2016 Winter Militia Muster, Feb. 6-7

Fort Watauga in winter

Winter musters are usually miserable affairs. It is sub FREEZING, snowy, wet, and those who participate are not your typical sunshine patriots. This year the muster was on Feb. 6 and 7 and the weather, while coolish, was hinting at a stellar spring to come.

On Friday, those who were setting up the cabins and camps arrived to a dry fort . The Tavern was up for grabs but the Bennetts did their usual wonderful job making the Talbot House look prosperous and warm. (click on the pictures to see the captions) Somewhere in the preceeding month, Earl Slagle upgraded the Longhunter lean-to to a more secure structure and he and Kim had a very impressive camp there complete with a bear claw that Kim skinned, hanging from one of the poles. Bucky Simerly set up a primitive digs in the man cave and it was very comfortable. Doug Ledbetter and Bill White did a superlative job making the last cabin warm and inviting.

Bucky UPRIGHT

Bucky ain’t no turnip!

MIDDAY NAP

Doug Ledbetter and his bunkmate, Bill White

Earl and Kim in their new Longhunter digs

Lisa and Norma in the Talbot House

When there’s not much going on, my thoughts turn to COOKING and along with Lisa Bennett, we just about fed the whole militia. I’m thinking that the hillbilly Hilton is rapidly becoming a publik house, yet unnamed, but perhaps someone will make me a sign “The Cock and Bull”. There was fun, frolic and eating all day for two days.

Sausage and apple pies, salad, homemade bread and cheese… and that was the appetizer

good conversation and good food at the Cock and Bull

Ken Markland and Tammy

Bull Outside.. Ronnie Lail, Ken Reece, Ken Markland and visitor

Bull inside…Ken Reece, Ken Markland and Tony deVault

Doug Ledbetter’s farmer’s cheese and pepper jelly

Sausage pie (recipes 0n the “Let’s Burn Something Page)

Salad anyone?

Becky and John Garrou were in the visitor’s center with their fine display of period drink. It’s a great idea and serves two good functions. One is to get Becky out of the cold, yet she still can participate and the other is to welcome guests to the museum and to the doings of the day. The only thing is I miss being with her when she’s up there. I need a sign on the door… “visiting the Carters”… or something like that.

Becky Garrou and Tammy Markland in the Visitors Center

Becky’s fine display

There was no set theme; mostly it was military drilling with practicing various commands and marching. I have often threatened to have a shirt made with the militia logo on the front printed crookedly and in the back, the sentence “Militias don’t do straight lines” but I have to say, the boys looked spectacular as they followed the officers’ commands.

BY GAD!!!  Straight Lines!!

 

 

BIG BOOM!

That’s one heck of a nose pick!

Hay foot, straw foot……the colonel’s lookin’ , Boys!

Besides drilling and drilling, there was an artillery demo which always is a big hit.

Which end does the charge go in, Boss?

BIG BOOM! (Worth repeating!)

Ready, aim, Fire at Will!

Will?

 

The most notable thing on Saturday was the special recognition program at Noon. Several junior ROTC cadets from the Carter County high schools including Elizabethton High were recognized at a special and well attended ceremony. It was a pleasure to see these young people take the mantle of leadership.

Proud youth of tomorrow. Notice the straight lines!!

Cadets then?

The Overmountain Patch worn with honor

Recognition ceremony

The Watauga Fife and Drum outdid themselves on Saturday. There was a full compliment and they performed a medley of new songs. Hats off to the FIFE AND DRUM!

Watauga Fife and Drum

The official Fife and Drum corp of Tennessee

Marshall John Large Looking on

Sunday was a very quiet day. I bet there were only 20 visitors the whole day in spite of the fact that it was warm and beautiful. The Talbot House was packed for service and Dave Doan gave a beautiful homily about the meaning of Ash Wednesday. One has to hand it to him. Dave was sick, getting over a nasty stomach flu but was there and preached wonderfully. It , like Saturday, was a good day for laughter and seeing old friends and meeting new.

