Re: The March on the Delaware Indian Village of Kittanning ... Part IV

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: : : The Journal of Lt. Col. John Armstrong

: : : ~~~~~~~~~~

: : : The March on the Delaware Indian Village of Kittanning

: : : ~~~~~~~~~~

: : : August ye 31st to September ye 10th, 2000

: : : The Kittanning Expedition 2000--Part 4

: : : ~~~~~~~~~~

: : 
: : : Written by 

: : : Mike Slease, aka, Lt. Col. John Armstrong

: : : 
: : :  

: : :  

: : : Monday

: : : September ye4th

: : :  

: : : Arose at 6:00 AM, broke camp after breakfast and headed towards the Beaver Dams (Hollidaysburg, PA). Today will be a short day, since we will have to transport around some dangerous highways with no safe alternate route. This will permit us to allow the men a much-needed rest day. Tomorrow we will be ascending the Kittanning Run and going up over Kittanning Point on the original Kittanning Trail.

: : : We reached the campsite at 2:00 PM and got set up. It was in the public park at Hollidaysburg. The men relaxed and visited with the public who stopped by, and later that day we entertained some photographers from Westsylvania Magazine and the press. 

: : : We were joined here by the Rev. Charles Beatty and his wife, portrayed by reenactors Mr. and Mrs. Jim Newell. The Rev. Capt. Beatty was the chaplain for Armstrong's 2nd Battalion Pennsylvania and a Company Captain during the original Expedition in 1756.

: : : Also joining this camp is Dave Hurst, editor of Westsylvania Magazine, who will be joining us on our trek up over Kittanning Point tomorrow, along with his photographer.

: : : Our Rev. Beatty held a service for the men and preached a sermon in the style of the real Rev. Capt. Beatty. Afterwards, he presented me with a book of Rev. Beatty's Journals after the War. It was much appreciated, and will be read when I return home.

: : : There was a college graduation party going on in a pavilion in the park and we found ourselves invited to it...so we went! Lots of food, lots of drink, lots of music...well...something that was described as music, but...well...not this scribe's style! We had a great time, though, answering some very good questions. We wished the young lady graduate good luck in her future endeavors, thanked her parents for a great time, and returned to our camp.

: : : The evening is quite cool and breezy. Turned in at 10:15 PM knowing tomorrow would be a long and exciting march on part of the actual trail that Lt. Col. Armstrong and his army marched upon long ago...

: : ~~~~

: : Hey Mike!

: : I've heard about those collage graduation parties, but the one you attended sounded fairly tame.  Glad to hear that you guys had a good time though.  I was just wondering, what was the general reaction of people when they came to visit your camp?  I mean, it's not every day that guys show up in a town dressed and kipped out like group from the 1700's!

: : ..Jeri

: Hi, Jeri!

: This college grad party was by no means tame...I mean the suds, etc., flowed quite freely, the gals looked great, and danced quite...um...er...shall we say...provocatively, I guess is as good as it gets, and Mom was v-e-r-y interested in our trek. I think she would have joined us with some prodding! The fellows were quite into their cups, but none obnoxious. The questions were very well stated and we were admired, I believe. Looks on faces and the "Boy! I wish I could do that!" remarks, etc., flowed as freely as the beer. We were not the prettiest bunch of souls, having been on the road for so long, but we were accepted and made to feel quite welcome. There was absoulutely no questionable or unacceptable behavior on anyone's part, aside for perhaps a bit too much to drink. BUT...designated drivers were there, too. (Wasn't gonna do this, but...I have to add: This was a Penn State bunch.)

: More of public reaction comes further into my Journal...stay tuned! It gets good!

: Seamus


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