Friends,
Last year, we failed to have a bateaux trek and we didn’t really go to Yorktown in the strength I had hoped.
Those flaws aside, it was my favorite season in years. This is true for a number of personal reasons, but to me, as Captain, it was overwhelmingly true because, again and again, I saw in you the very best performances I have ever seen from our company. The “Scenario” at Black Creek was superb — really, a cutting edge piece of living history, and everyone there should be proud as a peacock for your bit. The whole effort of the company at Ft. George — the tavern, the night assault, everything — was monumental. And finally, the company’s performance at Ticonderoga was, quite simply, the best we’ve ever been (in a purely military manner) and led to our being invited by Fort Ti to, in effect, re-train the whole rev war hobby (don’t brag about it, it’s just work).
Throughout the hobby, your efforts led to admiration, emulation, and, in some rare cases, education. You should be proud.
This year, I have structured the season on lessons we all learned last year, and on the company’s new expertise in a wider historical interpretation than just “war.” We’ll start slow, with the school and with a general practice event at Black Creek. At Hubbardton, we’ll try a pretty complex re-creation of what our unit did, and we’ll try to integrate that into the wider event without ruffling feathers — but with emphasis on our own activities. At Bennington, we’ll attempt to do the kind of program we do at Black Creek, but on the “road,” and then we’ll go straight from the battlefield to the trek - something we’ve often discussed. Finally, at Ticonderoga, we’ll do everything—military and social and historical—all at the same time, before sinking to the ground in a state of exhausted euphoria (I’m getting carried away, here.) And then, for vacation, we’ll end the year with a visit to Michili (for those who want to go — no requirement for numbers) and with a big, powder burning event at Saratoga where all I’ll expect is some shooting and a uniform degree of partying on Saturday evening (I call this “vacation reenacting.”)
Yes, this year we’ll do a lot of driving. Let’s be clear. This is the last year for border crossing without a passport. This may be the last year where we don’t require a special license to cross the border with black powder, or weapons. This is the 230th anniversary of the Burgoyne Expedition, and it’s the last time OUR WAR will be in the limelight for five years. Silly as it sounds, I recommend that every one of you find the time and the budget to attend Hubbardton, Bennington, Ticonderoga, and Saratoga because we don’t know what the world will be like in five years — and, to be honest, because our company is, right now, as good as it will ever be, and we should all enjoy it while we can. In five years, my knees will by five years worse — and I’m not the only one suffering.
As I said above, you should all look back on last year and be proud. Now — get ready to do it again.
The research section has now moved to the website. There are new articles on the website — an article called “The New Tactick” which you should all browse, even in its unfinished state, a short quote under the title “Dundas” that should make you think, and soon, a history article on the Battle of Bennington to whet your appetite. I’m working hard on a tactical manual for the whole Northern Brigade. Doug Cubbison has just finished a book on artillery in the Saratoga campaign, "The Artillery Never Gained More Honor: the British Royal Artillery in the 1776 Valcour Island and 1777 Saratoga Campaigns" will be published by Purple Mountain Press in May 2007, and Justin Clement is starting the long research work towards a book on the whole campaign. There is lots of new research going around. Look for it on the website — under “research.”
Indian Department Interpreter Rebecca Jordan (Abseeptonay) was selected by the senior members to join the Order of Merit. She will receive her award (slightly altered from the standard to allow her to wear it with her kit) at the first major event of the spring. Rebecca has served us for many years, on trek and in camp, and in refurbishing, restoring, and then expanding the website.
Lance Cpl. Cubbison is promoted 1st Lt.
Mksmn. Copeland is promoted 2nd Lt.
Both individuals, and the Captain, will be expected to serve as privates on most occasions. All members of the CSM are privates first and foremost — ranks are just an added responsibility. Lt. Cubbison will command the company at Hubbardton, and Lt. Copeland will command at Westfield Village and Black Creek. I expect all ranks to be patient, understanding, and obedient while Doug and Dan learn the ropes of command and I further expect that they will receive all the respect accorded to the Captain when he’s in the field. Hmmm. Or perhaps a little more…
Cpl. Cioran to Sgt.
Lance Cpl. Bento to Cpl.
Mksmn. Ryall to Lance Cpl.
Welcome to Mksmn. Royce Calverly, who will be joining us as man of the 31st Regiment. With luck, we’ll also pull his friend Ian Corby, who will become a member of the 34th Regiment.