Cohen Daniels holding down the fort

Colonels Bogart and McCRoskey..somethings wrong with this picture

Buddies

Beauty! isabelle Hardy

Friend and Flower

Elizabeth, Michael and Isabelle Hardy

Cooking lessons

Mel McKay, Tim Massey and Melodie Daniels sharing a good joke

Thank you, Retha Reece, Doug Walsh and Tim Massey for taking such wonderful pictures.

OVERMOUNTAIN VICTORY MUSTER COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, SEPT. 25-27

Overmountain men fighting at Kings Mountain, the turning point of the War. fought in the Southern Theater.

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area Presents:

The Overmountain Victory Trail Celebration

Friday, Saturday and Sunday,

September 25, 26 and 27

It was the year 1780. The tide of the Revolution had turned against the colonists.  The British, forced out of New England, gained new allies in the divided South and won victory after victory in a bloody civil war.  Charleston had fallen, and American forces had crumbled at the battle of Camden. But then the impossible occurred…The frontiersmen of the western mountains began a long march, gathering an army along the way, from the highlands of Virginia to the hills of South Carolina.  There, at a place called King’s Mountain, they destroyed an army and opened the way for the final American victory at Yorktown.

The route they took from Virginia to South Carolina, we now know as the Overmountain Victory Trail.  Come celebrate with us as we recreate the muster of the Overmountain Men, which occurred here at Sycamore Shoals over two hundred years ago. Re-enactors in period clothing will be on hand throughout the weekend to share stories of the excitement and danger of that tumultuous time.

The celebration kicks off at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 25^th as the Overmountain Victory Trail Association recreates the historic Watauga River crossing. For the past 40 years Members of the OVTA have recreated this historic occurrence since 1975, following the same route and timetable as their legendary forebears from Abingdon, VA to Kings Mountain, SC.

In conjunction with the OVTA crossing, the Tennessee State Guard will be celebrating their 235^th anniversary as they trace their inception to the gathering of the Overmountain Men at Sycamore Shoals in 1780. Tennessee State Guardsmen will join the OVTA in the recreation of the Watauga River crossing. Following the crossing the Tennessee State Guard will hold a timeline Pass in Review showcasing the guard’s involvement in Tennessee’s military history.

The celebration continues both Saturday and Sunday as the Washington County Militia present living history demonstrations and activities in and around Fort Watauga.  Also, as part of the weekend’s activities, join us as we celebrate National Public Land’s Day on Saturday, September 26. At 1:00 pmjoin Historic Interpreter Chad Bogart on a special guided walk through the grounds of Sycamore Shoals and along portions of the walking path. Discover the vital role Sycamore Shoals played in the early frontier community, and how its significance would impact our nation’s history. Hear the story of the Overmountain Men and their historic gathering at Sycamore Shoals.

It will be a fun filled and action packed weekend sure to entertain and educate all ages. Admission is free so bring the entire family and relive some of the most crucial days of the American Revolution.

EVENT SCHEDULE

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25^th

 

2:00 – Watauga River Crossing – Members of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association and the Tennessee State Guard recreate the historic crossing of September 25^th, 1780.

Following the Crossing – TN State Guard Timeline Pass in Review – The Tennessee State Guard celebrates its 235^th anniversary by showcasing their involvement in the state’s military history. Program presented in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26^th  

 

9:00 – “The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon” – Join The Overmountain Men inside Fort Watauga as they assemble for morning colors and then listen to the stirring words of Reverend Samuel Doak as he delivers his famous sermon and prayer. The militia then departs in search of Patrick Ferguson and the tory army.

 

11:00 – “Gearing up for War” – Join Ken and Retha Reece inside Fort Watauga and learn about the gear, equipment, and food carried by the Overmountain Men in their campaign to Kings Mountain.

 

12:00 – “Echoes of Revolution” – Join the Watauga Valley Fifes and Drums for an exciting glimpse into the musical world of the 18^th century.

 

1:00 – “Trail Talk: Walking in Frontier Footsteps” – To celebrate National Public Lands Day, join historic interpreter Chad Bogart for a guided walk along the park trail as he recounts the story of the Overmountain Men and their historic gathering at Sycamore Shoals. Program begins at Fort Watauga.

 

2:00 – “Life on the Homefront” – Come to the Talbot House for a look at the woman’s role on the 18^th century frontier. See how the women and children fared after the militia had marched off in search of Patrick Ferguson and the Tory army.

