Dave Loda rode his galloping red horse across the field. As he approached the wooden post near the center, he raised his sword above his head and swung it, neatly slicing the top off of a round, orange pumpkin. Sabre drills were common during the 18th century, explained Loda. “Horsemen would participate in drills frequently to keep their skills up,” he said.
Sabre drills were just one of many attractions available to visitors to the Brigade of the American Revolution encampment, taking place the weekend of Oct. 20 and 21 on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry. On the afternoon of Oct. 20, a number of participants put on a fashion show of Revolutionary War-era clothing.
In addition to British, British Loyalist, Hessian and American soldier uniforms, there were women’s fashions on display. Four women modeled the progression of women’s clothing from the most to the least affluent. Some visitors were surprised to learn that silk bonnets were common among 18th century women from all social strata. “Silk bonnets weren’t just worn by the higher-class woman,” said one of the models. “Silk was actually the most common fabric for hats.” It was the amount and the detail of the adornments that distinguished the higher from the lower classes, she said.
Gary Vorwald, fife major for the Brigade of the American Revolution, who was dressed as a member of the British 22d Regiment of the Foot, followed up the fashion show with a demonstration of military musical commands and popular 18th century tunes. In contrast to his red-coated compatriots, Vorwald was wearing a buff coat with red facing, indicating his status as a musician. A musician played a key role for 18th century military, he explained. In addition to entertaining the troops with tunes, he would help to keep up morale, provide a cadence for marching, and deliver commands via a system of musical signals. Because he was so important, “a musician needed to be easy to spot,” said Vorwald.
There are candlelight evenings planned for the Nathan Hale Homestead the evenings of Oct. 26 and 27. For details go to www.ctlandmarks.org.
