The Era of the Revolutionary War Comes To Vermillion Creek

We have some pretty awesome reenactments here in Michigan.

And they continue to get better...

...................................

Last October - 2021 - was one of the worst I've ever had.  I was in the hospital with what they called covid pneumonia.  And,  boy!  I certainly was sick...sicker than I'd ever been in my life.  But I had so many people praying for me.  God heard their prayers and saw fit to keep me around longer.

I so appreciate it.

During that month I missed some of my favorite events,  including colonial Vermillion Creek,  which takes place at a wonderful family farm and mill called Peacock Farm.  So it felt very good to return this year.  I love that the event takes place in the fall,  for it's my favorite time of year.  And though today's posting isn't all about this season necessarily,  you will still get a flavor of fall while looking at the photos herein.

Shadows of the past~
Won't you join us?

Here I am with my time-traveling companions.
I know,  I know...three girls and a guy,  but you know,  we're all very good friends
and we do enjoy hanging out together.  I suppose we are reenacting besties.
And,  well,  Larissa and I did switch hats,  and had a laugh in doing so:

I had a harder time putting her's on then she did putting mine on~ 
I look like such a goofball!

I look like she forced me to wear it! lolol
No,  no,  no,  I only wore it for the photo - - don't go there with me!

Then there is that moment that one waits for:
Yes,  readers...Larissa fell in the pumpkin patch!  And as she once did to
me when I fell  (in the snow,  no less),  I took her picture!

When posted on Facebook,  Larissa replied with,  "I supposed I should be grateful you only put one of the pictures!  Also,  you left out the part where you three laughed hysterically while I laid helplessly in the pumpkin dirt!"

Okay,  so here's one not posted on Facebook:  Larissa getting up after her fall.

Amy,  second from right,  hung out with us a bit.  I met her at the Colonial Kensington reenactment in August.  She is a part of the Chief Pontiac Programs group,  a group
of  volunteers who operate a hiking trail and other programs with outdoor
experiences for all age groups.  

The Chief Pontiac Programs group also offer classes,  presentations,  and have informative conversations for guests.  As they state on their web page:  Learn the skills that all settlers on a farm needed to know to be self sufficient.  A farmer in an early settlement needed to be able to make or repair almost anything themselves.

On top of all that,  the Chief Pontiac Programs group has life skills experiences,  including hands-on blacksmithing,  woodworking,  fire starting by flint and steel,  rope making & splicing,  bead work,   weaving and spinning and other fiber arts,  and outdoor cooking classes.

Amy and her family have joined the Queen's Rangers.  However,  she is always welcome to come out with us Citizens of the American Colonies.

So,  as it were,  we spent a part of this beautiful fall day in and around the large pumpkin patch.  It seems sincere enough.

Pumpkin,  squash, and gourds are native to the Americas and were only brought to other continents after the European contact in 1492.  'Twas over 9,000 years ago that the indigenous peoples of North America were growing pumpkins - long before the cultivation of corn or beans.

Charlotte and Jackie seemed to have found a great pumpkin.  Perhaps to bake pies with.

So Larissa and I journeyed out to grab the gourds pointed out to us.
Or are they squash?
Fruit,  mayhaps??

I don't care what it is - - these are heavy!

As I am always seemingly in a state of  research,  I learned that pumpkins are both squash and gourds, and also… fruit.  Yes,  all those edible,  seed-filled squash and gourds are also fruit.  

But what's the difference between these fruity gourd pumpkins and squash?

Well,  according to the Missouri Botanical Garden,  the main distinction between squashes and gourds is that squashes are grown and harvested to eat,  while gourds are usually just for decorative or ornamental purposes.  Both summer and winter squash can be baked,  boiled,  steamed,  roasted,  pureed,  sautéed,  or pan-fried to be added to soups,  casseroles,  hash,  desserts,  and more.  As a bonus,  winter squash—while typically mild in flavor—is packed with fiber,  vitamins,  and minerals.  Meanwhile,  gourds lack the  "fleshy"  insides necessary to be flavorful or abundant enough to consume.  So if it looks good in your fall cornucopia,  it's probably a gourd,  and if it tastes good at dinner or in a pie,  it's probably a squash.

