| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 09 2004 : 2:59:29 PM
It promised to be a fine day on Sunday; not too warm and no rain in the forecast. I decided it would be a good day to make a journey. Besides, I had an invitation. So, I donned my "real" clothes, got in my car and headed to Pennsylvania, to the Old Mill Village. It wasn't far: about a half hour drive from my home. It was a journey well worth the trouble, because when I got out of my car, I stepped into another time...
Shortly after my arrival there, the 3rd Battalion Pennsylvania, of Fort Augusta, assembled to prepare us for our journey across the mountains to Wyalusing, Pennsylvania. We met their commander, Capt. Slease, a very strict and unsmiling man, who gave us our detailed instructions that would help to ensure our safety as we walked along the trail. He made it quite clear to us that if we did not follow his instructions completely, and lagged behind, he and his men could not protect us adequately in case of an ambush.
With a growing sense of excitement and a certain amount of trepidation, for we were venturing into a forested wilderness, we set out. We had just begun moving when a last minute arrival disrupted our departure. It was a young man: a Moravian Missionary who was to journey with us to Wyalusing with dispatch papers to deliver. He was a most amusing fellow to his fellow travelers, but I fear he was a thorn in the side of our good Captain, who did not seem to have much patience! At last, we began to move again.
As we walked, I kept careful watch -- to my petticoats to keep them free of dust, to my footing on the rocky trail, and to my surroundings. The forest was lovely, and the stream we followed was peaceful, but always in the corner of my eye I imagined movements. I tried to peer behind every tree, always watchful.
Suddenly! There in the path ahead of us! There was a horrible, painted savage! And he held a poor white girl! She was screaming, crying, and begging for our help! Our good Captain went forward to the savage, as he was shouting words at us in his broken English. I could not understand many of his words, but I believe he said that he wanted to trade the girl for muskets and powder. Our Captain said no, that he should release the girl to him immediately. Finally, she managed to break free and ran down the trail into our group.
The savage turned and went up the trail and we thought we should see no more of him. But we were more horrified to see that he had another white girl captive. We watched helplessly as he mercilessly dispatched her with his tomahawk and then he scalped her! The poor girl who had escaped him wailed most piteously and cried out that he had killed her sister. I was so frightened and hoped that would be the end of it! But there was to be more...
The allies of the savage -- the French -- were hiding in the trees and they commenced to firing upon us and our brave protectors. The Captain directed his men, as they returned fire, most bravely! Never fearing for his own safety, he moved constantly up and down the line of his men, encouraging them and shouting orders to them. There was so much noise and smoke and confusion...
Then suddenly, it was just as quiet as it had been before the attack. The enemy were gone. Captain Slease made his decision that we must return to the fort. It was not safe for us to travel. We did return safely, and our good Captain comforted and expressed his sympathy to our poor captive girl, who had lost her sister, and her mother and father. With uncharacteristic gentleness, he commended her to the care of the Moravian Missionary.
I do not know when we shall be able to attempt our journey again...
Seamus, it was great fun and I loved meeting you in person!
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 20 2004 : 4:35:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Seamus
...you do bring bring a bit of the blush to me face.
There now. You see? We have a glimpse of another facet. Let's see...
strict
unsmiling
brave
demanding
encouraging
decisive
gentle
caring
humorous
enamored of the amber liquid
...and now, embarrassable  |
| Seamus |
Posted - August 20 2004 : 06:59:17 AM
Never mind the ramblings and musings of my dear cousins, WW, you are doing just fine, but you do bring bring a bit of the blush to me face. (Or is it the blush caused by the infusion of amber liquid into me system...oh, well, doesn't matter.)Those lads are just jealous. Right now they are sitting over there giggling and snickering over all this. Look at them! Uh....Malcolm, could you please move over to the other side of the fire? You are blocking my view of the river and the beautiful hills beyond! And send that bottle back over here, please.
Yes, Flags, I saw what Armstrong has done! Those damnable lowlanders! Those sheep will be in therapy for months!! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 19 2004 : 12:07:09 PM
Ok... OK. So maybe I'm not always so great with the written word, either. 
Seamus, sorry if I have given you a new name -- "Many Sides", who is not to be mistaken for his cousin Many Flags. Perhaps the word "faceted" would have been a better choice: Capt. Slease is many-faceted. That would be appropriate, wouldn't it, for a real gem?
