Revolutionary War redoubt lies forgotten in upper Manhattan park

From AM New York: Revolutionary War redoubt lies forgotten in upper Manhattan park
Deep inside Fort Washington Park, on a rocky bank overlooking the Hudson, a genuine artifact of the American Revolution has stood for 235 years, forgotten by the city it was built to defend.

This survivor is the remnant of an earthwork, or redoubt, used by American troops during the fall of 1776 and visible today as a low mound extending to one side of a boulder monument erected in 1910. Easily mistaken for a natural element of the hilly topography, the earthwork is the last original man-made Revolutionary War fortification visible in Manhattan.

During the summer of 1776, American soldiers worked long, miserable hours constructing a pentagonal fortress at the highest spot on Manhattan, along presentday Fort Washington Avenue between 183rd and 185th streets. Once completed, however, the fort (named after their commander-in-chief and future president) proved unsuccessful in fulfilling its original purpose: the blockade of British ships from the Hudson River. As Capt. Alexander Graydon explained in his memoirs (1811), Fort Washington’s munitions were not powerful enough to reach the river; therefore, “a battery was constructed below” — the still-visible redoubt, nearly half a mile away — “in a very advantageous position.”

According to an 1898 study by preservationist Edward Hagaman Hall, the redoubt was constructed by Scottish soldiers and engineered by a volunteer from France named Antoine Felix Imbert. To strengthen the redoubt’s chances for trapping the British fleet, a partial obstructionconsisting of three weighted ships was sunk intothe Hudson at its narrowest point, between Fort Lee, N.J., and the Manhattan promontory known as Jeffrey’s Hook(occupied today by the Little Red Lighthouse), in August 1776. Before additional ships could be sunk to complete the obstruction, however, three British frigates managed to sail up the Hudson on Oct. 9, undeterred by gunfire from the redoubt. The incident presaged eventual defeat: Revolutionary troops were forced to surrender Fort Washington on Nov. 16, 1776, and New York City would remain under British control for the next seven years.

After Fort Washington Park was created by the city in 1894, historians discovered the earthwork. One walking tour, recounted in The New York Times in 1900, can be followed today almost step by step: After entering the park south of 181st Street, cross a footbridge over the deep railroad cut and take a sharp left up an overgrown path that runs parallel to the train tracks. Continue walking through a small clearing andclimb a large rock by scaling its left side. At the top, walk afew steps toward the south, and the redoubt and monument will appear. The hum of traffic from the parkway does not intrude upon the eerie quiet here, in one of the most isolated spots in the city.

The redoubt’s existence has been threatened manytimes, first by the railroad and later by the nearby George Washington Bridge. But with a resilience worthy of its creators, it has survived as a reminder of New York’s original independent spirit.

Muskets fired in salute to 7 who fought for liberty

From GoUpstate.com: Muskets fired in salute to 7 who fought for liberty.
More than 200 years ago, seven area Revolutionary War soldiers fought the British to help America gain independence.

Those brave men who fought together and were buried together in the same cemetery were honored Saturday for their sacrifice during a grave-marking ceremony in Union.

The South Carolina Society and Daniel Morgan Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held the event in the Old Union Cemetery east of downtown. Several other area chapters also participated.

Members of the patriotic groups presented colors in Continental military uniforms and gave the soldiers a military salute using muskets. The program also included a brief reading about each soldier, and a wreath was placed at the site by the groups and descendants of the soldiers.

“The brave men we honor today gave their full measure of devotion to the cause of liberty,” said Tony Zeiss, author and president of Charlotte Piedmont Community College. “This is their enduring legacy. As the benefactors of their sacrifices, it is our legacy and responsibility to honor these devoted Patriots, preserve our Republic and to keep the cause of liberty alive.”

The soldiers honored were Col. Thomas Brandon, Col. John Sharp, Maj. Thomas Young, Christopher Brandon, William Kennedy, William Kennedy Jr. and William Sharp.

“Most of these men were related to each other or married into the family,” said Mark Anthony, secretary of the Daniel Morgan Chapter and president of the South Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. “They left their homes and families to fight for an ideal liberty. It behooves us to carry the torch forward today.”

Zeiss wrote a book about Young, who was 16 at the time he fought in the Revolutionary War. The book is “Backcountry Fury: A Sixteen Year Old Patriot in the Revolutionary War.”

“Thomas fought at most of the Upstate battles,” Zeiss said. “After the battle at Kings Mountain, he was elected captain on his 17th birthday. At the battle of Cowpens, he was wounded severely with six saber cuts, captured and interrogated by Banastre Tarleton. He escaped during a night crossing of the Broad River.”

Some of the other soldiers also had harrowing stories such as William Kennedy Jr., who suffered two serious wounds at Stallion’s Plantation. He recovered and fought at Kings Mountain and Cowpens.

Zeiss said Col. Thomas Brandon was “beloved for his vigorous leadership.” He later served several terms in the state Legislature.

After the brief ceremony, descendants of the soldiers spent a few minutes at their ancestors’ graves. Each grave contained a small flag and patriot marker.

“I am proud to be a descendant in a family that has always fought for freedom,” said Barham Kennedy of Union. “I have always known about my ancestors and have brought people in the family doing genealogy here to this cemetery.”

Karen Powell, a descendant of the Brandons, traveled from Burlington, N.C., to attend the ceremony. She has been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for more than 10 years, but she didn’t find out she was related to the Brandons until this year.

“It’s pretty exciting for me,” she said. “My husband is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and I always enjoy the ceremonies.”

Revolutionary War: A Great App for American History Buffs and Newbies Alike

From Wired.com: Revolutionary War: A Great App for American History Buffs and Newbies Alike
Based on an American History CD-ROM that the publisher, Multieducator Inc., wrote back in 1990, Revolutionary War is totally rewritten and redone and turned into an app. Filled with text, photographs, paintings, and multimedia presentations, the app aims to teach about all aspects of the American Revolution.

The app is divided up into 14 different sections, each with a different focus.