Don't squash the pumpkins...or gourds...or fruit...or,  um...smile,  Jackie!

Cobbler Tony put the buckles on Larissa's new shoes.

Well look at that!
Shiny new buckles on her shiny new shoes!
Tony looks quite proud of his work~

Pastor Gerring and I had a nice chat while a-waiting
for Larissa's shoes to be done.

Susan was also at Vermillion Creek,  and she spent
much of her time keeping busy by sewing hats to sell
and cooking dinner for her beau. 
Oh----did I mention she also baked four apple pies??

Okay,  so there are three here...she did bake a 4th.

Settling down around the camp of  Susan and Dave was very welcoming for us, 
and we enjoyed fine conversation.

So what else do you suppose we had at Vermillion Creek?

The  'Hawk throw~

Joey Fackler ran a tomahawk throw for men,  women,  and children.

Contrary to popular belief,  Native Americans and Mountain men rarely threw their tomahawks  (or  "hawks")  during battle.  A tomahawk was one of their best hand-to-hand weapons,  good for both offensive and defensive moves.  Throwing a tomahawk to kill an enemy put considerable distance between the thrower and his very best weapon.  Even if a mountain man or an Indian warrior killed his intended target,  he was pretty much defenseless while he scurried to retrieve his hawk from his victim's body.

A Native American gave his best shot.

Instead of throwing their tomahawks in the heat of battle,  mountain men and Indians hurled their hawks mainly for fun.  A few times a year,  mountain men would come into town to gather supplies and trade pelts they had collected during the previous hunting season.  They'd often set up a huge camp outside of town and take part in various contests such as tomahawk throwing.  Some Native American tribes held similar contests of skill for their men to take part in.  Indians would also come to the frontiersmen camps to engage in trading and throw some tomahawks with the men there.

One of the very few to stick!

Hawk throwing is not as easy as one may think,  as the greater majority of us found out.

I did not do very good at all,  but misery loves company,  and neither did most of the others.  However,  since I have a set up at my home,  perhaps I'll practice a bit and improve my skills!

At least I look like I know what I'm doing here  (lol)

The children were next - -  Yes,  even the wee lads and lasses got in on the  'hawk throw.
And,  yes...they threw a real tomahawk - reenacting kids are generally brought up on traditional things and are taught very young to respect tools,  guns,  axes,  and other such implements.

Above all,  they are taught safety.

Following the children,  it was the ladies turn to try their hand.

Charlotte stepped up and gave her best toss.
She did pretty darn good.  Certainly better than me!

Jackie,  too,  gave it her best...she very much enjoyed this last year.

And even Larissa joined in the fun!

As you may know,  she also does WWII,  and at a reenactment in August she had the opportunity to fire a  Thompson Submachine Gun,  otherwise known as a  tommy gun.

As she put it:  "In a month’s time I went from a tommy gun to a tomahawk!"

Amy also gave it a good go!

The children each received a prize for participation.

So guess who one the women's division?

Citizen's of the American Colonies own Charlotte!

Doc Bloodsworth was at Vermillion as well.

Sometimes the most menial tasks make the best pictures.
I'll have to have Amy borrow my yoke
and two buckets sometime.

Me,  Jackie,  and Larissa returning from the log trading post.
It's nice to be in the middle of nowhere for such a reenactment, 
and walking along this road is always a pleasure.

Now let's visit some of the military that were there at Vermillion Creek reenactment.

We'll start off with the 1st Pennsylvania,  the unit my son belongs to.

I'm not gonna lie,  I do favor the patriots and continentals,  in real life and in reenacting.  

The 1st Pennsylvania marching and drilling.

Generally,  the American patriots,  whether serving in the regular army or with colonial militias,  wore a virtual hodgepodge of uniforms prior to standardization.  Beginning the war donning brown uniforms,  George Washington then settled on navy blue jackets accompanied with white breeches,  and tricorn  (cocked)   hats for his army.  Additionally,  regiments from different regions possessed uniforms with either blue,  white,  red,  or buff facings and trim.