3:00 – “Every Seventh Man” – Oral tradition states that the Overmountain Men left behind one in seven to guard the settlements as they went in search of the tory army. Witness the Watauga Home Guard drill and hone their skills as defenders of the frontier. Learn about the different firearms used in Colonial America.

4:00 – Camps Close – Join us tomorrow for another exciting day of life on the colonial frontier!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27^th    

 

10:00 – Worship Service – Feel free to join the militia for Sunday morning service held in the courtyard of Fort Watauga. Following the service witness the Washington County Militia fall in for inspection of arms, and orders are given for the day.

 

12:00 – Artillery Demonstration – Join members of the Washington County Militia as they fire the fort’s cannon and talk about artillery in the 18^th century.

1:00 – “Life on the Homefront” – Come to the Talbot House for a look at the woman’s role on the 18^th century frontier. See how the women and children fared after the militia had marched off in search of Patrick Ferguson and the Tory army.

 

2:00 – “Every Seventh Man” – Oral tradition states that the Overmountain Men left behind one in seven to guard the settlements as they went in search of the tory army. Witness the Watauga Home Guard drill and hone their skills as defenders of the frontier. Learn about the different firearms used in Colonial America.

 

3:00 – Retiring the Colors – Camps Close – Thank you for joining us for a great day of frontier living history. Join us next time!

 

ONGOING ACTIVITIES FOR BOTH DAYS INCLUDE:

Open Hearth Cooking – Flintlock Musket & Rifle Demonstrations – Tavern Life – Militia Drill

Colonial Music – Leatherwork – Wool Processing – Colonial Games – 18^th Century Camp Life

And Much More!!!

 

All activities are weather dependent. Schedule is subject to change or cancellation.

MAJOR BOGART SPEAKS: SEPTEMBER MUSTER AND SCHOOL DAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

ED NOTE: The September muster is September 26-27. The school day and TN State Guard program is Friday, Sept. 25.

Good Afternoon Everyone,

The September Muster and School Day is fast approaching.

The School day will be Friday, September 25^th from 9:00 until 1:00.

I need to know if anyone is willing to operate a station during the school visit. We need 9 stations. The rotations will be 15 minutes each. There will be a break for lunch. The OVTA will be lending a hand this year as well.

Please let me know if you can provide a station and what you would like to present.

This is going to be a very busy and hectic day as the kids will be leaving around 1:00 – the River Crossing is at 2:00 (100 TN state guardsmen will be crossing with the OVTA) – then, the TN state guard march-in and presentation will follow the crossing.

This brings me to another point. For the TN State Guard “March-In” they want a timeline represented in the parade. We will be representing Rev. War Militia and 1812 period. I need to know how many of you are willing to participate in this and which era you wish to represent. Remember, this is directly following the crossing on Friday the 25^th, so I’m guessing it will be around 3:00 pm at the park amphitheater.

A lot to process I know, but it will be a day to remember I’m sure… for many reasons J

Let me know what you can do. Anything you can provide will be greatly appreciated, as always.

I remain your most obedient servant,

Maj. Bogart

Musings: Independence Day Muster, June 27-28

An important event that the Regiment does is the Fourth of July muster which was held at the end of June. It was rainy and rather nasty weather, especially on Friday night when the whole earth seemed to be deluged and it seemed that Noah’s ark was going to come floating by, carrying two of everything except a couple of Patriots. It was quiet that night. I shared my space with Bucky and Matt Simmerly who were stuck with me in cabin 4. All of us wondered whether the fly in front would hold, as it was precariously rigged to the front of the cabin and had a rather large swag in it. The grounds of the fort were becoming Lake Watauga and the water crept inexorably closer to the door. Fortunately the fly held and provided everyone with much needed shelter and shade as the weekend progressed. Dan Akerblom set up the tavern and it looked SWEET. The Bennetts were in the Talbot house and cozy was the best way to describe it. I worried about Kim and Earl down in the woods but they seemed well protected by the trees. It was a cooking weekend for me. I dug out a perfect cooking pit and as all set to cook outside as people would have on hot summer days but with the rains coming and going, that was not meant to be. It was a bit sweaty in the cabin but it’s good for the soul.

