Revolutionary War events featured this weekend
The New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site will host a weekend of Revolutionary War military firing demonstrations and period activities from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
The Revolutionary War Encampment Weekend will be presented by the Brigade of the American Revolution, an international organization dedicated to recreating the life and times of the common soldier of the War for Independence, 1775-83.
A battle demonstration will take place at 2 p.m. each day, with colorfully uniformed soldiers firing muskets and maneuvering to the music of fifes and drums.
The soldiers will also set up tents, prepare cooking fires and demonstrate other aspects of 18th-century life.
At 3 p.m. Saturday, historian Norm Fuss will present a talk on "The Battle of Great Bridge: the South's Bunker Hill."
At 3 p.m. Sunday, historian Barnet Schecter will give a talk on his latest book, "George Washington's America: a Biography Through His Maps." After the presentation, he will have copies of his book for sale.
At 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Fuss will give a presentation on "Surviving Military Uniforms in North American Repositories."
At 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Eric Schnitzer, park historian at Saratoga National Historical Park, will present a primer on using artwork for living history clothing documentation.
All lectures are open to the public.
18th-century lifestyle
Members of the Brigade of the American Revolution use this weekend to teach the latest knowledge in re-creating life from that era. Through lectures and demonstrations, a wide variety of 18th-century period life is revealed.
The New Windsor Cantonment site staff will be present to perform blacksmithing, woodworking and military medicine Saturday and Sunday.
Purple Heart Hall of Honor
In addition to the special programs and activities, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and the New Windsor Cantonment Visitor Center will be open.
These buildings feature the history of the New Windsor Cantonment, "Behind Every Great Man: The Continental Army in Winter, 1782-83," Revolutionary War artifacts, the exhibit "The Last Argument of Kings: Revolutionary War Artillery" and the story of the Purple Heart.
A picnic grove is available, and there will be living history demonstrations from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is free.
The New Windsor Cantonment is co-located with the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at 374 Temple Hill Road, Route 300, in the Town of New Windsor, four miles east of Stewart Airport and a short drive from Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh.
For more information, call 561-1765, ext. 22.