As for the 1st Pennsylvania,  Doctor James Thacher,  a young doctor from Barnstable who observed the regiment during many of its battles,  provided this description 

of the riflemen:

"They are remarkably stout and hardy men... They are dressed in white frocks or rifle shirts and round hats.  There men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim;  striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance.  At a review,  a company of them,  while in a quick advance,  fired their balls into objects of seven inches diameter at the distance of 250 yards . . . their shot have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers who expose themselves to view at more than double the distance of common musket shot." 

(Source: James Thacher,  Military Journal during the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783)

1st Pennsylvania~
The unit fought at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 and the Battle of Springfield
in 1780.  Two companies,  those of Captain William Hendricks and Captain Matthew Smith,  accompanied Arnold's expedition to Quebec and were captured in the Battle
of Quebec.  The regiment was furloughed June 11,  1783,  at Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania and disbanded on November 15,  1783.

The 1st Pennsylvania Camp.

Top:
Tony Gerring,  who heads up the unit,  is letting my son,  Robbie,  know what
needed to be done with the enlistment papers for a scenario he worked up.
Bottom:
Robbie using his 18th century writing implements to complete
reproduction enlistment forms for 1st Penn members.
 

A note from Tony Gerring:

"Thank you to everyone who attended the Vermillion Creek event this past weekend.  The evenings were cool,  but the days were sunny and warm,  and we had a great time.  There were eleven soldiers and our surgeon,  Tom Bertrand,  on Saturday,  and eight soldiers,  and our surgeon on Sunday.  There was plenty of marching,  drill,  and practice of light infantry tactics both days.  On Saturday,  Robbie Giorlando assisted with his 18th century writing implements by completing reproduction enlistment forms for our regular members.  On Sunday afternoon,  Surgeon Tom Bertrand examined our soldiers and reported on their health and well-being.  We also had two young men who are friends of my sons,  Thomas and Nicholas,  as our guests for the weekend,  and hope they might join us again in the future. 

Many thanks to everyone who assisted with food for the weekend.  There were eggs and bacon for breakfast,  chicken soup for lunch,  and venison chili for dinner.  While there were some alterations to the schedule that we had to deal with,  we participated in two skirmishes on Saturday and one on Sunday.  Several people also participated in the tomahawk competition,  and I took fourth place there on Sunday.

One highlight of Saturday was an hour-long,  evening march of about 1.2 miles,  much of it in marshy grass or thick woodland,  to give us an insight into what the soldiers of the Light Infantry Corps under Gen.  Anthony Wayne did when they attacked Stony Point on July 15,  1779.  We started out at about 7:30 pm,  just as it was starting to get dark,  and returned to camp around 8:30 pm,  by which time it had become quite dark.  Sergeant Brian Gerring provided great insight on the difficulties of the original march and obstacles faced by soldiers in the original battle,  and I think everyone learned a lot and can appreciate even more the sacrifices made by those who fought and won the battle in 1779.

All in all,  it was great to be together and take the field with the finest unit there!"

Revolutionary War uniforms prior to 1779 varied greatly.  

It was in 1779 when George Washington ordered that uniforms for soldiers in the Continental Army consist of blue coats,  white waistcoats and facings of varying colors.  Here we see the Continental Line,  which could have been from Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  or Virginia, with their red facings and white linings and buttons.

There were also Militia falling in with the unit.

According to an article titled  “Guide to Military Uniforms”  on military.com,  the reason blue was chosen for the Continental Army uniforms was because it was in direct contrast to the British Army’s red uniforms.

The unit here normally does French & Indian War but gladly crosses to the American side of the Revolutionary War when needed to.

Now let's jump to the King's military forces:

Rogers'  Rangers was a company of soldiers from the Province of New Hampshire raised by Major Robert Rogers to fight in the French & Indian War.  

They were disbanded in 1761.