SHADE AND PROTECTION IN FRONT OF THE HILLBILLY HILTON

Ken and Tammy Markum

Saturday was cool and the rains held off until after the event closed. Jennifer Bauer spun wonderful wool in front and the members gathered to raise the colors and set the tone for the day. To all of us, this day is important. When J.C. Davis read the declaration to the crowd, one could feel goosebumps. I saw three generations, J.C., Jason and his son and realized that some of the same complaints raised by Jefferson are now resurfacing and as I observed the public, placidly listened to the reading,I wondered if they could feel the winds of change the way I did. Looking at the Davis family, I wondered how long this great country would endure, as it is flapping in a moral breeze. I wondered if Jason’s son and the other children would enjoy the freedoms that we seem to have taken for granted. I wondered if people actually realized how precariously our nation stands on the slippery slope between a cherished republic so hard won and a self -imposed “politically correct” tyranny created by those with agendas who want to dismantle this country, adjust or erase our history and moral structure.This is allowed because of public apathy, lack of knowledge of the past, lack of interest in the future except what people can get,and politicians who have lost sight of the common good. I wondered if they realized that freedom, like entitlements, isn’t “free” and they are paid for by a stalwart and hard working few holding together the hapless many. In the midst of all the huzzahs, musket firing and drumming,these were  sobering thoughts that stuck with me the whole weekend. Then I saw the children and newer members . Dan enlisted two fledgling carpenters (Ivan and Cohen Daniels) and all three built a wonderful pie shelf to fit in the window of the cabin. I saw all these children and thought maybe they will figure it out;they are living this history and will remember.

Jennifer Bauer and her beautiful grandchildren

Cohen Daniels, apprentice carpenter, helping Dan Akerblom install a pie shelf for blackberry pie and other delectables coming through.

Independence on the Frontier , Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, June 27th & 28th

Framing the Declaration of Independence

Step back in time 239 years to a colorful revolutionary world and witness life as it was on the 18^th century frontier during a very tumultuous time. In the summer of 1776 colonial leaders met in Philadelphia to draft a document that would forever change the world. As our guest to Fort Watauga, you too can be part of the excitement as news of American Independence reaches the colonial frontier. What did the colonists think about a new nation? Walk among historical characters and hear their varied reactions to the Declaration, from fear of war to the hope of a brighter future.

The Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia, host living history organization at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, will be encamped in and around Fort Watauga giving visitors a glimpse of life in 1776. A myriad of activities will unfold throughout the weekend such as militia drill and training, artillery firing demonstrations, open hearth cooking, tomahawk throwing and a special reading of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday at 1:00 followed a short celebration.

Get an early start on your Independence celebrations and bring the entire family out for a weekend full of history, patriotism, education, and family fun. The event will run from 10:00 until 4:00 on Saturday, June 27^th and 10:00 until 3:00 on Saturday, June 28^th.  Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is located at 1651 W. Elk Ave. Elizabethton, TN 37643. For more information about this event please contact the park at 423-543-5808 or log on to these websites: http://www.sycamoreshoalstn.org or http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/sycamore-shoals

Independence on the Frontier: Schedule of Events

 

Saturday, June 27^th     

10:00 – Raising the Colours:  Start the day off with a bang as the militia falls in for inspection

and raises the flag with a patriotic ceremony.

10:30 – Wataugan Footsteps: Join Gillian in the visitors center and learn about an important

woman on the frontier, Ann Robertson, who played a crucial role during the siege of Fort

Watauga in 1776.

11:00 – “Fix Bayonets”: Join Mr. Davis of the Continental Army and learn about the uses and

tactics of the bayonet, one of the most feared weapons used in the Revolutionary War! Then cheer on the Militiamen as they test their skill and aim with this 18^th century weapon.

12:00 – “Echoes of Revolution”: The Watauga Valley Fifes & Drums perform martial and field

music of the Revolutionary War.

1:00 – Reading of the Declaration of Independence: Join in the excitement as the document

declaring our freedom from Great Britain is read publicly inside Fort Watauga. A short

celebration will follow.

2:00 – Kids Militia & Rubber Band Rifle Shoot: Attention all able bodied kids! Fall in and

drill with the Washington Co. Militia. Then join in the fun of an old fashioned rubber

band shooting match!

