STURBRIDGETIMES

THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING

THE

SEPTEMBER, 2011

MAGAZINE

Prsrt. Std U.S. Postage PAID Worcester, MA Permit No. 2

REBELS & REDCOATS SQUAREOFF ATOSV

2011 Sturbridge Times photos by Richard Murphy

Among the Kings Rangers were: Scott Halpin, Dave DeManbey, Dave Granton, Patrick Lynch and Michael Alcock.

How does it feel to be a traitor? Such a question implies an insult and challenge. Not so at Redcoats & Rebels. The young man, John McGough, who received the inquiry had heard it before and was ready to answer with grace and confidence. He was part of a Revolutionary War militia unit with a difference. The young man was fighting for King George of England and he made no apologies. Also, he was an American. His reply to the challenge was that he was not betraying his country. Rather it was the rebels. John was loyal to the rightful sovereign. From a purely legalistic point of view, he had an argument. At what point does a nation have a right to separate itself from

ByRichardMurphy

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THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING

Among the Eames Rangers were: Robert LeBlanc from S. Portland, ME and Scott Boissoneau from Hillsborough, NH.

wheeled about. Facing us moderns across more than two and a quarter centuries, one of the rangers told us what he was doing in history. Sgt. Rickley said with a grin, Were from the government and were here to help you. The smile on his face after we laughed told us he had gotten the desired response. Nice little bit of humor, but the show, or war must go on. The crowd followed the British units to the Freeman Farm exhibit where a battle, or more precisely, a tactical demonstration would take place. 18th Century warfare as portrayed, seemed to resemble the eras dance, the minuet. There were good reasons for that. As everyone fought in massed units, it wasnt difficult to see which side had the larger force at any given point. Unless there was an obvious

tactical advantage, the weaker force knew it wiser to give way. Of course, if the cannons were firing live shot, a few gaping holes in enemy ranks would have changed everything. The attendees were lucky to have been spared that. Also, there were no bayonet charges. A full melee where troops stabbed each other would not do. After all, this is really the 21st Century and the paperwork after such gore would have been horrendous. Yet, there were lingering questions. Fortunately, there was a man who had the answers. Major Steven Leet was resplendent in his red uniform. A layman would not have been able to tell, but he was a Royal Continued on page 23

the government they live under? Our founding document, The Declaration of Independence, laid out an answer. It was not to everyones taste as there were as many who maintained His Majestys cause as those who wished to depose his rule. Redcoats & Rebels, held at Old Sturbridge Village in early August, is the largest military re-enactment in New England. This is in itself surprising as there is great passion in this country for Civil War re-enactment. Then again, we do pride ourselves on being the Cradle of Liberty. There was no dearth of rebels on that Saturday and Sunday, but the other side was represented by as many who thought as our young man did. The Loyalists were on the march. They were forming up to get ready to fight. Most were in red, but some of the Kings men were in other hues or not even in uniform. One group, The Kings Rangers were in green. Marching in ranks by the Common, they halted and

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Redcoats and Rebels: largest military reenactment in New England

Continued from page 17 Engineer and vital to the war effort. There were only 53 of them in the British forces in America. Major Leet may not have been ready for the first question, but he rose to the occasion. In the greatest battle ever fought in Massachusetts, Bunker Hill, The British were mowed down when the rebels let them come close enough to see the whites of their eyes before firing. Major Leet was asked if his army would have been better off to wear sunglasses that day? He replied, At least baseball caps with long visors to shade the eyes might have helped. There were more questions for the Major. As anyone who has had infantry training knows, you dont stand there and get shot. One gets as close to the ground as possible. Why were the soldiers just standing up and being perfect targets. Maj. Leet had the answer, It would be difficult to load a musket lying on the ground. Also, the men stood and fired in blocks due to the muskets inaccuracy. Its not as if you had to work at getting shot, but we would have to wait to

Even the minor aspects of wartime life are reenacted. There was a demonstration of inoculation for smallpox.

the Civil War to get good at killing. All through the park, there were men in uniform who were informative about their roles and the war. There were also women. One trio was asked, Are you camp followers. That title implies some unsavouriness. The ladies replied that they were the legal wives and traveled with their husbands. The camp followers were with the Brits. To be diplomatic, the question was not pursued as such among the English.

There was so much knowledge to tap during Redcoats and Rebels that one day was not near enough. Ann Lindblad, Vice President of Marketing and Communication at the Village, noted how the second visit policy would allow both days for one admission. Still, one would have to hustle to take it all in. The amount of knowledge on offer in the two days felt like the equivalent of a masters degree in Revolutionary War Studies. Ann pointed out even apparently minor aspects of wartime life are covered. There was a demonstration of inoculation for smallpox. Plague going through a camp could be the equivalent of defeat on the field of battle. This was the ninth Redcoats & Rebels. Planning for the tenth will start almost immediately. Even so, the staff looks forward to it. Those who didnt get enough can take heart. On September 10th The Village will hold Drummers Call with fife and drum units from all over New England and New York. Not as big, but it should hold history buffs till next August.

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