* About the Revolutionary War – Contains a text intro as well as the author’s overview slide show with voice over, and information on other publisher apps. The company makes a wide variety of United States history apps.
* Causes of the Revolution – Contains much information, mostly text and images, with icons to tap for more information, of the causes of the war. Original text is included for important documents, and items such as the original engraving of the Boston Massacre by Paul Revere.
* Major Battles and Events – Addresses all the major battles and events of the war individually, with plenty of information about each. It even includes the entire text of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and an image of the original Treaty of Paris.
* Stories and Myths – Juxtaposes of famous myths and the real stories behind them from this period of time, such as the story of Betsy Ross. The myths are shown in a video, while the real story is in text. Also, famous sayings from the time are similarly compared.
* Biographies – Has an incredibly long list of short biographies of Revolutionary War era people.
* Correspondence of Washington – Lists a sampling of George Washington’s correspondence from 1775-1776.
* Diary of the Revolution – Has the history of the American Revolution from 1775-1776 with seemingly hundreds of entries.
* Diary of John and Abigail Adams – Contains correspondence of John and Abigail Adams from 1774 to 1782, again with seemingly hundreds of entries.
* Proceedings of the Congress – Contains the Journal of the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1777, with enough content to keep you busy for weeks.
* Economics of the Revolution – Details various economic issues involved with the Revolution.
* Americans During the Period – Discusses groups of people in the United States at the time.
* Multimedia Presentations – Gathers all of the multimedia presentations in the app in one place for easy viewing.
* Documents of the Revolution – Contains the text of many important documents from the time, including acts, resolutions, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and more.
* Study Terms – Functions as a glossary defining and describing terms, important documents, and events from the time.

The app also has an option to see the recently viewed content, to assign favorites for easy retrieval later, and to print and email content. I was only able to make the email function work with things such as images, however, and not for the pages that had both text and images.

Revolutionary War isn’t a game and may not appeal to non-history lovers, but learning about history by reading and by seeing drawings, paintings, and primary sources is fascinating in its own right. In short, I’m blown away by the amount of information contained in this app. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone interested in this part of the history of the United States. That being said, the interface is simple with a lot of text size and formatting inconsistencies, and some pages have the feel of text files that were just pasted in. I wish there was a way to search its entire contents instead of just the titles, and I’d love to see its sources listed. But the app is easy to use, and you can dig deeply in it and still just scratch the surface of the information it contains.

Revolutionary War costs $4.99 in the iTunes store. It is worth considering for students and autodidacts of all ages.

Elmira, NY: Newtown Battlefield event brings Revolutionary War to life

Newtown Battlefield event brings Revolutionary War to life
Elmira, N.Y. — The re-enactors staging this weekend’s Revolutionary War event at Newtown Battlefield State Park take their craft seriously.

They’re always in character, and they pay meticulous attention to detail in the handmade period clothing they wear, the weapons they carry, the 18th century army camps they set up.

“They enjoy the living history aspect of it,” said event chairman Paul Perine. “You’ll find that most of the participants have researched their role as a Continental soldier or a sutler (merchant) or a camp follower, who were an essential part of the armies back then.

“They’ve researched not only their clothing, but the lifestyle which that individual would have lived,” Perine added. “A tremendous amount of time goes into it.”

This weekend’s event, set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, is staged by the Chemung Valley Living History Center.

A tradition at Newtown Battlefield for nearly 20 years, it typically draws hundreds of re-enactors and crowds of approximately 1,000 people a day.

The park is near the site of the Battle of Newtown in August 1779, when the Continental Army fought with the British, Loyalists and 1,000 Iroquois warriors.

It was the decisive clash in one of the largest offensives of the American Revolution, the Sullivan-Clinton campaign against the Iroquois, who had been attacking white settlers in upstate New York and were supporting the British in the war.

Perine will have nearly 500 re-enactors on hand, with about 150 soldiers on both the Continental and British sides, along with about 50 Iroquois interpreters. The rest will portray civilian camp followers.

“All of the re-enactors travel from a great distance, most drive three or four hours to attend,” he said. “We’ve got units coming from Massachusetts and Connecticut, several from Pennsylvania, and a lot from New York. I’m also expecting a couple units from Virginia as well.”

There will be full-scale battle re-enactments at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, captivating onlookers with cannons booming, musket fire and the shouts of charging soldiers.

Visitors can also wander through both sides’ army camps, buy goods from 18th century merchants, and see demonstrations of 18th century life, including a blacksmith, tinker-peddler, spinner, horn maker, and leather worker.

There will also be re-enactments of a court martial proceeding, captive exchanges and an execution by firing squad.

Kids can participate in training drills with wooden muskets.

Another highlight will be Saturday morning’s “woods walk,” in which attendees will be taken on a guided hike through the woods, accompanied by a regiment of Continental Army soldiers. Those interested should meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the park monument.

“I won’t divulge too much, other than to say you’ll be walking through the woods, and just about anything can happen,” Perine said. “Could be an ambush, could be a battle going on, you may be taken hostage by an Indian. Who knows?”

Admission is $5 for adults, and $3 for kids and senior citizens.

Because of construction on Interstate Highway 86, the former park entrance is blocked off, and visitors should get off Exit 58 in Lowman and follow the signs.

For more details, go to http://chemungvalley.org.

Revolutionary War veteran long gone, but not forgotten

From The Journal Times.com: Revolutionary War veteran long gone, but not forgotten
YORKVILLE - Nearly 230 years after the Revolutionary War, one of the war's soldiers was honored Sunday with a historical marker dedication at the Racine County cemetery in which he's been laid to rest.

Visitors to the Sylvania Cemetery, located on West Frontage Road south of Braun Road, can now read from a bronze plaque about the life and history of Revolutionary War soldier Helmont Kellogg.

"I think it's just wonderful," said Carol Rhodes Lee, 79, of Sturtevant. Lee recently learned she is a descendent of Kellogg's.

During the ceremony, she carried with her a piece of paper where she wrote the names of relatives that trace back to the Revolutionary War soldier. Lee is a fourth generation great granddaughter.

"I never knew about him, but I remember always going to the Kellogg picnic on (Highway) KR," she said.

According to the marker, Kellogg served more than 13 months during the war. After the war, the Connecticut native moved to Wisconsin in 1837 with his family, and settled at what is now the intersection of Interstate 94 and Highway KR.

The area, called Kellogg's Corners, was where a creamery, post office, church, school and blacksmith shop once stood.

On Sunday, more than 50 people attended the dedication. The Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution color guard donned Revolutionary War uniforms.

