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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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 Posted - October 15 2002 : 9:16:20 PM
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Have any other James Fenimore Cooper fans made the "pilgrimage" to Cooperstown, NY? I was there about 8 years ago. His house was an art museum when I was there. It's a beautiful town, and the site of The Deerslayer, it's a must read before you go. Plus there's 2 other great museums in town, the baseball hall of fame and the farmer's museum!
- CT•Ranger
"Now we are glad to learn the skulking way of war.” - John Eliot
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - October 16 2002 : 04:50:33 AM
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| Been there, though only to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gorgeous site for a town ... will go back someday ... I hope! |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
 Posted - January 25 2003 : 3:49:17 PM
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This topic may be a bit stale, but I was doing some more exploring and just found it. So I have to put in my two-cents' worth!
I adore Cooperstown. Partly because of its beauty, partly because of its history, and partly because that is where my husband and I spent a brief honeymoon when we were married nearly 12 years ago. 
Since I live quite close, I've been to the Farmers Museum (wonderful!), the Cooper house (its still an art museum), but not to the Baseball Hall of Fame. (I know... shame on me.) Next time.
There is another really neat story that is attached to Cooperstown. Of course Cooperstown did not exist there, yet, when this happened. During the Clinton-Sullivan Expedition into the Wilderness of NY against the Iroquois Nations (Rev. War), Gen. Clinton and his army began near Albany and moved west to the southern tip of Otsego Lake (where Cooperstown is now). Otsego Lake is the headwater of the Susquehanna River. This mighty river begins at the very southernmost tip of the lake, and it is only about 10-15 ft. wide at that point.
When Clinton and his army arrived, it was nearing the end of the summer and the water levels were very low. He had many bateaux full of supplies that he needed to transport down the Susquehanna River, to the place where he was to meet up with Sullivan's army. Fearing that the water was not deep enough in the river to float his boats all the way down, he devised an ingenious plan.
He had his men build a dam across the outlet of the lake, waited until the water level of the lake had risen considerably. Then, boats in place... men ready to march... he blasted apart the dam and the whole flotilla sailed merrily down the Susquehanna!
Every summer there is an event called "The Clinton Regata", which begins near Cooperstown. People enter in all kinds of canoes, boats, just about anything that will float, and go merrily down the Susquehanna. They do not, however, blast apart any dams! |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Theresa
Bumppo's Tavern Proprietress
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - January 25 2003 : 4:58:26 PM
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Hey WW,
Did you happen to catch the program on JFC that CSPAN ran a couple of years ago? The focus was on LOTM, it was about 2 1/2 hours long, and they showed a lot of the grounds there.
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Theresa |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - January 25 2003 : 5:52:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Theresa
Hey WW,
Did you happen to catch the program on JFC that CSPAN ran a couple of years ago? The focus was on LOTM, it was about 2 1/2 hours long, and they showed a lot of the grounds there.
No, Theresa, I didn't! Wish I had! |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - January 26 2003 : 09:25:36 AM
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Good morning, WW!
I have been to Cooperstown several times and through it many times on my way to Johnson Hall and the gorgeous Mohawk Valley. Nancy, the former Dark-haired Lass, and I spent a couple days there last summer. I had been telling her how beautiful it is there, and now she understands!
The Sullivan-Clinton Expedition is near and dear to my heart, our Ft. Augusta having been the major supply depot for that (and Hartley's Expedition against Tioga), and I have studied it extensively. I own an American Officer's fusil which went on Sullivan's Expedition. Naturally, whenever I stand and look at the outlet of Oswego and see the start of the North Branch of the Susquehanna, I drift back to Clinton's preparations for joining up with Sullivan. I try to picture in my mind's eye the camps, the dam, the hustle and bustle of that army getting ready, and to the scene when the dam was blown with its subsequent flood headed downstream. That must have been one hell of a ride! I see the army...marching along the riverbank towards Chemung. As I drive to and from there along the Interstate and up to Cooperstown, every place I can see the river I also see the army plodding along towards its goal. Man! It does not get any better than that!
When I led the Kittanning Trek 2000, we saw the origin of the West Branch of the Susquehanna and I stepped across it. In my mind's eye, I saw it here where I live and at the confluence of the two mighty branches at Ft. Augusta, at Liverpool where it is nearly a mile wide, and at Harris' Ferry, and at the Chesapeake where it is huge.....and I awestruck and humbled by the final size of that marvelous river! I always see it at the origins of it all now everytime I gaze upon it.
After all, isn't this hobby...this game we play, ......no, this OBSESSION.......about remembering, and trying to emulate, the origins of it all?
I look forward to the day when we can meet, sit in the shade of my awning at an encampment, perhaps sip on a bit of Port or Madeira, and visit on such and the like!
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Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
 Posted - January 26 2003 : 8:29:47 PM
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And good evening to you, Seamus! I appreciate your comments!
