MAJOR BOGART SPEAKS: HUNDRED MAN MARCH- GUILFORD COURTHOUSE

Molly Note: From the looks of things, the commander is about 1/4 of the way to what he wants. ) Read on!

 

To the Washington County Militia,
The Battle of Guilford Courthouse is just around the corner. Our registration has been received. To aid you in getting to the site, the address is… Greensboro Country Park 3905 Nathanael Green Dr. Greensboro, NC 27455
Google Maps or Map Quest will get you right there. It has been my experience that when you get to Pisgah Church Rd. start looking for signs to the event. I am going to try and get there early on Friday to secure our camp site. Let me know if you have any questions.
Take Care – Major Bogart
Here is a list of those who are going.
OFFICERS & PRIVATES Col. Bobby R. McCroskey         Maj. Chad A. Bogart                  Cpt. Christopher Taylor        Lt. Ken Reece Bill Abernethy Worley Bennett                Mike Coon                          Randy Curde Sterling Curde                        David Doan                        Jonathan Galyen  Adam Hill  Ramona Invidiato  Richard Luce  Mike Mankin  Mel McKay  Kim Palmer                        Steve Ricker  Cody Roberts   Scott Shore                        David Simerly  Matthew Simerly  Travis Souther   Tony Strong                        Doug Walsh
DISTAFF Lisa Bennett   Rachel Bennett    Jane Doan    Retha Reece    Linda Ricker                        Brittany Ricker

DUES ARE DUE!

To the Washington County Militia,
Dues are past due as of February 29. If you have not paid your dues please get those in ASAP. Family $35.00 and Individual $25.00. Please make checks payable to “FSSSHA”. In the memo line of the check write “militia dues”. Remember trial members do not pay dues.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me anytime.
Take Care – Major Bogart

Major Bogart Speaks: February Muster and George’s Stuff

To the Washington County Militia,
Just a reminder that this weekend is our Colonial Skills and Trades muster at the fort. Looking forward to seeing all of those who are able to make it out. Our remembrance service for Ken Northmore has been postponed until April.
George Fuderer has missplaced a red and tan backpack which contained some of his gear. If anyone has picked that up at the fort lately please bring it this weekend as George will be here and can retrieve it.
********Last call for those wanting to sign up for Guilford Courthouse March 17 – 18. If you plan to go and haven’t signed up already, please let me know along with the size and type of tent you plan to use ASAP.********
Take Care – Major Bogart

THE COMMANDER SPEAKS: VENTURE CREW UP AND RUNNING

Venture Crew

Molly Note: As you know, there are several Militia members who are very active in Boy Scouts but none is more active than our Commander. Wit the blessings of Head ranger Jennifer Bauers and the full support of her staff, Bob chartered a Venture Crew to involve the youth in our activities at the Historical site. This is a wonderful thing.

 

Crew 1776 is chartered. It is important that all youth and adults that have not yet paid their seventeen dollar registration need to do so this weekend. Youth need to make sure that their parents have completed the bottom portion of their registration form. The first crew meeting will be immediately following closing colors Saturday afternoon.

Thank you,

Bob

Thinkin’ About Fightin’

In my next life!! Now SHE would stop the Brits dead in their tracks!

 It’s February already and I am just about to get over Christmas  and the  bit of extra poundage that only gobbling a load of mince pie can add. I’m already preparing for Guilford Courthouse and my bedroom looks like an arsenal’s ammo locker .

       A fellow reenactor friend of mine out in Oklahoma sent me this picture of a wild woman aiming a “Bess”, looking like she is ready to take on all comers . He’s still chuckling at the thought of the strange attachment I have to my sawed- off Bess , and I thought to myself that, in my next life, I may be lucky enough to look like that, with that sexy-sassy, determined look. The more I  thought  about it, the more I realized that, Heck-Fire,I’m half way there now (stop laughing)!