The ceremony included a prayer, the reading of a commendation from Gov. Scott Walker, an honor guard salute and the playing of "Taps."

"One of our most important missions has been to locate, record and identify with this special bronze marker the gravesites of those brave men and women who served the cause of independence during the Revolutionary War," said Brian McManus, WISSAR vice president.

McManus said the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, which was formed in 1889, has recognized more than 100,000 gravesites of Revolutionary War soldiers, 41 of those in Wisconsin.

Fort Stamford: The city's Revolutionary stronghold

From The Stamford Times: Fort Stamford: The city's Revolutionary stronghold

Editor's Note: The following is the next installment of The Stamford Times' history article series, "The Stamford Times Machine," which covers the city's most seminal moments in history.
STAMFORD -- Although Stamford was not invaded like it's neighboring towns during the American Revolution, a raid from the British army was something that was feared by many Stamford residents at that time, said Stamford Historical Society historian Ron Marcus.

Stamford, being very close in proximity to New York, was also close to the many British Loyalists or "Tories" living there, according to Marcus.

"Tory harassment and looting was very common in Stamford," he said. "Tories would often come to Stamford and destruct much of their property. Or they would conduct raids against anyone who was for independence. Stamford was not the safest place to live for many of the residents."

In the fall of 1781, a state fort was built in Stamford to protect the Stamford-Greenwich area from Tory raids, according to Marcus. Fort Stamford was finished in December of 1781. It was approximately 135 feet by 165 feet inside, and the redoubts had an inside measurement of 30 feet by 30 feet.

The fort was built under the direction of General David Waterbury and was located alongside the Post Road at the time, which was the most common route for traveling, said Marcus. The fort also had a perfect view of Long Island Sound, he said. Today, the land which Fort Stamford once stood is located at 900 Westover Road, which is now a park of the same name and includes an education center and a garden.

"General Waterbury strategically placed this fort where the soldiers could see the Post Road, and see Long Island Sound," Marcus said. "Of course, now everything is different, but back then this was the perfect location for a fort."

Roughly 300 men were manned at the fort, and conditions were less than favorable for a soldier, he said.

"The men who manned this fort were there in the dead of winter," Marcus said. "They didn't have much to eat and much to keep warm. We know this because of some of the accounts that were written down from various 'Joe privates,' which, in my opinion, are a very important part of our history."

One account was written by a soldier named Johnathan Rathbum from Colchester. Rathbum was ordered to Fort Stamford in April of 1782, and was "subjected to the usual hardships of military life," according to the "Narrative of Jonathan Rathbum," by Jonathan Rathbum, Rufus Avery and Stephen Hempstead.

According to Rathbum, "on one occasion, a rifle ball passed through (his) hat and cut away the hair on (his) head, but a kind Providece protected me."

In Rathbum's narrative, he wrote about one instance where he had to spend the night in the woods to avoid the British, who were planning an attack on the fort. "One evening, the orderly sergeants passed around among the men, and with a whisper, commanded us to equip ourselves without noise; and then were marched out of the fort to a woods two miles distant, and ordered to lie down on the frozen ground, where we passed a bitter cold night with only one single blanket and our overcoats to protect us."

In November of 1782, the preliminary articles of the Treaty of Peace were signed, and on Sept. 3, 1783, the formal treaty was signed, ending the American Revolution. With the revolution at an end, the fort was considered surplus property and was shortly sold, according to Marcus.

Since 1783, the Fort Stamford land was owned by private residents, the last of which was Augusta Goodbody, who died in May of 1970. After her death, there was a lot of public concern over the fate of the Fort Stamford land, Marcus said. In 1972, the Stamford Board of Representatives approved the purchase of the 113-acre Goodbody property, he said.

"I think it was very important to preserve this land," Marcus said. "It is an important part of Stamford's history and would be a shame to let it go to waste."

Sons of American Revolution to mark graves at Thyatira

From the Salisbury Post: Sons of American Revolution to mark graves at Thyatira
SALISBURY — The Sons of the American Revolution will conduct grave markings Saturday in Rowan County and Charlotte.

The group will mark three graves at 10 a.m. in the cemetery at Thyatira Presbyterian Church, 220 White Road in Mount Ulla.

To be marked are the final resting places of Matthew Locke, Col. Francis Locke and Maj. John Locke.

Matthew Locke came to Rowan County in 1752 and served on the Committee of Safety and in the Provincial Congress before the Revolutionary War. During the war, he was a brigadier general of the militia forces for the Salisbury District. After America won its independence, he served in the state legislature and Congress. He had four sons who were soldiers in the Revolutionary War.

Francis Locke, a nephew of Matthew Locke, was appointed colonel of the First Rowan Regiment by the Provincial Congress in April 1776. He is remembered for a battle in June 1780 in which he and 400 men from Rowan and Mecklenburg counties defeated the Tories at Ramseur’s Mill in Lincoln County.

Maj. John Locke was a son of Matthew Locke and a militia soldier.

After the ceremony at Thyatira, the group will travel to Charlotte, where its members will mark the grave of Lt. George Locke of Rowan County. He was killed in September 1780 by the British in a skirmish at Kennedy’s Farm, which was then near Charlotte. He was buried near where he fell.

Book Review: Real Estate and the American Revolution

From Slate: Real Estate and the American Revolution

than Allen was at various times: reckless speculator, captain of the continent's largest paramilitary force, outlaw with a £100 bounty on his head, American Revolutionary commander, prisoner of war, best-selling author, radical Deist philosopher, and founding father of Vermont. Despite this remarkable life, and despite a time when biographies of America's Founding Fathers fall from the presses like rotten apples from a tree, in the last half-century only one full-length biography had been written about Ethan Allen. How could this be?

As Ethan Allen: His Life and Times, a new and frustrating biography by Willard Sterne Randall, shows, Allen is hard to write about. He poses a challenge not so much because he is different from more famous Founders like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or Benjamin Franklin but because he resembles them perhaps a bit too much—in ways most Americans prefer not to think about.