3:00 – Artillery Drill and Demonstration: Learn about 18^th century artillery as the Militia fires

the Fort’s Cannon.

4:00 – Militia Drill & Retiring the Colours – The Washington County Militia demonstrates the

tactics and firearms used during the Revolutionary War, and then retire the flag for the day.

Camps Close to the Public: Join us tomorrow for another exciting day of 18^th century

living history.

 

Sunday, June 28^th    

10:00 – Raising the Colours:  Start the day off with a bang as the militia falls in for inspection

and raises the flag with a patriotic ceremony.

11:00 – Worship Service: Join us for Sunday Service held inside Fort Watauga.  

1:00 – Kids Militia: Attention all able bodied kids! Fall in and drill with the Washington Co.

Militia.

2:00 – Artillery Drill and Demonstration: Learn about 18^th century artillery as the Militia fires

the Fort’s Cannon.

3:00 – Militia Drill & Retiring the Colours: The Washington County Militia demonstrates the

tactics and firearms used during the Revolutionary War, then lowers the flag for the day.

Ongoing Activities Throughout the Weekend Include…

18^th Century Cooking Techniques and Foodways – Colonial Carpentry – Wool Spinning and Fiber Arts – Flintlock Rifle and Musket Firing Demonstrations – Colonial Woodsmen Skills

And Much More!

21st Annual Siege of Fort Wautaga, May 16 & 17, 2015

Militia is looking good

21^st Annual Siege of Fort Watauga

May 16 & 17, 2015

On Saturday, May 16^th and Sunday, May 17^th, Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area will host nearly 200 living history re-enactors for the annual Siege of Fort Watauga. Colonial, British, and Native re-enactors will converge at the re-created Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals to relive the days when America’s first frontier was the land beyond the blue ridge.

The Siege of Fort Watauga is a live retelling of the Cherokee attack brought on the settlers of the Watauga valley in the summer of 1776. At Sycamore Shoals, Fort Watauga offered protection to nearly 200 settlers during a two-week siege led by Cherokee War Chief, Old Abram, and 300 warriors.

Sycamore Shoals will once again be the scene of war during the Siege of Fort Watauga. The event lasts from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, May 16^th and10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday, May 17^th. Step back in time as you visit the fort, militia camps, British encampment, and Native camp. Be immersed in 18^thcentury frontier life as you witness daily aspects of colonial culture. See the clash of two cultures as the attack on fort Watauga is recreated both days at 1:00 pm. Also, attend our auction of 18^th century reproductions on Saturday.

Take advantage of colonial merchants selling period wares in “Sutler’s Row”. There will be several vendors offering a myriad of 18^th century reproduction items for the colonial enthusiast or the primitive decorator. Vendors this year include Zettlemoyer Pottery offering reproduction redware and other 18^th century pottery items, Trader Bob offering tanned animal pelts and hides, Ft. Vause Outfitters specializing in finished leather goods, and several other vendors offering everything from 18^th century reproduction clothing, weaponry, and original antiques, to replica housewares, hand-carved wooden items, and military accouterments.

Several Revolutionary War living history units will be in attendance and will make the 18^th century come to life during the weekend. Units include the First Maryland based in Hendersonville, NC, Musgrove’s Mill Militia and the South Carolina Rangers based in upstate South Carolina, and two British units; the 42^nd Light Infantry and the North Carolina Highland Regiment. The host unit is the Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia based at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. Numerous individuals also participate in the event portraying many 18^th century walks of life including Cherokee Natives, Backcountry Hunters, Farmers, Housewives, African Slaves, Commoners and Gentry.

For more information on this and other exciting events at Sycamore Shoals please contact the park at 423-543-5808 or visit the park’s website atwww.sycamoreshoalstn.org. Bring the entire family and see how your ancestors played a crucial role in our region’s history and in the formation of our nation. Hear the rattle of muskets, smell the campfire smoke, and see the 18^th century come to life at the Siege of Fort Watauga. This event is sponsored by The Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia and The Friends of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area.

Siege of Fort Watauga 2015 Schedule of Events

S A T U R D A Y,  M A Y  16th

10:00   Camps Open.