I have haversacks in stock. I also have 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.
| May 20 - 21 | Howse School, Westfield Village, Rockton ON - NorBde | |
| This year’s theme will be the “New Tactick” with emphasis on complex, multi-unit evolutions, as well as more on historical interpretation to the public and basic reenactor and soldier skills. This school is a required evolution—and one of my favorite events. | ||
| Jun 16, 17 | Black Creek Pioneer Village - NorBde | |
| This year at Black Creek we will once again perform (there’s no better way to put this) our detailed living history program “General to Washerwoman.” It will be re-written to keep it new; Elizabeth will be on hand to run the laundry (for real!) and there will be larger roles for both men and women. But in the main, Black Creek should be seen as practice for the kind of interpretive program we will provide at Bennington and at Ticonderoga. | ||
| Jul 7, 8 | 230th Hubbardton - CSM | |
| Back by popular demand. Although other elements of the NB will be present, our emphasis will be on camping where the CSM camped and on performing some scouting exercises on the actual ground, to recreate the real roll of the CSM in this famous action. Also, this year will be the “all Up” Hubbardton for the Continental Line—so we will not see just the few, sad, demoralized rebels we saw last year… | ||
| Aug 18, 19 | 230th Battle of Bennington - CSM | |
| We have never done Bennington as a unit. This year, thanks to Pete Schaapok of the BAR, we have the opportunity (the first, and possibly the last!) to do Bennington on the original ground. This will be a very special event, putting special demands on us—I intend that we will put on an interpretive program (a modified version of the Black Creek program) at this event, both to teach the public, AND to demonstrate to other reenactors what can be accomplished. Also, we will start our trek directly from the battlefield—so some of Saturday will be spent moving cars, and Sunday’s battle will see us “Sauve Qui Peut” and running for our lives—with our packs on. It’s 28 miles back to the British Army. We’ll recreate the whole thing… quite the adventure. | ||
| Sept 8, 9 | Ticonderoga - NorBde | |
| This is our ALL UP EVENT. Bennington will be special—possibly the most memorable, almost certainly the best trek in years—but Ticonderoga is the showpiece. BE WARNED that we are going, not to burn powder, but to set an example for others. The site has asked us to do certain things, and we’ll do them—because of who we are. That means EXTRA EFFORT at every level. Doug and Rebecca will lead the TAVERN, which will be centered on the Soldier’s Hut and will be a centerpiece of interpretation all weekend. We’ll do much the same “program” as we did at Ft. George, and on much the same scale—Bank, games, women, bouncers, etc—except in a “field” setting vice a garrison. In addition, we’ll be the world’s finest LI unit by day. And, of course, we’ll have a riotous, only slightly dangerous, good time. Simple. | ||
| Sept 22 - 23 | Michilimackinac - CSM Only | |
| A test event for future years. No push for numbers—if I go alone, that’s okay. I intend to see if the site is as good as it looks, and if so, to make it into a major CSM event. | ||
| Oct 5 - 7 | 230th Battles of Saratoga, Pulver’s Farm, Ft Edward - BB | |
| Yeah…Saratoga. Mike Grenier is running this. Expect 800+ on a side, expect 10,000 spectators, and a forest (read shopping mall) of sutlers. And yes, I am one of the commanders… so it would be nice if my unit came, too. But this is a giant powder burner—wargame on Sunday morning, all that stuff. On the good side, the last Saratoga was legendary. On the down side, this event will almost certainly lack the magic of Bennington and Ticonderoga. But hey—we all had fun at West Canada Creek, and I GUARANTEE THIS WILL BE BETTER THAN WEST CANADA AS A SEASON CLOSER. | ||
July 21st and 22nd are the event at FORT LA PRESENTATION in OGDENSBURG. Lt. Cubbison will be going, is on the Board of Directors for the site, and would very much like to encourage participation. The Fort La Presentation Association is in the planning stages, and has achieved considerable fund raising success and has received considerable state and local support, to begin reconstructing the French & Indian War Fort La Presentation, which became Fort Oswagotchie during the American Revolution, and was one of the major 34th Light Infantry (CSM) bases. Supporting this event supports the reconstruction of this fort, which has the potential to again become the living history base of the CSM. We’ll all go as 80th, and interested CSM members can ask Dave Austin, or Chris Cameron, about putting together an 80th kit or just borrowing one.
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