Like Washington, Allen was self-taught. Like Jefferson, he descended from a family of land speculators. Like Franklin, he was of Puritan stock but turned away from the Calvinism of his forebears. Born in the Berkshire Mountains in 1738, Allen grew up amid religious ferment that little affected him. Pugnacious by intellect and temperament, he cussed and fought until his neighbors could stand it no longer; he got "read out" of not one but two New England towns. His early years were also marked by heedless ambition, which landed him in lawsuits with brothers-in-law, fistfights with business associates, and countless failed enterprises. In 1767, on the heels of another professional and personal humiliation, Allen's restless scheming took a new turn: Looking north, he began eying Vermont land.

The early history of Vermont real estate will resonate with 21st-century Americans. It was a tale of greed, legal chaos, and corrupt business practices. In 1749, New Hampshire Gov. Benning Wentworth began granting titles to land between Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River—land that almost certainly belonged to New York. New York officials repudiated these grants, but Wentworth continued, pocketing prodigious fees on nearly 3 million acres of grants and keeping a cool 70,000 acres for himself. In the early 1760s, when the expulsion of French forces from North America made the area attractive to British settlement, New York took a renewed interest. State officials contested the New Hampshire claims all the way to King George III, who, by an edict of 1764, declared the New Hampshire titles void. Vermont was officially part of New York.
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It was after this decision—which predictably caused the value of New Hampshire-granted land titles to fall precipitously—that Allen began to speculate, acquiring vast quantities of land from former investors who realized their titles were almost certainly null. (How much would you pay for the Brooklyn Bridge? What if it cost five cents and there was some chance, however remote, you might one day get the title legalized?) Eventually, Ethan and his family acquired 200,000 acres of land.

New York, meanwhile, was busy issuing titles to the lands, which clashed with the New Hampshire deeds. When the conflicting claims landed in court, New York officials, many of them great landholders, ruled for the New York owners, empowering sheriffs to evict the New Hampshire grantees. In response, Allen formed the Green Mountain Boys, a militia defending New Hampshire grants from seizure and terrorizing settlers who held or even recognized New York land titles, burning their cabins, destroying their crops, and sometimes physically assaulting them.

Randall works hard to make this a story about salt-of-the-earth, democratic New England settlers fighting off New York's aristocratic land barons—so hard, in fact, that you have to admire the effort. Alas, the evidence won't conform. The Green Mountain Boys were driven less by ideology than by a desire to keep their land and, at least in Allen's case, to legalize deeds bought on the cheap to sell for a hefty profit. Both sides were gambling wildly, and as the imperial conflict heated up, the stakes rose.

Back in London, groups of well-connected investors were eying quantities of land so vast as to make the Vermont speculation seem like child's play. The greatest of these ventures was the proposed colony of Vandalia, covering 20 million acres in what now comprises West Virginia and Kentucky. Parties to the enterprise at various times included Benjamin Franklin and two of George Washington's brothers. Unfortunately, Virginia claimed the land in question, as did Connecticut and Pennsylvania—each state having sold the land to settlers and investors—although by 1774 it was all, according to the British government, under the jurisdiction of Québec. Vermont, in short, was a very big story writ small.

Indeed, who wasn't a land speculator in this freewheeling age? George Washington, a former surveyor, had amassed thousands of acres in the Ohio valley and spent 10 years lobbying the governor of Virginia to legalize his titles. Gen. Thomas Gage, who would lead British forces against Washington, held 18,000 acres, and had married into one of the greatest landowning families on the continent. When fighting broke out in 1775, these contested speculations loomed in the background.

Just how these contests over land play into the Revolution is one of the most debated questions in American history. In 1909, historian Carl Becker argued that the American Revolution was not so much about home rule as "who should rule at home." The struggle for independence, in other words, centered less on exalted principles than on the quest for political and economic power by provincial elites. Popular among muckraking classes during the age of Robber Barons, this interpretation was hard to reconcile with a patriotic account of the nation's founding and eventually fell out of favor.

So Randall is stuck between a rock and a hard place, interpretatively speaking. He wants to connect the Vermont insurrection to "a greater cause," to make it the first battle of the American Revolution. And perhaps it was. But if so, does it turn Allen and his Green Mountain Boys into patriots, as Randall would have it? Or does it turn the leaders of the Revolution into bandits, seizing an entire continent for personal gain and dressing the crime up with pretty words?

If Allen had one thing in greater quantities than courage and verve, it was good timing. In the spring of 1775, just as officials were planning to arrest Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, a far greater insurrection broke out in Boston. Had the imperial crisis not come to a head just then, Allen would surely have been captured and executed.

When fighting broke out in Massachusetts, Allen seized the moment, leading a pre-dawn attack on Fort Ticonderoga, a key outpost on the all-important corridor between New York and Montreal. With only 83 men he took the fort without firing a single shot. It was the Revolution's first great victory, providing the Patriot army with a huge store of munitions, including the cannon that would force the British to evacuate Boston.

In one swift move Allen turned himself from outlaw into hero, gaining a prized commission with the Continental army—and with it immunity from prosecution by New York. But his recklessness soon backfired. A few months later, without orders, Allen led an even bolder attack on Montreal with 30 New England soldiers and 80 Canadian habitants hired at 15 pence a day. The attack was quixotic if not downright insane, and when it was clear it would fail he hunkered down outside the city walls to await his inevitable capture.
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Though Allen did not die on a scaffold, drawn and quartered as traitors normally were—Washington's army held thousands of British soldiers captive to ensure he remained in one piece—he suffered atrociously for 952 long days, held in appalling conditions like so many other prisoners. He later wrote a gripping account of his captivity that became, after Tom Paine's Common Sense, the second-greatest best-seller of the Revolutionary Era.

On his release in 1778, Allen returned to Vermont, which had by then declared its independence from New York, though it remained unrecognized by the other states, which were unwilling to alienate New York during the war. Allen led the confiscation of Vermont Loyalist lands and property, the proceeds being used to pay for the war effort and Allen pocketing a commission from each sale. Some of the victims of these seizures were not Loyalists but New Yorkers whom Allen had by then been terrorizing for nearly a decade.

Despite it all, Randall wants to cast Allen as "a leader and moral figure to be trusted." But that rings hollow. With New York still blocking Vermont's independence, Allen began secret negotiations with the British, offering to return the colony to the Empire in exchange for confirmation of the New Hampshire-granted land titles. "I shall do Every thing in my Power to render this state a British province," Allen wrote the British commander in Canada in 1782. Although the Anglo-American peace treaty ended these negotiations, Allen continued his guerrilla warfare against the New York-titled settlers. By then his long-suffering wife had died and Allen had remarried a beautiful younger woman, heiress to 20,000 acres of Vermont lands. Allen spent these latter years penning Deist attacks on Christianity that may have influenced Tom Paine's Age of Reason.