       As you know, last year under the auspices of our admired officers and with their blessing, I made my debut as cannon-fodder on the field of Guilford Courthouse and when I think about it, I can feel the pulse thrum in my neck.  When I participated last year, I looked at the experience through the eyes of a reenactor, knowing the history but not feeling the motivation. It was there the actual battle was fought some 236 years ago and while I most definitely appreciated what had happened there and was awed thinking that I was walking (running) in the footsteps of people long gone but not forgotten, there was not the emotion that the militia men felt, that pit of fury that would make a man look death in the eye and spit in it. This year, I think I’m seeing this same event as an angry patriot who sees how priceless principles of liberty and justice are being bastardized, limited and encroached upon.  Unfortunately,   I think I’m beginning to understand exactly what fueled these people to take on the biggest power in the world and fight with every breath and strength in them. Pretty much any more, I stay  disgusted and ticked off ( a mild phrase ,indeed, but this is a family blog after all), what with the war on educators, the encroachment of insurance companies into one’s total private life, telling me they must have my phone number and email at all times so they can have   “health coaches” who don’t know Jack (sorry, Gerald) telling me what I can and cannot do (in their darned dreams!), bungling, incompetent politicians shoving things down my throat, groups  telling me what I must or must not say, think or must not think,  constant TV advertisement shoving things down my throat, phones and machines that are becoming “smarter” as their owners are becoming more and more stupid and helpless. Faced with this and more, even the mildest, most law abiding person will, sometime in his or her life , get to a point  when one says ENOUGH! It doesn’t take much after that point to ignite a veritable inferno of anger and rebellion similiar to what the Rebels must have felt toward the government at the time and  their British and Tory “brethren”. Because of new federal guidelines, it is illegal to reenact battles at national battlesite parks. We , the people, the working slugs, are  paying the taxes to pay for the upkeep of these places and yet we can’t respectfully reenact the battles or life that existed there, providing the public with a wonderful teaching moment and a glimpse into their own history. The total irony is that there are many who think that the current generation has no clue about the past or it’s importance as a guide for the future and forbidding these events is not helping to correct this problem . Thank goodness that the part of the battle where the Militia fought at Guilford Courthouse is on county land and one can honor those brave and angry patriots there. I wonder what they would think of the country they fought for if they were alive today? Would they think that history is beginning to repeat itself or their sacrifices were in vain? Whatever that might be, Guilford Courthouse is the last stand where one can scream, “Give me liberty or give me death. The devil take ye t’ Hell and beyond”, drawing from the same  well of anger and disgust that every patriot drank from. Of course that scream must be accompanied with at least 200 grains of black powder ).

       So, as I’m surveying my digs, I see several rolled cartridges, cartridge box, paper, my powder horn, priming horn, picks and brushes, bag, canteen, flints, patch knife in one pile. My bee-bee gun is on my dresser (in case of home invasion; how stupid is that. I bet I’m the only person in my town who doesn’t own a real pistol- YET) In another pile are the man- rags and in a third are the mocs and trekkers I have to grease up with bear tallow. On top of this, I have a short list of must- haves: more blank cartridges, a primer, a long piece of linen to wipe my Bess with and a half full  flask of spirit. My hero is Deborah Sampson ( a fitting last name when you think about the Old Testament) and I read where she took a ball to the leg during a skirmish. Fearing that her identity as a man would be blown, rather than go to the surgeon, she dug out the bullet herself. Now you know that you’d have to be pretty stoked to slice and dice your own leg so I figure in case I get wounded at Guilford and that damned horse stomps me as he almost did last year, they could lay me out next to a tree and let me sip on my flask before the “operation”.

     I’m thinkin’ of fightin’ and Guilford Courthouse is where we will make a stand for truth, justice and the American way. Besides the excitement of the moment, I think I will be able to understand what intense emotion compelled otherwise peaceful people to act in an uncommon way. I hope Bob gets his wish this year of putting a hundred men in the field. You can bet your last beer, I’ll be there.

Ranger Jennifer Speaks: FEBRUARY MUSTER SCHEDULE

* M I L I T I A   M U S T E R *

with

Colonial Skills & Trades

 

F e b r u a r y    18 & 19   S y c a m o r e  S h o a l s  S t a t e  H i s t o r i c  A r e a

 

Visit Fort Watauga and step into a colorful Revolutionary world. Walk among settlers who share our past through talks, skits, and demonstrations of 18th century life. Come and learn about the daily tasks and trades that make a frontier settlement thrive!

