory outing with “comfortable” accommodations. | ||
| May 15 – 16 | Revolutionary War Weekend – At Lansing Manor; Grand Gorge, New York. We've been there twice before — one of the best sites we use, and a very nice blend of progressive/keener and mainstream comfort. We're the crown sponsors on this event — I'll need help and people willing to drive down early. | ||
| July 29 – August 2 | Fort George — ALL UP! – Living history at Fort George; Niagara–on–the–Lake, Ontario. Our most “ALL UP” event since Saratoga of 2002. More information available at the event's website. | ||
| August 16 – 22 | The Trek – Immersion scouting and exploration in the Metcalf Range in Adirondack Park, New York. | ||
| October 16 – 17 | Meyer's Hill Wargames – Immersion wargaming event at Myers Hill; Forestport, New York. | ||
| November TBA | Toboggan Workshop – Toboggan building in Victor, New York (near Rochester). We will construct at least two (2) 18th century native toboggans with Michael Galban. | ||