In 1786, with Vermont still in legal limbo and dissention growing among the states, the backcountry again rose up in rebellion. Indebted farmers shut down courts enforcing foreclosure orders, harassing sheriffs and judges. Those who had once protested British taxes turned their ire on seaboard governments. When former Revolutionary officer Daniel Shays led a Massachusetts rebellion of insurgent farmers, he turned to Ethan Allen. Hero of backcountry rebels, Allen was just the person to lead the thousands of discontented settlers up and down the Appalachian frontier. Fearing for "the superstructure we have been seven years raising at the expence [sic] of so much blood and treasure," Washington exclaimed to James Madison on hearing news of the rebellion: "We are fast verging to anarchy and confusion!"

But Allen refused. By rejecting the Shaysites, he proved himself and his state trustworthy to men like Washington and Madison, respectful enough toward the rights of property, and he secured New York's recognition of Vermont. When the U.S. Constitution was ratified a year later, Vermont became the nation's 14th state, at last giving Allen and the other New Hampshire grantees legal title to their lands. The gamble had paid off—as it had for Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and the many others who pledged their lives, honor, and sacred fortunes.

Natick Selectmen will consider resolution on African-American Revolutionary War patriots

Natick/Boston.com: Natick Selectmen will consider resolution on African-American Revolutionary War patriots

Natick selectmen will consider a resolution Monday night that would spur the town to commemorate African-American patriots who served in the Revolutionary War, part of an East Coast movement to pay tribute to the under-appreciated figures.

According to research done by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Natick sent at least 11 registered African-American soldiers to fight the British over two centuries ago.

Between the 5,000 and 10,000 African-Americans estimated to have served in the war, at least 1,174 of these patriots were connected by birth, enlistment or residence to a Massachusetts community, according to Maurice Barboza, founder of The National Mall Liberty Fund DC.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Barboza said. “There could be many more, but these are the names we have.”

Many African-Americans enlisted in the army, navy and militia to gain freedom from their slave masters, Barboza said.

“Some of them were slaves who became soldiers and were recruited to sign up for service to win freedom,” Barboza said. “Many patriots might have served a number of months or for a year or two before winning their freedom, but most African-Americans seeking freedom had to serve the whole war, as part of the deal.”

It is unknown how many African-American patriots were slaves or freed men based on inconclusive listings. African-American Natick residents were not specified enslaved or free in research, Barboza said.

Barboza started The National Mall Liberty Fund DC in 2005 to raise funds and file national legislation to construct a monument dedicated to remembering the African-American patriots in Washington, D.C.

Part of his mission includes spurring individual communities up and down the east coast to draft resolutions acknowledging African-American Revolutionary War fighters by having historical societies conduct research and getting citizens to raise awareness.

For some Natick residents, the cause is near and dear to their heart – and family tree. Beverly Hector-Smith traced her lineage last year to discover she had not one, but nine ancestors who fought for America’s independence from Britain.

“Before March 2010, I didn’t know I had even one,” Hector-Smith said. “That March, I happened to Google my great-great-great-grandmother, and what came up was all the research that David Allen Lambert at the New England Historic Genealogical Society had done a long time ago on African-Americans who lived in Stoughton.”

The research led Hector-Smith to find her fifth-great grandfather, African-born Quock Martrick, who was sold into slavery and enlisted in the war in Middleboro at 24 years old.

This continued on to Hector-Smith’s sixth-great grandfather and his sons, as well as extended family, including stepsons and father-in-laws.

“I believe that they all knew each before or met during the war and their children married, which is why I found so many in such a short time,” she said.

Hector-Smith presented the findings to her younger sister, a Columbus, Ohio resident, who then became the first African-American in Ohio to join the Daughters of the American Revolution.

“She found out this March she was the first African-American in Ohio to become a member of DAR,” Hector-Smith said. “I have yet to apply for membership myself, but I thought that was pretty special.”

In Massachusetts, 12 municipalities have drafted resolutions recognizing the issue.

Woburn, the most recent, promises to encourage “volunteers to discover the names of still-unknown African American Revolutionary War soldiers, sailors and patriots, enlarge the body of knowledge about their lives and forward the information to National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. for inclusion in a database that will celebrate the trail blazers of the City of Woburn together with those of hundreds of proud American communities.”

Barboza said he hopes to raise enough funds to provide each community with a commemorative bronze plaque to display local African-American patriot names in public to increase recognition around the topic.

“It will take some time, because we have to raise funds for that – we’re not asking communities to raise money, but we’re hoping they will provide the constituency and voices to say it’s important to them,” Barboza said. “We also want to make sure the list is complete as possible, so we hope communities contribute additional research.”

Building the monument and stimulating interest in the topic is not Barboza’s only goal.

“It goes deeper than that – our country was created to enshrine certain democratic principles, but unfortunately African-Americans were disappointed,” he said. “Patriots who served in the war were by and large all freed, and went on to establish churches and self-help groups to spawn the civil rights movement. Most Americans don’t know the history, and carry around stereotypes created by media old and not corrected. Our country is based on principle, not pigmentation. This is not just history for African-Americans, but history for every American.”

Natick Board of Selectmen chair Charles Hughes will present the resolution to the rest of the board. Hughes was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Taylor County Boy Completes Historical Markers Project

The State Journal: Taylor County Boy Completes Historical Markers Project
GRAFTON -- Eleven-year-old Nathaniel Flohr's love of history lead him on a journey to locate dozens of historical markers and places in Taylor County last year.

"I did a community service project for the Daughter's of the American Revolution last year. I took photographs of all of the historical markers in Taylor County and put them on Grafton website for everybody to see," he said.

With some help from his mother, Jane, the pair researched all of the historical places in the area.

Many of the historical sites no longer have an official sign marking the area, making it easy for people to pass by them and not give a second glance.

Jane said, "There were not very many historical markers so he took it upon himself to take pictures of other historical landmarks and there are more of those then anyone realizes. They are just little ones here and there."