The Expedition is dear to my heart, as well. And I have done much reading, as I had three men involved. (Yes, I know... everyone else is groaning, "Oh no. Here she goes again!") But I'm going to tell it anyway!
I had a man with Sullivan, in Maxwell's Jersey Brigade, a man with Sullivan in Poor's New Hampshire Brigade (he is the one who was at Saratoga when only 16); and I had a man in the Tryon County Militia, of New York's Mohawk Valley, who was with Clinton. This man's widow's pension papers stated that he was pressed into service with his wagon and team of horses, to draw a bateau to Lake Otsego and carry baggage and provisions there for Clinton, then was employed in the expedition into Indian country. "One hell of a ride"... indeed! Wow!
I know exactly what you mean about standing and gazing and imagining. I do it often, whether it be at Saratoga, Valley Forge, Brandywine, Oriskany, the Mohawk Valley, Otsego Lake, or Newtown. It is simply in my blood... and it stirs my blood!
Now, dear sir, would you please explain to me what a "fusil" is? My knowledge, I'm afraid, does not extend that far. Am I correct in assuming it is a weapon... perhaps a sword? And how do you come by it? Are you fortunate enough that it came down through your family?
And good night to you, sir.
WW
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - January 27 2003 : 07:02:53 AM
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Good morning, WW--
Well, first off, I should proof my writing before I send it --and try not to write when I am in a rush--I said "Oswego" above when I meant to write "OTSEGO"!! I was under pressure to go on a...ahem...shopping expedition with certain girls of the female gender who share my home and DNA (heheheheh!)and just rushed through my Post because I wanted to get it done while my thoughts were fresh! ("Aren't you ready yet? I thought you said you were ready?" "What are you doing? WE ARE WAITING!" "I'm coming...gotta finish this...it's important." "LET'S GO!!" "Alright, I'm coming....." Big sigh here...."They just don't understand the importance of......oh well.....!")
Yes, yes...I know, but when one wants to play soldier all summer, he will do just about ANYTHING in the off-season to gain bargaining chips.....) Oh, well....."sest la vye"! heehee!
A fusil...some say 'fusee'...is a musket carried by an officer. It is most often custom-made, lighter and of smaller caliber, or bore diameter than the issue muskets carried by private soldiers, but still of stout military design. Some were quite fancy depending on how much the man wanted to spend. Mine is rather plain, and, unfortunately, did not come through the family. It came to me via an auction some years ago and is provenanced. It was carried by a Captain-Lt. from the German Regiment, Philip Shrawder, and bears his initials. I intend to have it copied so as to be able to carry it at certain events, in particular, the Battle of Newtown.
You are fortunate, indeed, to have had 3 ancestors with Sullivan! I envy you!! It certainly does give you a foot up when visiting historic sites and regions, doesn't it? I know everytime I visit Gettysburg I stare at the positions where an ancestor of mine was known to be. The old mind goes into high gear when we do that, eh? Gosh! It gets to be real fun!!
'Nuff for now. I must get out and get intimate with the snowblower. While I was basking in the sunshine of San Diego, gorging myself on chicken wings and other wonderful poisons, and rolling in the wonderful mangling of the Oakland Outlaws (Up yours, Al Davis!!), Mother Nature was messing with my driveway and sidewalks!
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Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
Donating Member |
Posted - January 27 2003 : 8:07:39 PM
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Thank you, kind sir, for the information about a fusil. I had not heard that term for a type of musket. I have heard, of course, of the British Brown Bess, and also of the French Charleville, and have seen examples of both at the Valley Forge Visitor's Center. Of course, I cannot possibly tell you any of the technical information about either one, as it does tend to be a bit beyond my scope of knowledge. Alas... to me a Musket is a Musket. Although, I can tell a "long rifle" because of the extreme length of the barrel, and I do know (thanks to my husband) the internal difference between a smooth-bore musket and a rifle... but that is about all!
By the way... where is your friend Sjt. Malcolm? I do hope the cold march he participated in last week did not do him in, braugh laddie that he is. Cold parades can be just as dangerous as shopping expeditions with females! Perhaps his cousin Many Flags knows where he is? Perhaps if we move back to The Muster area he will rejoin in our conversations. |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 19 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - January 27 2003 : 9:22:26 PM
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I spoke with Cousin Malcolm briefly the other day, WW. He said it was very cold in Harrisburg, but the lads weathered it well. Aye, braugh they are! I saw them there, and I know they were toughing it out for the Guv!
He is quite busy right now, but I expect he will be back here soon. Many Flags and he were having a discussion last week at Flags' little place in the Allemaengal, so I am sure he will have caught up on all the latest family gossip! Capt. Croy keeps him busy this time of year, too, with busy work to keep the private soldiers from idleness. T'wouldn't surprise me in the least if he was leading a wood cutting detail somewhere near camp. They've needed lots of it this last couple of weeks, you know. |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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