 

Saturday, February 18th                                       Sunday, February 19th

10:00 – Militia Inspection & Raising the Colours         10:00 – Raising the Colours

12:00 – Artillery Demonstration                                  11:00 – Worship Service

2:00 – Militia Drill or Skirmish                                    12:00 – Artillery Demonstration

3:00 – Artillery Demonstration                                    1:00 – Militia Drill or Skirmish

4:00 – Retiring the Colours, Event Closed                   2:30 – Artillery Demonstration

Join us tomorrow  …….                                  3:00 – Retiring the Colours, Event Closed

Activities Throughout the Weekend Include…

Militia Drill & Training – Animal Husbandry – Chair Caning – Pine Needle Baskets – Natural Dyeing – Sewing – Leather Work – Scrimshaw – Open Hearth Cooking – Daily Frontier Life – Flintlock Rifle & Musket Firing – Tavern Life

 

 

 

This Event is Sponsored by:

The Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia For more information about other exciting living history events call

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area at

423-543-5808

 

or visit us on the web at

 

www.sycamoreshoalstn.org

www.washingtoncountyregiment.wordpress.com

www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals/

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAJOR BOGART SPEAKS: February Muster

To the Washington County Militia,
Good afternoon! I hope everyone is having a good day and that this finds you well and healthy. Our muster this month will be on the 18th and 19th. This is our Colonial Skills and Trades Muster. for the past two years this has been a well attended event by both public and participants alike. Lets keep the momentum going.
If anyone would like to present a colonial skill, trade, display, or talk please let me know by this coming Wednesday so we can get the PR sent out. We are also planning a rememberance ceremony for our departed friend Ken Northmore at 1:00, that Saturday afternoon.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Take Care,
Major Bogart

Major Bogart Speaks: Kenneth Northmore Passing

To the Washington Co. Militia,
It is with a heavy heart that I send this message. Our dear friend and reenactor Ken Northmore passed away Monday evening after an extended illness. Ken was involved in living history at Sycamore Shoals since the early days and was the driving force behind the Betsty Towne Fife and Drum Corps which has been resurected in recent years as our very own Watauga Valley Fifes and Drums. For those who remember Ken, his unmistakeable Irish lilt and contagious smile will truly be missed. below are the arrangements for Ken.
Yours in Service – Major Bogart
Kenneth J. Northmore, age 84 of Elizabethton went home to be with his Lord, Monday, January 16, 2012 at Ivy Hall Nursing Home following an extended illness. A native of Chicago, IL, he had lived in Carter County most of his life. He was a son of the late Robert and Lillian Northmore. He was retired from Holston Ordnance Works and was a member of Oak Street Baptist Church.   Mr. Northmore was a former Band Director at Unaka High School, he also founded The Betsy Town Fife and Drum Corp in 1975. He was an original member of the cast of The Wataugans which is now called Liberty. He was a Eagle Scout and former Scout Master and loved to collect model trains. Survivors include his wife of over 54 years, Chris Lyons Northmore, Elizabethton, son, Mike Northmore and his wife, Susan, Elizabethton, one granddaughter, Heather Minton, Kingsport, sister-in-law and her husband, Lillie and Richard Fergosi, Elizabethton, sister-in-law, Merle Lynch, Birmingham, AL.
The funeral service for Mr. Northmore will be conducted, at 8 P.M. Wednesday, January 18, 2012 in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton with Rev. Bruce Hendrich officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. prior to the service or friends may also call at the residence of his son, Mike, 1028 Broad Street, Elizabethton, anytime. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11:30 A.M. Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Horn, O.B. Foster, Pat Lewis, Earl Slagle, Richard Fergosi and Kerry Lambert. Those who wish to attend the graveside service are ask to meet at the cemetery at 11:15 A.M. on Thursday for the service. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the family.

The Win in the Southern Campaign: Cowpens, Jan. 14, 2012

Some of the Crew, warming in the sun

Battles can be classified as wins, losses and draws. Cowpens was certainly a win, strategic and brilliant in its scope. On January 14, hundred of people gathered to celebrate this win and honor the brave combatants at Cowpens National Military Park near Gaffney, SC.