Later,  the company was revived as a Loyalist force during the American Revolutionary War.  A number of former ranger officers defected to fight for the Continental Army as Rebel  (Patriot)  commanders.  Some ex-rangers participated as Rebel  (Patriot)  militiamen at the Battle of Concord Bridge.

When the American Revolution began in 1775,  Robert Rogers offered his services to General George Washington.  However,  Washington turned him down,  fearing he might be a spy,  since Rogers had just returned from a long stay in England.  Infuriated by the rejection,  Rogers offered his services to the British,  who accepted.  He formed the Queen's Rangers  (1776)  and later the King's Rangers.  Several of his former rangers
served under General Benedict Arnold in the revolutionary forces around
Lake Champlain.

The 49th  (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)  Regiment of Foot was a line infantry regiment of the British Army,  raised in 1743. 

The regiment moved to Boston in June 1775 for service in the American Revolutionary War.  It fought at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776,  the Battle of White Plains in October 1776,  and the Battle of Fort Washington in November 1776. 

 It went on to take part in the Philadelphia campaign,  seeing action at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777,  the Battle of Paoli later that month and the Battle of Germantown in October 1777.  It was following the British attack on the Americans at Brandywine,  where the light company of the regiment took no prisoners and the Americans demanded vengeance,  that the regiment decided to insert identifying red feathers in their shako helmets to prevent anyone else suffering on their account.  It then sailed for the West Indies in summer 1778 and took part in the British victory at the Battle of St.  Lucia in December 1778 before returning to Ireland in 1780.  In 1782,  the regiment received a county distinction becoming the 49th  (the Hertfordshire)  Regiment of Foot.

The 42nd  (Royal Highland)  Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch.  Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or The Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line,  they were renumbered 42nd and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd  (Highland)  Regiment of Foot.

There were two battles held on Saturday.

I do enjoy watching and listening to these reenactment battles for,  though we don't have nearly the amount of soldiers as what would have been seen during the actual Revolutionary War,  one is able to,  at the very least,  have some sort of an understanding and idea of the tactics of late 18th century warfare.

The Continental Line,  the 1st Pennsylvania,  and militia make a gallant attempt to
fend off the approaching British army.

The Queen's Rangers followed by the 42nd Highlanders.

The sound of the cannon reverberated throughout and,  I'm sure,  could be heard for miles.

Now...imagine hundreds of  these pieces of artillery all going off at a single battle, 
along with the constant bang of perhaps thousands of musketry at the same time.
Yep---this is what a reenactment can help the visitor understand,  
though on a much smaller scale.

I did not get nearly as many photos of the second battle fought,  but here are two of my favorites:

Lift up your hands ye heroes and swear with proud disdain

The wretch that would ensnare you shall lay his snares in vain.

Should Europe empty all her force, we'll meet her in array,

And fight and shout and shout and fight for North America!

Chris cleaning his musket after the battle.

I did not write the following...but I could have:

"Reenacting can do what no other form of education can do:  it can engage both the body and mind.  I see responsible reenacting as a means of conveying complex historical concepts by using all of one’s senses without trivializing the past or war.

Some reenactors—myself included—have begun to promote the term  “living historian”  to better describe their participation in recreated battles,  camps,  or museums.  The difference is that while reenacting is acting out an event that happened in the past,  living history is recognizing the continuous patterns of history and retelling daily life in such a way as to make it more than just one dimensional  (i.e.  a cut-and-dry battle and hanging around camp after).

As a result of approaching reenactments via the living-historian method,  we are compelled to relate the lives of those whom we portray within their historical context.

Reenactments can get pretty real at certain moments,  but at the end of the day,  it’s not real.  It doesn’t matter how many cannon firings,  captivity-scenarios,  or fake injuries a reenactment has;  none of it is real.  I’ve never had smallpox,  nor have I lived all of my life without electricity,  or been firing real bullets on an actual battlefield before.  I’m not really fighting for anything,  I’m just acting it out.

The recreated battles,  however,  can be useful educational tools to demonstrate the importance of tactics,  firepower,  and environment.  This goes for the casual visitor or the tried and true historian.