Signs like the Valley Falls sign cost thousands of dollars to replace.

Nathaniel ended up taking more than 60 photographs of historical places in Taylor County.

He submitted his project to the Daughters of the American Revolution Junior American Citizens contest.

"I won first place in the chapter, and then I won first place in the Eastern Regional, and then I won first place in the National," he said.

Nathaniel said it took him about a month to research and take pictures of signs like at the Federal Dam, and the 'Welcome to Grafton' stone sign on Route 50.

He hopes his project will educate its viewers.

"It would be nice if they could learn a little more about our county. Some people don't know about the cemeteries and the markers in Taylor County, he said.

Jane said she couldn't be happier for her son's accomplishment.

"I'm awfully proud, awfully proud. He did a great job," she said.

Flohr's project is currently featured on the city of Grafton's website.

Click on the link below to see it.

Children of the American Revolution looks for Sebastian members

TCPalm (FLorida): Children of the American Revolution looks for Sebastian members
Are your related to an American patriot?

Do your family tree branches extend all the way back to the American revolution?

If there's a colonial link to your family, Sebastian resident Holly Hamilton wants to know about it.

Hamilton is president of the Treasure Coast Society of the Children of the American Revolution or CAR, and the organization is looking for new members.

"We're basically a leadership group," said Hamilton. "We have something for everyone, but we're especially active with kids in the early teens through high school."

The goal of the Children of the American Revolution is to help kids develop their knowledge of American history, and to encourage children to perform acts of community service to spread the message of patriotism that our forefathers sought to protect.

The group is an offshoot of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was founded in 1895 by Harriett Lothrop of Concord, Mass.

CAR is the nation's oldest, largest, patriotic youth organization, and offers membership to anyone under 21 who is lineally descended from someone who provided military service, civil service or gave material aid or support to the cause of independence.

"We welcome anybody," said Hamilton.

"And if they need help with their genealogy to find out if they're related to someone from the American Revolution, we'll be glad to help them."

Part of the CAR program is commitment to community service. The local chapter schedules service projects such as a recent beach clean-up to encourage members to give back to their community.

"We want to plant a seed about patriotism in our kids," said Hamilton. "By educating our youth about the importance of helping others, they'll be more inclined to set a good example for others."

The Boston Massacre Historical Society

There's a website for the Boston Massacre Historical Society

http://www.bostonmassacre.net/



Myths of the Boston Massacre
Starting from the name itself, this landmark event of the American Revolution proved to be a magnet for popular myths and misconceptions.

It was not called the “The Boston Massacre” until many years after it occurred in 1773. The first popular name popularized by Paul Revere was The Bloody Massacre in King Street. In the early 1800's it was also called the State Street Massacre.

In many history books the dramatic shooting is described as the spark that ignited the Revolutionary War. Perhaps one of the reasons is the loss of human lives. In reality there were several other historic milestones although less dramatic, that moved Boston towards the revolution. Townshend Acts, Stamp Act and Boston Tea Party were some of them.

One of the most interesting myths is that the scuffle on King’s street started from the accusations thrown at one of the British officers that he did not pay the wigmaker’s bill. This makes an interesting story and many of us may speculate that perhaps the most famous protest would not have occurred if the bill had been paid on time. But on the contrary to the popular myth, the British officer Captain John Goldfinch in fact settled his bill the day earlier.

Replica ship headed to St. Augustine

From Bradetonton.com: Replica ship headed to St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE -- In a boat yard in Malaga, Spain, workers are piecing together wooden ribs and other brigantine parts to produce a replica of the Galveztown, a sailing vessel that was important a couple centuries back to St. Augustine and the American Revolution.

“They are well on the way to getting that started,” said Kathy Fleming, executive director of the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum.

The Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program is a sponsor of the project.

“We’re looking for a little bit of support to get that rolling,” she said.

But the project has been revised.

Several months ago, the naval architect working on the Galveztown found historical documentation that changed the plan, said Samuel Turner, director of archaeology at the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program.

The vessel that workers had been building was too large, Turner said.

The replica was designed to be 68 feet on deck, but the real brig was actually 53 feet on deck.

Turner said starting over was a “blessing in disguise” because it brought down the building time and the cost of the project.

The exact cost is still undetermined.

Officials held a conference to restart the project about a week ago.

After completion, the replica Galveztown should be sailing to St. Augustine next year, but official dates have not been firmed up yet, Fleming said.

The Galveztown replica will help people learn about Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish governor of Louisiana. He played a critical role in the American Revolution by, among other things, capturing Pensacola in 1781.

The Galveztown was originally christened as the West Florida after being built by the British in New England, according to historical articles.

Bernardo de Gálvez later gained possession of the ship, changed its name to Galveztown and converted it from a sloop to a square-rigged brig.

“We’re trying to high- light this project as a way to share how the Spanish positively influenced the American Revolution,” Fleming said.

Turner, primary coordinator of the project, helped arrange for the Lighthouse program to donate many tons of timber to the project.

Around 17 tons of live oaks came from St. Augustine.

“We’re going see part of our town come sailing up one day,” Turner said.

Ceremony remembers Battle of Oriskany

From the Utica Observer Dispatch: Ceremony remembers Battle of Oriskany
ORISKANY — The echoes of gunfire again punctuated the fields in Oriskany on the Aug. 6 anniversary of what many historians refer to as the bloodiest battle of the American Revolution.

Representatives from more than a dozen organizations and families with ties to the Battle of Oriskany met Saturday in a steady drizzle to commemorate the event that lead to the eventual retreat of Britain’s troops from the Fort Stanwix area. Those groups laid 13 wreaths and an offering inside the monument’s gates Saturday evening.

For George Gydesen, the battle remains deeply personal — members of his mother’s and father’s sides of the family participated in the 1777 event.

“We’re here really to honor the more than 800 men that participated – and some of which sacrificed their lives — for their independence,” said Gydesen, who is president of the Oriskany Battlefield Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The National Park Service conducts a ceremony each year to remember the battle between American militia forces en route to aid troops being attacked at Fort Stanwix and the British troops that ambushed the approaching convoy.

“There are groups that regularly mark this on their calendar to attend because they have descendants that fought in the battle in 1777, so it’s very important to them,” said Debbie Conway, superintendent of the Fort Stanwix National Monument.