This is the first time I was at Cowpens but felt I knew it as I’ve read so much about the battle and the place where it was held. The day was beautiful, very cold but clear. We had  a decent showing from the up-country: Chad,  Mel, Ronnie, me, Mike Coon, Travis Southers, Tim Massey, Mike and Illiana Mankin. Retha and Ken Reece and Cindy and Harry Jordan came in mufti, too.

The wreath laying ceremony was very impressive. Several DAR and SAR groups were represented and each bowed in front of the monument and again on the battlefield itself . The DAR was  responsible for the monument and helping to raise the status of this park and each year, both groups take an active part in keeping the memory of this battle and those who participated in it alive. The superintendent of the park is very encouraging of living history (as ours is) and it showed in the variety of the demos and how he was so heartfelt in welcoming all who came.

Wreath Laying

Battle plan of Cowpens, Jan. 17, 1781Behind the visitor's center and before the battlefield itself, there is a large field. Reenactors from all of the military groups that fought had their own areas. It was interesting to see the various living history demonstrations but especially look at the various uniforms, Brit, Scot, Continental and other. There was a big gun demo, a volley and a calvary demo. The calvery demo consisted of putting a cabbage on a pike and slicing it with a saber at full run. It occurred to me that the dragoons made a lot of slaw, but I wonder how frightening it had to have been for infantry to be on the recieving end of a sharp, long point.Our friends, the South Carolina Rangers , who have done so much to support the May Seige, were camped near the back trees and when members weren't taking in the sights, they found those friendly faces and warmed themselves by their fire.

When it warmed up a little, Mike, I, Cindy, Mel and Retha walked the battlefield itself. I’ve been to several different battle sites up and down the Thirteen Colonies and in all of them, I’ve sensed the echo of distant guns, of resounding struggle. In some places like Saratoga, Gettysburg, the Carillion, Antietam, one can almost smell the blood and dung, hear the screams. At Cowpens, Doug Walsh said that the weather was identical to the day- cold but sunny, so clear, each remaining leaf cast a shadow. When I looked up and down the historic road, stepped (literally) in the footprints of a soldier, strolled up and down the rolling hills, visualzing the battle plan, I had absolutely no sense of this place as being a battlefield. I could clearly see why Morgan picked this particular place to make his stant. I could see the importance of militia. Anyone who sees “The Patriot” , the last scene, gets a sense of Cowpens. What I felt in this place, was an overwhelming  peace, a great place to raise children, a quiet place to walk. I guess there were some really happy spirits there, though none of them would be British.

After we left the Park, We all went closeby to a little greasy spoon that Ronnie called the “dishpan restaurant”. They serve delicious food, country style, in dishpans . I never saw such big servings! They served the salads in washtubs, for goodness sakes!

Ronnie was the chauffeur we went on a little history tour on the way back. One very interesting thing was to find Chad’s great grandfather’s (10 generations back) grave. I couldn’t tell you where it was near but it was a solitary grave in a grove of woods at the side of a cow pasture. Mel went on “Find-a Grave dot com” to get an approximate location but it was a local lady who pointed the way. It was exciting to see the connection between a living man and a distant ancestor who fought in the war. From there we drove to Gilbert town, stood in the field where the militia camped.We stood before King’s Mountain, looked up to see the hill they climbed and where Ferguson is planted. Finally , we visited Britton’s Church cemetery, established in 1768- man, you talk about some old plots there.  I kept wishing I had rice paper and charcoals!

It was snowing when we went over the mountain late that night but Oh, what a fabulous day it was!

(Doug Walsh, Tim Massey and Retha have terrific pics of this event on Facebook. These pics are theirs)

Chad wrapping his molars around a monster burger- and this was the junior version.