10:30   Raising the Colors & Militia Inspection (Fort Watauga)

11:00   Kids Militia Drill (Talbot’s Meadow – in front of Fort Watauga)

11:30   Colonial Games (Fort Watauga)

12:00   “Ms. Jane”, Colonial Frontier Slave Narrative: Ms. Lynette Stuart (Fort Watauga)

1:00     Battle Reenactment: “Siege of Fort Watauga”

2:00     “Recruitment of Children into His Majesty’s Service” (British Camp)

2:30     Field Music: Watauga Valley Fifes & Drums (Fort Watauga)

3:00     Auction (Visitors Center)

4:00     Salt Making on the Frontier: Mr. Jim Boardwine (Fort Watauga)

5:00     Camps Close. Please join us tomorrow for another exciting day of living history!

S U N D A Y,  M A Y  17th

10:00   Camps Open – Worship Service (Fort Watauga)

11:00   Militia Inspection (Fort Watauga)

11:30   Colonial Games (Fort Watauga)

12:00   “Ms. Jane”, Colonial Frontier Slave Narrative: Ms. Lynette Stuart (Fort Watauga)

1:00     Battle Reenactment: “Siege of Fort Watauga”

1:30     Field Music: Watauga Valley Fifes & Drums (Fort Watauga)

2:00     Ladies Tea & Sunday Social – Everyone Welcomed (Fort Watauga)

3:00     Retiring the Colors (Fort Watauga) Event Closed. Thank you for coming!

O N G O I N G   A C T I V I T I E S   T H R O U G H O U T   T H E   W E E K E N D 

Cherokee Lifeways and Demonstrations, Colonial Games, Salt Making, Tavern Keeping, Leather Work, Weaving, Food Preservation, Lard Rendering, Hand Sewing, Knitting, Flax Processing, Colonial Music, Open Hearth Cooking, Flintlock Firearms Demonstrations, 18th Century Militia Encampment, British Camp, And Many More Aspects of 18th Century Life!

18^TH  C E N T U R Y   M A R K E T   F A I R

Ft. Vause Outfitters, Daniel Boone of Kentucky, Zettlemoyer Pottery, Grubbs Station,

Wintergreen Farms, Roy Carter, Trader Bob, Squirrel Town Traders, Johnson and Moffett, McDuffies Trade, Shaun Harley: Pewterer

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, 1651 W. Elk Ave. Elizabethton, TN 37643

MAJOR BOGART SPEAKS: APRIL MUSTER AT CARTER MANSION, APRIL 11-12

Good Afternoon Washington Co.

Just wanted to remind everyone that the Carter Mansion Celebration is coming up on April 11-12. This is always a lovely event at a lovely place. I would really like to have a variety of activities going on. Please let me know if you would like to plan a demonstration, program, display, or presentation. Please let me know by the end of this month. As always we will have the skirmish at the Mansion so come prepared to fight. Also we will be having our special communion service during our Sunday morning worship time. There were so many positive comments from last year so we’ll definitely keep this as part of the regular activities at the Carter House event. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Thank You,
Major Bogart

Trade Days Muster, FEBRUARY 14-15, 2015

That’s how the militia felt this past weekend.

February is always an iffy month in Tennessee; some days are wicked, some days are spring-like. This past weekend proved to be the former in spades. There have been winter weather warnings for a few days before the event. They called for temperatures in the thirties by day and 3 degrees with windchill factors into the minuses. Anybody else would have had second thoughts about holding a muster in these conditions but we’re the Militia, descended from tough and hardy stock, iron men and women. A little snow and cold never stopped us before as it didn’t stop the Overmountain Men marching across the Roan. There was also the knowledge that Earl Slagle, God bless him rich and deeply, had gone through every cabin, filling in every possible place that was open with chinking material. Those that planned to stay overnight knew that we’d be warmer than we ever were before and with a full shed of wood, a semblance of comfort was achievable.

