... and now for something... a bit... different.

I haven't "blogged" in a while since things have been hectic in my real life. Easter is a very busy time in my line of work and meetings, seminars, and various gatherings have kept me from gaming, painting, and blogging.

However...

Reenacting season in Southwestern Ontario (that's Upper Canada for you history types.) opened a short while ago with the Battle of Longwoods on May 5-6. My whole family went out on Saturday and Sunday, although I came late on Sunday due to church commitments. As always, it was enjoyable. I started the day at drill as a "brevet" corporal, then back to private. On Sunday, I was made sergeant for our combined unit and spent the battle shouting commands (echoing the colonel) and helping to fix mis-firing muskets. After a brief experience of being drunk with power as sergeant ("Do you know what these epilettes mean, Captain? Absolutely nothing!"), I was returned to my proper civilian state. It was still a blast. Robby was "captured" by the native warrior contingent on Saturday and Sunday, was traded for a bag of hatchets one day, and kept by the warriors the next. (He refused to serve the King when given the choice.) He, Beth, and Katie all made contacts and friends with the First Nations contingent which is fine since they all share Lenni-Lenape a/k/a/ Delaware heritage. (I'm of Irish and Cornish descent and don't look good in buckskins.) Robby also was part of a film project that is underway to tell of the struggle in this part of Ontario, especially MacArthur's Raid in 1814. Now to the photos.



Many Strings and Grandfather Lame Wolf await the war council.




The captive is brought forward at the council. Will he take the shilling?
Will he be burned at the stake? Will the tribe adopt him to replace a lost son?

  

The US private talks to the British captain.
The private was worth a bag of hatchets,





Robby and I suit up for the afternoon battle on Sunday. The US loses on Saturday and wins on Sunday. The Crown forces advance in COLUMN, no less! (I'm in my regulation summer jacket of linen - so much cooler!)
My white sergeant's epilettes are invisible.

  

Jared and Brandy of our unit. This was Brandy's first outing
as a reenactor. Jared is in his newly finished jacket and new shako.





Safety check. "Pinging the muskets" to make sure there are no foreign bodies  in the barrel. That could be deadly... literally. We fire blanks and don't even ram for fear of leaving the rammer in the barrel when we fire.




The combined 17th/21st Infantry advances to the afternoon muster.




The US 22nd Infantry in their grey roundabouts. they were part of Scott's Brigade at Chippewa and Lundy's Lane.

  

A brand new outfit - 6th New York Militia - with their Kentucky Rifle Volunteer advisor. This crowd was formed for the bicentennial from a French & Indian War reenactment unit.





At the filming, Robby awaits the attack of the British. This portion of the film deals with the actual Battle of Longwoods
and was filmed on the site of the battle. Rob is wearing my shako and is armed with a Harper's Ferry Musket in .69 calibre.


 

The US troops fire down hill at the attacking Crown forces.



Lyle from our unit awaits the attack.



























Corporal-pioneer for the Crown forces




The Crown forces advance up the hill. I say "Crown" rather than "British" because a number of the units are Canadian
Fencibles or Militia.

  

Evacuating the wounded sergeant in the "Fog of War."



This was the first reenactment of the Bicentennial celebration. There's plenty more to come. This weekend - Westfield Heritage Village. In June, Stoney Creek in Hamilton, ON; In August, Amherstburg, ON "timeline", The Siege of Fort Erie, and an encampment in Port Stanley, ON. In October, we hope to take part in the reenactment of the Battle of Queenston Heights. Lots going on. If you're in the area, let me know and we'll see if there's an event at about the same time.