Robert Gang, of Syracuse, stood near the monument in a linen garment that would have been worn by privates in the First Virginia Regiment..

“I’ve been to the battlefield before, although this is the first time I’ve been to this event,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy and it helps me to tell the story of the war.”

New Jersey: Newtown Battlefield A National Park?

18 WETM: Newtown Battlefield A National Park?

Washington, DC –U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation to begin the process of making the Newtown Battlefield National Historic Landmark a National Park. As the site of a critical victory for the Continental Army during the American Revolution, the Newtown Battlefield is an important historic and cultural landmark for the people of Chemung County and New York State.

“Making Newtown Battlefield a National Park is an integral part of Chemung County’s economic development, bringing jobs and businesses to the region,” Senator Gillibrand said. “New York is known for her history, and this designation would attract more tourism for the area and strengthen our commitment to preserving our landmarks.”

“We believe that this important piece of American History deserves protection and that as part of the National Parks System it would also serve as a catalyst to increase tourism in the region,” said Bruce Whitmarsh, Director of the The Chemung County Historical Society.

The Newtown Battlefield National Historic Landmark, spanning across the towns of Elmira, Chemung, and Ashland, is the site of The Battle of Newtown, which was the most significant military engagement of the Sullivan Campaign of 1779 and a major victory for the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

In 1972, the Federal Government recognized the Newtown Battlefield as a significant historic resource by naming the site a National Historic Landmark. In 2007, the National Park Service confirmed the site’s historic importance through their Report on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites, in which they categorized Newtown Battlefield as a Class A site, finding, also, that the battlefield is largely unprotected by either public historic preservation agencies or nonprofit organizations.

This legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield and the impact of making it a National Park. This study, an important first step in the process of making Newtown Battlefield a National Park, will also examine the logistics of operating the site, and its potential impact on the general public.

Making the Newtown Battlefield a National Park has the potential to bring significant federal resources to Chemung County and the surrounding area, stimulating economic development, preserving the historic battlefield and increasing tourism in the region.

From Wikipedia

Newtown Battlefield State Park, formerly known as Newtown Battlefield Reservation, was the site of the Battle of Newtown fought in August 1779, during the American Revolutionary War. It was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by General John Sullivan that was ordered by the Continental Congress to end the threat of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War. In the battle, the Iroquois were defeated decisively.

The battlefield is at the foot of a hill in Elmira, in Chemung County, New York. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

On January 19, 2010, New York State Governor David Paterson proposed closing the park to reduce the state's growing budget deficit.

August 6: Ft. Stanwix commemorates 234th anniversary of siege

Central NY: Ft. Stanwix commemorates 234th anniversary of siege
ROME, N.Y. -- The nearly month-long siege of Fort Stanwix played a critical role in the American Revolution and Wednesday, residents got to learn more about its significance.

Activities were held at the fort's national monument in Rome to commemorate the day in 1777 when soldiers raised their own flag to show their independence to British troops. The attack lasted for 21 days and was meant to drive a wedge between the northern and southern colonies.

"Instead, because of the fort standing fast, forcing the British to finally retreat, the Americans were then able to win the victories of Saratoga in the fall of 1777, which brought about the turning point in the American Revolution," said William Sawyer, a park ranger at Ft. Stanwix.

A ceremony will also be held at the Oriskany Battlefield on August 6th to remember what some call the bloodiest battle of the revolution.

New DAR chapter gets off the ground

From the Chinoook Obsersver: New DAR chapter gets off the ground

PACIFIC COUNTY — For many, tracing down their family’s roots farther back than two or three generations is a daunting challenge. But, if you manage to connect your ancestral line directly to a patriot of the American Revolutionary War, you could be eligible to join the new Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter that is just getting started here on the Peninsula.

According to vice regent of the new local chapter, Mary Ellen Langridge, the group’s mission “is similar to maintaining the monuments and memories that represent WWII and the Vietnam War and to keep the memory of those guys and what they did for us. But we go back to the beginning of our roots, to help us remember where we came from.”

The National Society of DAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. They currently have 168,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the U.S. and internationally. Any woman, 18 or older, who can prove a direct lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join. The term patriot is not limited to just soldiers, but includes anyone who helped with the American cause for independence.

“DAR works to keep the traditions of remembering what people did for us, working towards saving important parts of our history and educating the people about our past,” Langridge says. “It’s a very patriotic organization honoring the people that have formed the roots of this country.”

While always interested in family genealogy, Langridge first got involved with DAR after discovering her personal connection with the American Revolution back in Virginia. Her great-great-great-grandfather John Shook, on her maternal side, served in the American army in the war. Ironically, at the same point in time, her father’s ancestors were on the other side of history. Living in the colonies and loyal to the Queen, they were put under house arrest. Langridge even has a letter sent to George Washington asking for their release. They eventually escaped and fled to Canada.

After being involved with a DAR chapter in Astoria, Langridge and others noticed there were a number of women from the Peninsula in the group and decided to start their own chapter over here. The group plans on doing work relevant to local history while also helping others find their connection to the birth of America. “A lot of it is just educating people about our history and how we came about,” says Langridge. They plan on honoring veterans and local history by maintaining gravestones and placing flags, educating people on how to properly care for and display the flag, and creating small exhibits such as one that explains the importance of the constitution. Langridge says, “The object basically is to perpetuate the memory and spirit of men and women who achieved American independence.”

The chapter is just getting started and had about 18 members at their last meeting, where they elected officers and got people started with applications. People who believe they have a connection to a patriot of the revolution can get help from the group organizing application materials for the national society.

As Langridge puts it, tracking your family’s roots is “just like a puzzle and you keep working your way back,” one piece of information at a time. “If people enjoy history and want to help perpetuate our beginning roots this is the place that you should be,” she says.

Colonial Williamsburg spy game mixes 21st- and 18th-century technology

From the Daily Press: Colonial Williamsburg spy game mixes 21st- and 18th-century technology
WILLIAMSBURG — The American Revolution is threatened by a sinister plot that could destroy the fledgling republic.

Before it's too late, fearless patriots are desperately needed to unravel the British conspiracy by discovering the identity of the founding father targeted for assassination along with the location and method of the attack.