On Friday, Tony DeVault, myself and Kim set up our spaces for a long stay. Kim had a diamond fly under the trees outside the fort and actually slept there on Friday night. I worried about him but this mountain man knows what he’s doing.( He was persuaded to sleep in the Talbot House on Saturday; thank God he listened.) He also set up his outdoor smoker as he was planning to smoke six deer hides on Saturday. The Bennetts set up the Talbot House but they were smarter than us and day tripped it both days. Saturday night, Ethan and Scott Walling came and opened the Tavern so all but one of the buildings inside the fort were occupied. Friday night was cold, the sky was fully blanketed by clouds, but there was a luminosity that comes with a full or nearly full moon. It was eerie but beautiful and it was a cozy time for us, sharing food and stories. Before I went to bed I made biscuits and bacon for the morning and slept reasonably well except for getting up every few hours to stoke the fire. I could hear Tony doing the same, as I heard him at the wood shed every now and then.

Saturday was cold and clear, a good day for indoor activities. Lisa, Rachael and Susanna spent the day cooking and sewing, Tony was in the man cave doing woodworking, I cooked Saturday and did a wool processing demo on Sunday and of course, there was Ken with his hides. Many members came for the day including Ken Markland, Mel McKay, ,Bucky Claubaugh, Ronnie and Linda Lail, Donna and Doug Ledbetter, Earl Slagle, who had hand surgery right after he made things comfy for us, and daughter , Sarah, David (Who came after work) and Matt Simerly to name a few. It was especially nice to see Col. Bob McCrosky. He braved an irate wife to come out for a while to cheer us all on. He’s just gotten over pneumonia and Margie had every right to worry but Bob did come and we so loved it. Chad roused the militia to march from time to time, banging on the window saying “I mean it” (Mel: ” Militias don’t drill” as he laughed out the door, wooden musket over his shoulder). In spite of the bitter cold, there was a surprising number of people who showed up and while the wind whipped, Chad and the men did put on a fine cannon display each afternoon. For myself, I especially loved having the class from Milligan College who came, partook of chocolate cake and hot mulled cider and stayed a while. The professor was a very nice man, a country boy from west Tennessee, and he and Mel and Ken enjoyed a long conversation. I loved being in the cabin all day cooking and Mel, Ken and Tony made it ever so nice staying and talking. There was a lot of laughing coming through the door to be sure.

It was wonderful seeing Col. MCCroskey. Made my DAY!!!

After everyone left, we combined our food and had a wonderful meal and then after all the clean up, the crazy ones resupplied themselves with wood for the night before we turned in. The acid test was going to be making it through the night, with blowing snow, and arctic temps. I made it really well through the night but began to notice that my nose was filling up. I ascribed it to the dry heat but around 2 :30, I woke with a raging headache and knew that stopped up nose signaled a head cold. DAMN!! Thinking about the frontier women, I figured I’d just “man on” as they say and do the best I could. everyone had speculated that we would have a very mean number of people on Sunday with all the advisories for them to stay indoors, but would you believe???? Shades of Field of Dreams- to paraphrase the famous quote “If you build it, he will come” to “if you’re crazy enough to be there, somebody crazier will come”. Sure enough, when Chad was conducting services in the Talbot House, here came two women, one cradling a hairless Chihuahua in a blanket. Throughout the day, people did come and enter the cabins to see what they could see, but when the coast was clear, most everyone but me went to the Talbot House for company. I didn’t want to share the wealth and kind of isolated myself so I wouldn’t share what no one wanted.At 3 PM, precisely, colors went down and by 3:10, I was on the road with my cabbage of a head to a nice warm shower and bed, Vicks on chest, box of tissue in hand.

You can say what you want about the Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia, but the one thing that you can say the most is that this is one dedicated group of people who cheerfully keep alive the heritage of the area no matter what. Herodotus must have been looking into the future when he said “….these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.”

—Herodotus, Histories (8.98) (trans. A.D. Godley, 1924)

This is a close as anyone could be taking pictures. it was just too dang cold!

Musings about Colonial Skills and Trade Days, February 14-15

The Tavern/Blockhouse: Beautiful but Freezing!

Colonial Skills & Trades: Militia Muster at Fort Watauga
Saturday, February 14 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, February 15 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Visit Fort Watauga and step into a colorful Revolutionary world. Reenactors portray a variety of characters, from hunters and farmers to land speculators and backcountry gentry. Walk among colonists and native people who share their pasts through talks, mini-dramas, and demonstrations of 18th century life.

