Posted by Seamus on October 30, 2001 at 10:14:57:
In Reply to: A Revolutionary Weekend posted by Scott Bubar on October 30, 2001 at 05:25:36:
: My son Jonathan and I went to the reenactment of the Battle of White Plains at Ward Pound Rige Reservation in Westchester, N.Y. this weekend.
: It's a beautiful setting for a battle. The first day, we made it in time to see the reenactment of "Spencer's Retreat". Got a real feel for the confusion of the battlefield. Not to mention what muzzle blast feels like when you're standing in front of a field piece rather than behind it. Also learned you can't tell who's who by the color of their coats. No wonder Hollywood simplifies it.
: It was a chilly day, and cloud cover and wind chill left me numb as we retreated to the warmth of the car.
: By the next morning I'd thawed out, however, and we went up earlier to take advantage of the "Open Camp" period. I'd had a feeling there might be a Mohicanite or two there. We were fortunate to be able to meet two: A kilted Seargeant McWilliams, and Priv. Chauncey Goodrich. When I mentioned the cold to them, they made light of it, saying something about layers of wool.
: I'm ashamed to say I forgot to ask Priv. Chauncey about the Ping thing. (Maybe that's how they stay warm at night?)
: The commitment of these reenactors to their "hobby" (more of a lifestyle) is amazing, BTW, and everyone I ran into was eager to share it. In fact some suggested that I consider enlisting.
: The battle that day was "Chatterton's Hill". Almost as impressive as the battle was the narration by George Neumann, author of several books on Revolutionary-era weapons, accoutrements, etc. Mr. Neuman is getting on in years, but has tremendous energy and delivered an impassioned narration centering on what it means to be an American whether your ancestors came over 300 years ago or you passed the citizenship test yesterday. It brought tears to my eyes. (Or was that the wind).
: A gentleman who was a friend or acquaintance of Mr. Neumann shared with me some of their activities. Equally well along in years, he confessed that during the February reenactments he has now taken to sleeping in a motel rather than a tent.
: These folks really know how to make you feel like a wimp.
: I left feeling I'd had a window into the period, inspired and somewhat rejuvenated.
: Only problem is, Jonathan keeps talking about wanting to be a reenactor.
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Hi Scott!
Sorry I didn't get to meet you and your son at Pound Ridge. I was serving with 1st Sgt. MacWilliam...he's my cousin, you know....and the 42nd RHR,Grenadier Co'y, the Black Watch as a volunteer musket.
He is right. We were cold (when a swirling chill wind gets under a kilt, it is a THRILL!)( I think I will wear my kwilt next time. That's a winter kilt!!) and tired but you don't notice it in the din and chaos of battle. The concussion of a field piece roaring within 10 feet of you, or a volley of musketry over top of you is an experience that really cannot adequately be described. Every fiber of your body responds to it and you feel the shock waves go through you. Fortunately they will warn us so we can open our mouths and cover our ears, otherwise such noises could have devastating effects.
To be on the field with so many others who are doing what we do, to participate in an event as you witnessed, to be one musket out of a volley of several hundred, to march to the pipes, the fifes and the drums, to respond to orders from a screaming officer to execute a left wheel and do it flawlessly and immediately deliver fire, reload and fire again, and again and again, tearing open cartridges with your teeth to prime and load and getting a mouth full of blackpowder and then breathing in the sulfurous smoke from hundreds of muskets and cannon.......it doesn't get any better than that!! HUZZAH!!!!!!!! Except for flying lead and real casualties it is as real as it gets.
Tell your son he can be a reenactor, in fact, you BOTH can! You'd love it, too, I know you would.
By the way, Ping was present, in copious amounts, and helped stave off the chill of the night...I can vouch for it...heheheheh!
Glad you got to see us, Scott. And I hope you will bring the lad to another event. Foster and nurture his desire. T'is a good place for a young fellow to be.
Pax aye!
Seamus