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| Many Flags |
Posted - August 19 2004 : 07:16:39 AM
Cousin Seamus.....You and Malcolm just crack me up!! Us three are so much alike and be us in clout, breeches or kilt.....we are certainly many faceted and well sided. I take it you cannot be at Armstrong's party this weekend?? Have you seen the post from Uncle Angus this morning in rhrgrenadiers about his adventure in Orangeville.....Ahhh, that Armstrong, he be a sly one!! Many Flags of the Allemaengel |
| Seamus |
Posted - August 19 2004 : 06:37:06 AM
T'is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, Cousin 1st Sjt., my love. Let the ladies dream....... |
| Sjt. Malcolm MacWilliam |
Posted - August 18 2004 : 9:33:53 PM
Aye, I have seen the many sides of me cousin, Seamus (Ok, turn a bit more....side 6....a bit more....side 7....another inch....side 8)....HAAA! Not often that this 1st Sjt. makes himself laugh!! Pax Aye!! Malcolm |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 18 2004 : 8:50:51 PM
Thanks, BW, for your very kind words. I have long found that the written word is far easier for me to handle than the spoken.
I have actually entertained thoughts of doing 18th century sewing of some sort. However, many re-enactors prefer to have totally hand-sewn clothing to be more accurate in their impressions. And that I cannot do because I have moderate carpal tunnel. While making my stays, it was necessary to hand sew the binding all around the edges because it can't be done on the machine. It did not take long for my right hand to go numb. I had to stop repeatedly to shake it and rest it, which made the whole procedure take far longer than it should have.
Regarding Capt. Slease, I'm sure you have also seen the tender and caring side of him that I saw in his treatment of the captive girl. Methinks there are many sides to the good Captain. |
| Bookworm |
Posted - August 18 2004 : 5:12:40 PM
I'm a little late in posting here, WW, but I wanted to let you know that IMHO you're as fine a writer as you are a seamstress, and that's very fine indeed. Who knows, maybe you could even give up your day job and do the 18th-century sewing full-time! Sounds like your first outing in the new/old clothes was very successful. And I can just see that "strict and unsmiling" expression on Captain Slease's face. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 17 2004 : 8:02:34 PM
Thank you, Jayne! |
| Jayne |
Posted - August 17 2004 : 6:08:41 PM
Hi, Wilderness Woman! I've enjoyed reading these posts and looking at the website. Sounds like a very exciting day, indeed! By the way, you do look wonderful in your 18th century clothes. Your handiwork is beautiful (as we all know anyway, based on your detailed and fine stitching on the Cora doll!)
Jayne |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 14 2004 : 9:34:56 PM
Well, there are early photos of this weekend event up already on their website.
Go Here and take a close look at Gallery #2. You will see a number of pictures of Capt. Slease and his fine Regiment. You can also see several pictures of the events I have described above. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 12 2004 : 08:39:53 AM
... and for 18th century ladies who blush very easily.
 |
| Seamus |
Posted - August 12 2004 : 06:02:36 AM
"I thought perhaps that was your brand of humor."
Only the printable, suitable for prime time and Scout troops kind......! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 11 2004 : 9:02:12 PM
You are most welcome, Seamus. I thought perhaps that was your brand of humor. |
| Seamus |
Posted - August 11 2004 : 1:39:07 PM
Guilty as charged, Ma'am. Yes, I am the webmaster. The site is the cooperative creation of our Quartermaster-Taylor/Chief Distaff/computer guru, Kay Martz and myself.
I have written all the bios except my own, which Kay wrote. I get approval from each person before it is published to avoid irritating or embarrassing anyone. In fact, I have solicited the members to write their own, if they wish to do so, but only one ever did. You can see by them that, while we are all business on the field, we do not take ourselves too seriously off the field! Thank you for your compliment! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 11 2004 : 12:51:51 PM
No. I thought not. Smart man. My opinion on motorcycles is that they are extremely dangerous, especially the way I see a lot of guys riding/driving them. Such foolishness. And I hate to say it, but I truly dislike the noise level of Harleys.
There is a guy who has one, who lives the next street over from us. You can hear him coming well before he makes it into the neighborhood. One day this summer, I was out working in my front flowerbed and he made the mistake of ramping it up pretty fast as he came around the corner and down the street. He must have hit 50 mph (in a 30 zone full of pets and children) by the time he made it to the end of our street. When I heard him go around the block and approach the same corner, I was ready for him.
I stood on the curb, fixed my sternest, grandmotherly gaze upon him, held out my arm and made the up and down, slow-down motion. Surprisingly enough... he obeyed me! He gave me a courteous nod and a friendly smile as he drove sedately (and very slowly!) past me. My glare followed him, as I made a mental note of his plate number. I was really feeling all-powerful until our village cop friend told us later that he is out on parole. He was merely trying to stay on the good side of his parole officer.