Militia drill

When one goes to Fort Watauga as a volunteer, sometimes one can lose sight of the real drama that shaped our past in this part of the world. Speaking for myself, I get busy with staging one of the cabins which the rangers have generously allowed me to do and to stay in while I’m there (aka The Ramona Inn), figuring out what to have as a public demonstration, making sure things are as authentic as I can make them. I spend days figuring out what to make for meals for me and my friends, how to stay warm and every now and then, think how people must have lived in this spot two centuries ago. Jennifer , in her write-up about the next event , wrote about the kinds of people the public can expect to find in the fort, talking about their histories and demonstrating 18th century living skills. I ask myself periodically who these native people, farmers, back-country gentry really were and how the colonists, a group of very independent , self-reliant people, came together to form a prolific community which became cohesive then and still endures now. Every time I go to an event there, I review the history of the area and its people and this helps me to refocus on the two truly important things: the people who sacrificed their comfort, their sharing with family and in some cases, their very lives or that their children, and secondly, the ability to share this history with the people who come to visit in a way that is immediate and relavent. It was really the back country, the back of the beyond, claimed by a people a thousand years ago, in danger of losing their ancestral land, but still willing to trade and live with the new comers for the most part. It makes me wonder how natives and settlers coexisted and wonder about the feelings of those who sensed that their time on their ancestral ground would soon end. I find myself continually amazed by the strength or maybe the desperation of the settlers. It’s thought provoking that anyone, especially the women, could have survived here, must less thrived here, for long and it’s a testament to their ethnic character that they were able to hack out a living in this place. When the fort is very quiet and there aren’t a lot of people there, I stand outside listening to the night noises, look back into the cabin whose only light is a fire in the hearth, a candle and a lamp and wonder how anyone except the most hardy could have actually made it there. The area is manicured now and safety and convenience are nearby, but what did a woman see and hear then? It’s a thought I take with me when things get hectic during the day.

In reminding myself of what went on here in the past, I came across this EXCELLENT book excerpt, written clearly and succinctly . It’s definitely well worth the read.

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/tennessee.htm

APRIL MUSTER: CARTER MANSION CELEBRATION APRIL 13-14

The Major finding inspiration before service.

Carter Mansion Celebration

Saturday, April 13 & Sunday, April 14

Sponsored by the Washington Co. Regiment of North Carolina Militia

Travel back to the 1780s… The American colonies have declared Independence, but the outcome of this bitter struggle is still in question. Hardy frontiersmen have crossed the mountains in defiance of British law and have carved out homes in the wilderness. Conflict is rising between American Patriots, Loyalists who support the Crown, and native Indians who struggle to retain their way of life. But the people of this time still find cause for celebration, merriment, music, and the arts; so come out and see it all come together at the oldest frame house in Tennessee.

The Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion, built ca. 1775-1780, boasts beautiful over mantle murals, hand carved moldings and raised panels making it one of the most treasured sites in Tennessee history. The house is the only surviving link to the famed Watauga Association, the democratic government set up by the early settlers in the Watauga Valley. The home’s builder, John Carter, served as a chairman of the Association.

The Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia, Sycamore Shoals’ host living history organization, will be celebrating its four-year anniversary during this exciting celebration! The Militia will be encamped on the grounds of the Carter Mansion and will present demonstrations of the daily lives of 18th century backwoods settlers. As part of the activities a re-enactment of a small battle between Patriots and Tories will be presented each day.

Local craftsmen and artisans will be on hand throughout the weekend showcasing and demonstration traditional arts and crafts. Other activities throughout the weekend will include Tours of the Carter Mansion: Tennessee’s oldest frame house, Militia Drill, Musket and Rifle demonstrations, Traditional and Old Time Music, Storytelling, Colonial Military Music by the Watauga Valley Fifes and Drums, and much more. Come join us for a weekend of History, Entertainment, and Family Fun!

The Carter Mansion is located on the Broad Street Extension in Elizabethton, TN. For further questions or directions to the Carter Mansion, contact:

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
1651 West Elk Ave

Elizabethton, TN 37643

(423) 543-5808

http://www.sycamoreshoalstn.org

http://www.washingtoncountyregiment.wordpress.com