The Battle of Bordentown
The Impossible of June 9 was AWESOME!!!!
Oh wow. I thought the National Fife and Drum Muster at Fort Ticonderoga two years ago was spectacular. HUZZAH! That was indeed spectacular. But Bordentown was in a way, much much better.
When we first got there, the military units were out for what I presume was morning inspection. All the uniforms! I think I can honestly say the sight made my heart skip a beat. All the buttons and the facings and the breeches and the buckle shoes or boots, the rifles and the muskets, the tricorne hats and the cockades, the long hair in ponytails tied with black silk ribbons . . . absolute delight!
We walked around the parade ground, taking everything in. We then headed into the Continental encampment, watching people cook and prepare for the day. We talked with one officer from a New Jersey regiment about their tenting arrangements and their equipment. Cotton tents and wooden poles. Then we headed to Sutler Row (what goods!) for a quick perusal. There was a military outfitter with a big pile of black leather shoes waiting to be fitted to the proper feet. No sizes, just assorted shoes. Really cool. $144 for a pair of those leather buckle shoes. There were the dress sellers and the cloth sellers. And the household goods sellers for things like cookware, lighting, utensils, etc. The military recruiting station was neat too. And the hat maker! Such hats! They make my tricorn hat look like a toy.
At the recruting station, a man was playing-acting a man named Levi Gould (or Gold, not sure exactly). He tried to talk Dad into joining the regiment. :) We had a good time chatting with him about American history and the need to perpetuate it.
Then we paused for a bite to eat. Dad had bought something called Parched Corn for us to try. Hard, but not rock hard like popcorn kernels. It was salted kernels of corn. The corn seemed to have been cooked first, and then k=baked in an oven to dry it out. Very crunchy and excellent eating. Almost nutty in flavor. I'm going to see if I can find a recipe online so I can make more.
There was a noose and pair of irons hanging from a tree in the Continental camp. Later, after spending some time watching and listening to a small group of fifers and drummers, we witnessed a military tribunal! An officer was accused of stealing gunpowder and associating with the enemy. His sentence was hanging. A cook from the camp came flying out, begging for mercy. Apparently, the gunpowder got mixed in with the flour barrels. Still, the officer had visited the enemy camp without a proper pass, so his sentence was reduced to 20 lashes. He was, after all, an officer and a gentleman. :)
We spent the next half hour milling about, listening to the British practice their fifes and drums and walking about, trying to find the 2nd New Hampshire regiment. We were trying to find an old pastor who we knew did some re-enacting. Alas, Pastor David was not to be found. Oh well. We tried.
Then came the battle! It took a while for them to move into their positions for the start. But soon the rifles were being fired. Ah! The wonderful smell of gunpowder. I love the smell of gunpowder. The roar of the cannons (yes, there were cannons! Three and six-pounders, field artillery units) was fantastic. Like the mortar fireworks on the Fourth of July, only a whole lot louder!
Most of the action took place far away from us in a little upper field. Disappointing, but still really cool. The zoom on my video camera helped a bit! A lot of fighting was taking place in the woods directly across from us, but we couldn't see beyond the leaves. But still, I think we were rewarded when the Continental lines fell back. They brought the artillery to within 10 feet of us! The 5th New York Regiment took position right in front of us. We could now watch them prepare their guns and hear all the commands for firing and loading, etc. They even did a bayonet charge! Very exciting.
After the battle (which the Continentals won), the regiments lined up for a special ceremony and salute, honoring our veterans. They also held a photo-op for the professionals who were around, shooting their stuff.
I didn't actually get to see this. I was busy in Sulter Row, making some purchases! I now have a new straw hat, and a silk neckerchief. Very very happy.
I soon hope to have a short video made so you all can enjoy The Battle of Bordentown with me!
Oh wow. I thought the National Fife and Drum Muster at Fort Ticonderoga two years ago was spectacular. HUZZAH! That was indeed spectacular. But Bordentown was in a way, much much better.
When we first got there, the military units were out for what I presume was morning inspection. All the uniforms! I think I can honestly say the sight made my heart skip a beat. All the buttons and the facings and the breeches and the buckle shoes or boots, the rifles and the muskets, the tricorne hats and the cockades, the long hair in ponytails tied with black silk ribbons . . . absolute delight!
We walked around the parade ground, taking everything in. We then headed into the Continental encampment, watching people cook and prepare for the day. We talked with one officer from a New Jersey regiment about their tenting arrangements and their equipment. Cotton tents and wooden poles. Then we headed to Sutler Row (what goods!) for a quick perusal. There was a military outfitter with a big pile of black leather shoes waiting to be fitted to the proper feet. No sizes, just assorted shoes. Really cool. $144 for a pair of those leather buckle shoes. There were the dress sellers and the cloth sellers. And the household goods sellers for things like cookware, lighting, utensils, etc. The military recruiting station was neat too. And the hat maker! Such hats! They make my tricorn hat look like a toy.
At the recruting station, a man was playing-acting a man named Levi Gould (or Gold, not sure exactly). He tried to talk Dad into joining the regiment. :) We had a good time chatting with him about American history and the need to perpetuate it.
Then we paused for a bite to eat. Dad had bought something called Parched Corn for us to try. Hard, but not rock hard like popcorn kernels. It was salted kernels of corn. The corn seemed to have been cooked first, and then k=baked in an oven to dry it out. Very crunchy and excellent eating. Almost nutty in flavor. I'm going to see if I can find a recipe online so I can make more.
There was a noose and pair of irons hanging from a tree in the Continental camp. Later, after spending some time watching and listening to a small group of fifers and drummers, we witnessed a military tribunal! An officer was accused of stealing gunpowder and associating with the enemy. His sentence was hanging. A cook from the camp came flying out, begging for mercy. Apparently, the gunpowder got mixed in with the flour barrels. Still, the officer had visited the enemy camp without a proper pass, so his sentence was reduced to 20 lashes. He was, after all, an officer and a gentleman. :)
We spent the next half hour milling about, listening to the British practice their fifes and drums and walking about, trying to find the 2nd New Hampshire regiment. We were trying to find an old pastor who we knew did some re-enacting. Alas, Pastor David was not to be found. Oh well. We tried.
Then came the battle! It took a while for them to move into their positions for the start. But soon the rifles were being fired. Ah! The wonderful smell of gunpowder. I love the smell of gunpowder. The roar of the cannons (yes, there were cannons! Three and six-pounders, field artillery units) was fantastic. Like the mortar fireworks on the Fourth of July, only a whole lot louder!
Most of the action took place far away from us in a little upper field. Disappointing, but still really cool. The zoom on my video camera helped a bit! A lot of fighting was taking place in the woods directly across from us, but we couldn't see beyond the leaves. But still, I think we were rewarded when the Continental lines fell back. They brought the artillery to within 10 feet of us! The 5th New York Regiment took position right in front of us. We could now watch them prepare their guns and hear all the commands for firing and loading, etc. They even did a bayonet charge! Very exciting.
After the battle (which the Continentals won), the regiments lined up for a special ceremony and salute, honoring our veterans. They also held a photo-op for the professionals who were around, shooting their stuff.
I didn't actually get to see this. I was busy in Sulter Row, making some purchases! I now have a new straw hat, and a silk neckerchief. Very very happy.
I soon hope to have a short video made so you all can enjoy The Battle of Bordentown with me!