Yes, I had already seen the Pvt.'s bio. Really funny. Did you write up all the bios? In fact, are you the site creator and webmaster? If so, it really is very well done. I greatly enjoy checking in there occasionally to read and re-read. |
| Seamus |
Posted - August 11 2004 : 06:28:44 AM
Sorry, WW, but that is not one of my secrets. I have NO DESIRE to be an organ donor before my time! However, we do have a man or two in the Regiment who are Hog riders. Check out Pvt. Buehler's bio on our Meet the Members section of our website.
http://www.homestead.com/augustaregt/rosterpage2004.html |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 10 2004 : 11:00:47 PM
Ooooooo! Love that song! B-u-u-u-u-t... No. The visual still just isn't working for me.
How 'bout it Seamus? You gonna surprise me and admit you've got a Hog stashed in your garage, that you only bring out in the dead of night so no one who knows you will see it? |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - August 10 2004 : 10:32:18 PM
quote:
Wilderness Woman said: Hah! The good Captain Slease on a Harley?!?!? ...Now that would be an anachronism, indeed!
Just add 'Born to be Wild', playing in the background...
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| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 10 2004 : 5:02:51 PM
Yes, the ladies of the 18cWoman list had warned me about making sure to file the ends rounded and smooth, which I did, and the length seems to be fine.
I think, actually, the problem I had with breathing was that I had gotten a little overzealous when tightening the lace, in my attempt to achieve that fashionable 18th century cone shape on a middle-aged, two-baby waistline! When standing, walking, or sitting on a straight-back chair, breathing was just fine. But sitting on a soft car bench-seat that wants to recline slightly... not so comfortable!
Hah! The good Captain Slease on a Harley?!?!?
Now that would be an anachronism, indeed! |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - August 10 2004 : 4:42:15 PM
quote:
Wilderness Woman said: ... attempting to breathe normally while plastic boning is poking uncomfortably in unusual places...
You might want to check the length of the boning material. Lady Munro had a similar problem (Her's was causing two rub marks on her lower back), and I had to remove and 'shorten' the boning with a file. They are now more comfortable, regardless of position, and still provide the required support.
quote:
...also noted: I did have an encounter that made me giggle to myself: I was driving down Interstate 81 in the right hand lane and I heard the roar of a number of Harleys coming up on my left. There were about 15 bikes, who rode alongside of me for about a mile in the heavy traffic.
Are you sure that it wasn't Seamus, and the men of the 3rd PA Provincial Battalion, heading back to Fort Augusta? You know how 'avant garde' us Pennsylvania Boys are...
Your Most Humble Servant,
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| Fitz Williams |
Posted - August 10 2004 : 09:27:48 AM
Just wait until you have to stop at a rest area or a filling station in your period clothes. After a while it just doesn't matter any more.
Amish and proud of it! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - August 10 2004 : 08:36:03 AM
Yes, Sgt. Munro... I did, indeed, have a wonderful time.
And you know what? Wearing those clothes felt s-o-o-o-o-o fine!!!! Well, there is one exception: driving while wearing a pair of stays is... well, let's just say it is a real challenge! Sitting bolt upright... knees apart, which for a lady is somewhat unnatural... attempting to breathe normally while plastic boning is poking uncomfortably in unusual places... I was really glad I had not completed my bum roll yet. That would have added yet another dimension to the challenge.
BTW, I wasn't wearing my hat, but did have my white cap on. I tried not to look at other motorists for fear of seeing odd looks on their faces. I'm certain they must have thought this was either some very senile old lady, or a Mennonite.
I did have an encounter that made me giggle to myself: I was driving down Interstate 81 in the right hand lane and I heard the roar of a number of Harleys coming up on my left. There were about 15 bikes, who rode alongside of me for about a mile in the heavy traffic. None of them paid me any attention, but it caused me to think of the wide time gap in clothing styles: 21st century black leather and metal vs. 18th century linen and straw. I felt like quite an anachronism. |
| SgtMunro |
Posted - August 09 2004 : 10:32:47 PM
Sounds like you had a wonderful time, WW. Sorry that I could not join you, but the King called me to service this weekend. I was detailed, along with my company, to join Colonel Bouquet's Field Force in order to raise the siege of Fort Pitt. I shall be posting my after action report, within the next couple of days.
Your Most Humble Servant,
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| Seamus |
Posted - August 09 2004 : 10:23:20 PM
Heheheheh.....I knew you were driving and it would NOT be a shrewd move to sample the stuff. Perhaps your chance will come if I can get to Newtown.......working on it. |
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