The role of reenactments,  in my opinion,  is not to necessarily convey the realities of warfare;  instead they are tools to teach material culture,  strategy and tactics,  the daily lives of historical peoples,  causality,  and the continuity of ideas.  A recreated battle can show spectators historical tactics and weaponry in action."
As for me,  I believe strongly in the purposes behind reenacting,  whether it's for teaching or for learning or for experience---for both participant and visitor.

We had quite a bit of fun and a lot of laughs at the event,  the four of us did.  We laughed at and with each other and we laughed at ourselves:

I tried on a fancy coat made for a  "dandy."
So...how do I look?
I know,  I know...I'm an 18th century farmer - - and you can't
take the farm out of the man.
I passed on purchasing it...but it was fun to wear.
And it fit very well indeed!

They had a pig roast on Saturday evening,  but that would mean we would not get back to our part of town until much later,  so we ended up leaving in the very late afternoon.

One of the things we like to do upon leaving reenactments is to stop at a restaurant
while wearing our period clothing.  We've not tried Johnny V's before but we all
agreed the food was amazing!

I loved the signs hanging inside the restaurant:

My favorite sign!

Perfect!

That burger on my plate?
The best ever!
In fact,  we all agreed we'd return next year!

And then...

So when I returned home to my house I sat right down and began to pen this post.

So there we have it.  Vermillion Creek 2022 more than made up for last year's absence,  and it helped to have our friend Larissa join us,  for,  with a pair or a threesome it's pretty darn good.  But with the four of us together it's great!

One of Larissa's famous selfies~
We all had such a great time!
I am proud to be associated with these ladies.

I always enjoy hearing from readers of  Passion for the Past upon publishing new posts.  And I appreciate the time taken to write your comments.  You see,  this blog is also a sort of reenacting diary for me,  which is why I post so many photos.  Every-so-often I'll go back and look at events I've done  - whether from only a few months ago or years or perhaps even over a decade ago - and it's in this way I can stroll down memory lane myself.  I can remember the great events I've done,  many of which are no longer now,  and I can see improvements made over time.  Or even see just how good certain events actually were and look back with pride on accomplishments made.  So this is why you see so many photographs as well as are able to read of some of the occurrences  (such as Larissa falling in the pumpkin patch or the  'hawk toss we all took part in)  -----  most give me smiles and help me to look forward to the next event.

However,  I very much enjoy that you also enjoy my pictures and stories.  Yes,  every picture does  tell a story,  but it helps to have explaining captions as well.  Oftentimes I add historical information in some of those captions,  such as the pumpkin information today,  so if you pass by them,  you're missing some fun info.

Now,  this post on Vermillion Creek is the last reenactment for many.

But not for me...er...us.

We do not end our time in the past - we try not to be strictly seasonal in our time travel adventures.  And I personally have more coming up in the months of  October,  November,  and even December.  January is when it might slow down for me---wait---no...there are a couple of period Christmas parties that month.  Perhaps February,  though sometimes we'll celebrate George Washington's Birthday that month.  So perhaps it's March that I'll slow down,  though period dress meetings usually occur in March...then there's the Kalamazoo Living History Show toward the end of  the month.  Not a reenactment per se'  but it certainly does deal with the hobby pretty strong...and many of us will wear our period clothing while there.

Hmmm...maybe April...except that's when we have have Patriot's Day and Opening Day for Greenfield Village where,  more often than not,  a few of us will also dress period to visit.

Now we're into May and,  well,  back to the so-called reenacting season.

I suppose it's true...we don't stop.  And I believe we continue to improve in all we do.

I also know I reenact with the best.

Until next time,  see you in time.

The pumpkin information came from THIS site and THIS site.

I stole a couple of paragraphs from THIS post

Most of the photos here were taken by me or by someone else with my camera,  but I would like to give a hearty thank you to the wonderful photographers who took pictures of their own and are allowing me to use a few.

Thank you to: 

Charlotte Bauer

Larissa Fleishman

Ian Kushnir

Jennifer Monarch Mailley

Amy Oberlee

~   ~   ~