Wareham reminiscent of days of yore, for the weekend, at least
BY NICK WALECKA
Members of Wareham's Minuteman Militia do through drills prior to Saturday's battle on Town Green. BY NICK WALECKA
Steve Barratt of the Crew of the Raven cleans his musket Saturday morning. BY NICK WALECKA
British soldiers fire on the American contingent at a reenactment of a typical 18th century battle in America. BY NICK WALECKA
. . . and the Minutemen fire right on back. BY NICK WALECKA
Kirsten Dady of the 13th Continental Regiment of Massachusetts speaks of what 18th-century life was like for the wives of soldiers of that era. BY NICK WALECKA
A young man at Tremont Nail, where demonstrators showed the typical life of laborers around the time of the American Revolution. BY AUSTIN ADAMS
BY AUSTIN ADAMS
The British and the Americans face-off at Town Green. BY NICK WALECKA
A British physician post-battle. BY NICK WALECKA
British soldiers cross Main Street and head into the American's encampment Saturday night. BY NICK WALECKA
BY NICK WALECKA
Members of Wareham's Minuteman Militia do through drills prior to Saturday's battle on Town Green. BY NICK WALECKA
Steve Barratt of the Crew of the Raven cleans his musket Saturday morning. BY NICK WALECKA
British soldiers fire on the American contingent at a reenactment of a typical 18th century battle in America. BY NICK WALECKA
. . . and the Minutemen fire right on back. BY NICK WALECKA
Kirsten Dady of the 13th Continental Regiment of Massachusetts speaks of what 18th-century life was like for the wives of soldiers of that era. BY NICK WALECKA
A young man at Tremont Nail, where demonstrators showed the typical life of laborers around the time of the American Revolution. BY AUSTIN ADAMS
BY AUSTIN ADAMS
The British and the Americans face-off at Town Green. BY NICK WALECKA
A British physician post-battle. BY NICK WALECKA
British soldiers cross Main Street and head into the American's encampment Saturday night. BY NICK WALECKA
With torches lit, "The Flaming 54th” otherwise known as His Majesty's 54th Regiment of Foot in America (or, a group of British re-enactors) marched into the camp of American militiamen on Main Street Saturday night around 9 p.m. following a day in which blood was spilled in a battle at Town Green.
“We will not burn your tents to the ground,” proclaimed Captain Steven M. Gardner of the Flaming 54th, who nonetheless warned the American troops to disband by sun-up. “We will allow you one evening to rest. By tomorrow the morn when the sun rises, we know that you will all be gone. If not, we will return with bedbugs and cooties.”
Though most of the threats from the Captain sounded very serious, the mood was very lighthearted at the encampment, which saw both the British re-enactors from all over New England and American militias from Wareham, Rehobeth, and Yarmouth, as well as throughout New England.
All this and more took place starting at around 10 a.m. Saturday morning as part of Wareham’s Summer of Celebration, which included several demonstrations that depicted life for both the British and the Americans around the time of the War of 1812 and the American Revolution, as well as when the British invaded Wareham, which took place 200 years ago Friday.
“We show a little bit of every part of 18th-century life,” said Kirsten Dady, who plays a midwife with a group of “camp-following” ladies from the 13th Continental Regiment of Massachusetts, all of whom are out of the greater-Rehobeth area.
On Saturday morning, Dady and a group of ladies took solace in the shade of their camp, and talked about the different things they do to remember and honor the history of their towns, their state, and the United States of America.
They said they’d traveled to places such as New York, Quebec, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Virginia as part of the group, which organizes programs that visit area schools to showcase various aspects of 18th century life, including the music, the clothing, and the battles that took place on our shores as Americans fought for independence from Great Britain.
As for those battles, American and British re-enactors took part in a 45-minute long demonstration around 3 p.m Saturday afternoon that depicted a typical fire-fight of the times as soldiers equipped with muskets took turns shooting back and forth upon one another, with several soldiers on both sides falling to the ground to simulate the spoils of some of these wars.
Prior to the battle, Steve Barratt, a re-enactor from New Haven, CT, cleaned his musket and spoke a little bit about the life of he and his fellow folk, all of whom share a passion for American (and British) history.
“It’s basic maintenance,” said Barratt. I’m cleaning it up for battle this afternoon—making sure everything works right."
Barratt, who was in Wareham the Crew of the Raven, a group of historical re-enactors from all over southern New England, said his group does demonstrations from multiple periods, including some of the earlier battles in American history. He also said he is a master gunner in real life as well as in the presentations.
“We all actually do go through with all the jobs we claim as part of (his particular crew),” he said.
Visitors to the town green and the surrounding areas were also treated to a number of other performances by a variety of actors, actresses, singers, and tradespeople, from the American encampment to the Redcoat regiment occupying the Town Green itself to a rare tour of the nearby Tremont Nail factory.
There was no shortage of events that helped connect residents and visitors alike to the town’s colorful past.
“I think this is wonderful,” said Hazel Taber, a visitor to the event. “The people I’ve talked to from out of town think it’s splendid.”
“Anything to relive history is just the best,” she added.
Volunteer Laura Lopes, who was selling refreshments to the hundreds of spectators present throughout the day, said she got involved with the event because she enjoys hearing and seeing things involved with Wareham’s past.
“I love the history of it,” said Lopes. “That’s why we’re a part of it. We just want to keep it alive. I am so happy that I”m a part of it.”
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