So far, about 2,000 have heeded the call since Colonial Williamsburg introduced "RevQuest: Sign of the Rhinoceros," on July 15. The experience immerses visitors in an interactive spy game that plays out among costumed interpreters and historic buildings. The name references a house with a sign depicting the horned beast that is adjacent to the game's secret gathering place.

"This is the first time we've tried to blend some technology into the program in the historic area," said Jim Bradley, a Colonial Williamsburg Foundation spokesman. "Modern technology and 18th century stuff normally don't mix."

RevQuest is free with paid Colonial Williamsburg admission. However, a cellular phone with texting capability is required to submit answers and receive clues. Players receive a set of orders that describes the mission, a "Continental Army Cipherbook" to assist in unlocking secret messages, and several bills of "Virginia currency" in case a bribe is needed along the way.

According to Bradley, 562 groups — with an average size of three to four people — have played at least part of the game in the first 11 days since its launch. During that time, Colonial Williamsburg has received 6,500 incoming texts which means about 13,000 messages have been transmitted in all, he said.

RevQuest is a lot like a scavenger hunt that takes participants through three sections of town: the Capitol neighborhood, midtown and Palace Green. The game — which is based on a true event — takes between 90 minutes and two hours to complete if played straight through.

"Questors" who thwart the "foul plot" are rewarded with gold tokens from an interpreter who explains the true history of the event. Successful participants are also given access to a secret website that "only our most trusted patriots can locate."

Bill Weldon, Colonial Williamsburg's director of public history, said the game's message is "citizenship requires action. If you have a self-governing society, people have to be involved." Additionally, RevQuest teaches about the class strictures of the time and how "society was defined by slavery to a large degree," he said.

On a muggy morning this week, several families — including the Barkauskas clan from Mountain Lakes, N.J. — gathered outside the Prentis Store on Duke of Gloucester Street to await the arrival of "Agent 368."

RevQuest players wear blue scarves that identify them to interpreters who may help or hinder the cause depending on their character's allegiance.

"Agents all have their own approaches to how they introduce the game," Bradley pointed out. "Each does it in their own singular way, which is cool."

Agent 368 arrived stealthily so as to not attract unwanted attention and explained in low tones that players should disperse and meet him behind some nearby buildings where it was safer to talk. There, the agent provided tips and "rules of civility" to assist players and quickly sent them on their way with a caution not approach him on the street for fear of discovery.

Rich and Joanne Barkauskas and their children Richard, 14; Matthew, 11; Thomas, 8; and Emma, 5 were in town for a week and heard the game compared "to a 'National Treasure' type of thing." The family bustled eagerly through the colonial streets in the summer heat as they tried to piece together the mystery — no small feat.

"We're struggling big time," Rich remarked at one point, as he wiped sweat from his forehead. "The revolution is in trouble."

But despite the bumpy start, the Barkauskas family gained momentum even as they stopped for drinks and a quick restroom break. Fatigue was not an option — the very life of the revolution hung in the balance.

"I know you're tired, but liberty is at stake," Joanne Barkauskas, implored as the younger children waned before getting a drink-fueled second wind.

In the end, the family's joint effort solved the mystery in about two hours' time.

"Everyone got to participate. Everyone contributed some clue to solve who was in peril," Rich said. "That was fun."

Joanne, a high school guidance counselor, described RevQuest as "very clever" and said it was a great option for exploring Colonial Williamsburg in a way that continuously engaged the children.

But perhaps, the experience was summed up best by 14-year-old Richard who gave it a thumbs up.

"They found a way to teach us without us knowing."

Want to play?

Agents introduce the game daily to new players on the hour and half-hour between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The game requires pre-registration and can be played through Aug. 31. For more information, or to register to play 'RevQuest: Sign of the Rhinoceros,' go to history.org Web site by clicking here.

Re-enactors fight for independence

From Chillicothe Gazette: Re-enactors fight for independence

CHILLICOTHE -- This past weekend, the 205-year-old Adena Mansion & Gardens played host to historical events predating even its own.

Reenactors with the Brigade of the American Revolution's Northwest Department were at Adena Saturday and Sunday to wage battle in a war that began when the estate's eventual owner, Thomas Worthington, was still a toddler.

For a group that has grown accustomed to fighting in non-descript fields with little historical significance, the opportunity at Adena was difficult to pass up.

"This is really an ideal place to have something like this," said Greg Jewett, of Findlay. "We get to camp on land Thomas Worthington walked on, and that adds to it."

Jewett and his son, Philip, a high school junior, are members of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment and relatively new members at that. The event at Adena was only their second encampment since joining the unit.

"It's a nice way to actually live out history -- to sleep in a tent and smell the black powder," he said.

Jewett learned through genealogical research he and his son are descendants of a man who fought in the revolution with the Berkshire County, Mass., militia.

"That makes it more special," he said.

The Jewetts' application with Sons of the American Revolution, a group that requires proof of lineage, is pending.

With a certain nonchalance, Jewett explained Sunday how a militia had just raided a British camp.

It was a "little skirmish," he said. "... to make a little noise."

Reenactors decide in advance how the battles will unfold and who will win, said Joe Forte, of Circleville, who has participated in living history events for 35 years and in Revolutionary War reenactments for the past 13 years.

There's a certain amount of preplanning that goes into reenactments, because safety is the first priority. That's not to say, however, there isn't some gamesmanship, Forte said.

"We're doing it for fun, but also education," he said.

In 2010, Forte recommended Adena as a possible venue for an encampment and since February has been helping to plan the event.

Unlike some sites, Adena has terrain that would not be out of place on a Revolutionary War battlefield, he said.

"This scenario is one that could be real," he said.

On Sunday, the colonial regiments regained control of the bridges on the property, although they were expected to suffer more casualties than their counterparts -- British troops and colonial fighters still loyal to the crown.

"The folks here at Adena have been very good hosts, and the audiences have been great, too," said Bob Carnes, a Canton resident and commander of the Northwest department.

While the reenactors were in town, some of them took in a performance of "Tecumseh!", and others dined at the Old Canal Smokehouse -- all of them still in uniform.

The weekend featured educational talks, fife and drum demonstrations, weapons demonstrations and staged battles.

Forte said he was happy to see the event draw people to Adena.

"It gets people up here and puts a few bucks in (Adena's) coffers. That's great," he said.