God is Good: Christmas, January 7-8, 2012

Christmas hospitality

January is usually a crazy weather month for reenactment. We can testify to this by thinking about the last few years before this, when we were all shivering our tooki (what’s the plural of tookus) off , celebrating Old Christmas in single digit weather with snow ankle deep on the ground. This year, however, God truly blessed us. Old Christmas was last weekend, the Battle of Cowpens was this weekend, with the major events being held yesterday and in both cases, the weather was cold but superb. The cabins were decorated beautifully; I know I say this every year but truly, these were the best yet. Mike Mankin and Dave Shook transformed the Tavern in to a Scotsman’s paradise; Rachael, Lisa and Worley Bennett made the Talbot House look so veddy English that even Gail and Richard Ellis in Ludlow couldn’t tell where it was. Mike and I paid a holly tree to puke on Cabin 4- holly, ivy and pine were everywhere transforming the cabin into something from the Tirol. Chad’s cabin was a study in delft and pewter, warm (well maybe not thermally) and inviting. Finally, there was the Irish cabin. Col. McCroskey and Tony Devault sprigged it with green and it looked like a wee cottage in the midlands. Then there were the intrepid: Earl, Jacob, Kim, Chris, Scot and Tall Bear camped in the primitive area and from the looks of it were pretty comfy.

Chad estimated that there was between 350 to 500 people joining us on the Saturday of Old Christmas. I have no doubt the top end was the number, maybe more. Everyone said they ran out of food on Saturday and there was contemplation of a Walmart run for those who lived away, and a baking night for those who lived close or like Norma, were going home and coming back. Prime example of this was the cabin were Mike and I were installed. I brought 12 doz. Springele, cinnamon, tumbles and star cookies, had one rather large stollen, one substantial loaf of wheat bread, fruit and candy canes galore. Norma added a a lovely homemade pumkin bread (she calls it bread but it’s delish like cake). As people, literally between 4 to a dozen at a time,  were piling in, we started to become a little concerned as we tried to figure out how to make things stretch to the end of the day. I was cutting the baked goods as thin as communion wafers but at the end of the day, I had 2 doz. cookies , a few dozen candy canes and some apples left. Norma baked another cake for Sunday, I put out the rest of the cookies and didn’t have to worry about one left over. Rachael went home and baked mountains of cookies for the Sunday crew as Lisa said that they were tapped. I heard the identical thing from every other cabin so I think this was  SUCCESSFUL and the community  really  partook of the Christmas cheer which made everyone very happy. To add to the atmosphere, the Fife and Drum played throughout the day and we had two wonderful guest fiddlers, Sara Miller and her friend, Brian, friends of Sherry Shook, who played off and on all day.  What was very excellent was that several visitors were from the Knoxville and Kentucky area. They had read about the event in the Knoxville paper and came. This muster is usually one to socialize with each other but with the weather being so good, everyone was pretty much chained to their cabins welcoming the public and cooking, of course, for the festivities later on.

Music all day long

Sherry and Travis in the Tavern

After the people left, everyone let out a collective sigh, relaxed and prepared for the dinner that Mike Mankin and Dave Shook were hosting in the Tavern. Dave spent the day cooking and he and Mike put on a Scottish spread fit for Bobbie Burns. From Tatties and Neeps to venison stew to Mike’s fresh oaten bread, it was simply wonderful. After everyone ate, Sara and Brian fiddled and I bet the ghosts of those who came before were tapping their feet, hearing familiar music and the sound of voices resonatiing throughout the fort.

Sunday was busy as well, mostly after churh, ours and elsewhere. Mike Mankin reminded me of the best part of Sunday! ” and not to forget our Piper Lt. Com. James Gee and his lovely wife Linda, who visited with us on Sunday, friends of Bill Abernathy from over the mountain in N.C.  We started off Sunday with a few pipe tunes and James played ‘Amazing Grace’ for our church service.   Made tears come to my eyes, as that was my Father’s favorite tune, especially when played on the war pipes.  Hopefully they will join our Militia and become members of our group.    Every one enjoyed their company, militia and visitors all.”We were lucky that it didn’t start raining until promptly at 3 PM. People came through and we all enjoyed the last of the wonderful season of Christmas.

Der Deutsch Kabine

Dave, Bill and Doug in front of the Irish camp Lisa welcoming a guest

Thanks to Tim Massey and Doug Walsh for the great pictures.