We are the recreated Colonel John Campbell's Canadian Indian Department and Captain Alexander Fraser's Company of Select Marksmen, as well as Captain David de Monin’s Company of Rangers—all together, we portray Colonel Campbell’s “Corps of Savages.” Our goal is to work closely with museums, research organizations, and historic sites to present the most accurate possible portrayal of the life of the common soldier in the frontier war fought on the Lakes and through the Adirondacks. Our philosophy is that by so doing we will be better able to educate others on the lives we are representing.

We work to learn as many of the skills required of the common soldier, Native warrior, and woman of the army as we can in order to present the most accurate depiction to the public. Our joint portrayal represents the Natives, Regulars, Indian Department officers, Loyalists and French Canadians attached to Captain Fraser in June to October of 1777. Through participation at historical re-enactments and Historical Adirondack Trekking expeditions, we attempt to both learn and teach about the reality of the civil war commonly known as the American Revolution, as well as life in general during this fascinating period of North American history.

Any attempt to portray the past is riddled with compromise. Reenactors often equate one set of compromises with “authenticity” while another set of compromises (usually those chosen by another unit) are considered “incorrect.” We’re not perfect—and we recommend to our public that they understand that neither reenactors nor any attempt by Hollywood or Television can substitute for reading the history of the period from the men and women who lived it.

We sometimes portray a period picket camp, with minimal camp gear. At these events, soldiers live out of their backpacks and sleep in their blankets, ready to move at a moment's notice. At other events, however, you will see us “in camp,” with tents, provisions issued by the army, an issue of straw and firewood—all of the comforts available to the soldier of the period.

Our camp activities are those of the soldier such as sewing, equipment maintenance and other basic survival activities on the march. Our food is carefully researched and represents a detailed balance of the simple, rugged rations and recipes of the British soldier. To supplement this, there are seasonal "foraged" foods the soldiers would been provided by Canadian and Native communities along the campaign route.

We continue to develop our battlefield portrayal as 18th century Light Infantry, with special tactics and a special two-day Northern Department School of Tactics each spring that provides courses in everything from modern first aid to bibliographical support to research.

We are a successful cross-border organization, with Canadian and U.S. members stretching from North Carolina to Georgian Bay, Ontario. With an appreciation of our mutual local histories and the eastern woodland culture, we attempt to represent the activities of men and women during those turbulent times, and to remind the citizens of both countries of the war that defined their origin and the immense role played by Native warriors from the First Nations in the conflict. We are also delighted to represent the historic roles of African-Americans, who frequently served the King in exchange for freedom from slavery, and were well represented in British and Loyalist regiments. We also offer extensively researched portrayals of women’s roles during the American Revolution—both women serving on the rolls of the British regular army, and women caught up in the horror of civil war as refugees.

Why don't you check our Schedule and come see us in person? We would like to know what you think, for reality is still better than the Web.