Mount Vernon Memorial Park HERITAGE DAYS - Presidents Day Feb 19

Come see the Delaware Regiment at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, CA, near Sacramento. The event has many eras and participants. Rain or shine, 10 am to 2 pm.

Revolutionary War Days in Nevada City, CA - Sep 2017

"Revolutionary War Days"

9-10 Sep 2017

Nevada City, CA

After Action Report

On September 9^th and 10^th, 2017, the "Revolutionary War Days" event was held for the fifth year at Pioneer Park in the Gold Rush town of Nevada City in Northern California. The event was conducted by the Haslet's Delaware Regiment (Brigade of the American Revolution), and was sponsored by the Nevada City Constitution Day Commission. Nevada City celebrates Constitution Days that weekend, including a parade on Sunday afternoon. California’s official fife & drum band, the California Consolidated Drum Band, provided period music throughout the event and during the parade. The British Brigade’s 33^rd Regiment of Foot supported its members’ participation at the event, joined by a New Jersey Loyalist.  The living history encampment included tented stations of Revolutionary War era civilian life and activities, fife & drum station, and an encampment of soldiers’ tents.

 Demonstrations included:

·   flag raising and lowering to fife & drum

·   soldier weapons inspection, manual of arms drill and firing demonstrations

·   skirmish between opposing forage parties

·   firing contest between Redcoats and Continentals

·   fife & drum concerts

·   replica George Washington camp tent with bed, desks, accouterments and chairs, telling stories of the “real” George Washington

·   kids drill with replica muskets

·   colonial chocolate beverage

·   apothecary/surgeon

·   milliner

·   soldier camp life

·   town crier narrating events and telling Revolutionary stories

·   soldier uniforms, weapons and equipment

·   Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) station on genealogy and American flags

·   History Hunt with kids completing a sheet of questions on the Revolution and identifying various camp activities, with a reward of several Ben Franklin gold coins (chocolate)

Public attendance was estimated to be about 300; good considering the very hot summer, although event weather was milder.  Those attending stayed at the encampment a long time listening to stories of the Revolution, watching demonstrations, asking questions and taking in the atmosphere. Eight large color placards told the story of the Revolution year by year. Visitors collected pamphlets of the US Constitution & Declaration of Independence at the event.  Drilling the public with replica muskets was again a huge hit and amusing to watch for spectators.  Redcoats and Rebels competed in a “volley firing while advancing” race, with both sides firing very effectively and the Redcoats taking a close victory. Reenactors from Southern California and Nevada joined local reenactors at the event. An evening group dinner at a nearby Nevada City restaurant in uniform provided well deserved relaxation and entertainment. The event concluded on Sunday afternoon with a Constitution Day parade with the CA Consolidated Drum Band, Delawares and 33rds marching as a joint entry through downtown Nevada City.  (We placed 2^nd in the parade, behind the Submarine Veterans.)

We had a splendid time helping children and adults understand and appreciate the story of the courageous men and women who lived these times.

Huzzah!

Brandywine Battlefield Preservation 2017

Congratulations to the Civil War Preservation Trust, who have added Revolutionary War battlefields to their mission. And congratulations to our friends back in Delaware, the 1st Delaware Regiment, shown in the picture.

9-10 Sep 2017 - Revolutionary War Days in Nevada City, CA!  Come join us!

Delaware Regiment "Revolutionary War Days" at Nevada City 2015!

"Revolutionary War Days"

12-13 Sep 2015

        After Action Report

 

Revolutionary War Days at Nevada City, CA 2014

"Revolutionary War Days"

12-14 Sep 2014

Nevada City, CA

After Action Report

On September 12^th through 14^th, 2014, the "Revolutionary War Days" event was held for the second year at Pioneer Park in the Gold Rush town of Nevada City in Northern California. Certainly small by Eastern standards, but by all measures for a relatively new event in Northern California, it was highly successful. The event was conducted by the Haslet's Delaware Regiment unit in Northern California, and was sponsored by the Nevada City Constitution Day Commission. Nevada City celebrates Constitution Days that weekend, including a parade on Sunday afternoon. A Friday afternoon was added to the event to gauge public interest and schools interest, for possible future school programs.

This was a living history event, without battles. The encampment included tented stations of Revolutionary War era civilian life and activities, Fife & Drum station, and a line of soldier tents.  Demonstrations included flag raising and lowering to fife & drum, weapons inspection, soldier drill and firing, fife & drum music, kids drill with replica muskets, apothecary/surgeon, textile making, milliner, making of chocolate beverage, stories of the Revolution from our University historian, a station depicting soldier uniforms, weapons and equipment with a map of the colonies showing a timeline and battle locations of the War, and a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) station. Soldiers included the Delaware Regiment, 33^rd Regiment of Foot, Loyalists and French.

 

Our historian "Town Crier" announced demonstrations during the day, provided "context" and background to a variety of demonstrations, and read portions of the Declaration of Independence during flag raising.

The California Consolidated Drum Band (the official California State Fife & Drum Band) played inspirational period music at flag raising and lowering, during the event, and during the parade.

 

Public attendance was estimated to be over 400; good considering very hot weather during the event, and those attending stayed at the encampment a long time asking questions and taking in the atmosphere. A local newspaper conducted interviews, and the event was on the front page of Saturday paper. Many visitors collected pamphlets of the US Constitution & Declaration of Independence at the event.

Reviews from the public were enthusiastic regarding the knowledge of the living historians and their enthusiasm. Friday afternoon attracted one school group and several groups of homeschoolers.

Drilling the public with muskets was again a huge hit and amusing to watch for spectators. Two very

young ladies were dressed perfectly and were lovely young ladies with charming manners complimented on by the public.

 

The event is starting to attract enough soldiers to consider addition of a small "skirmish" in next years' schedule.

 

One of many comments from the public: "My family of seven came Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to participate in the event and the Constitution Day parade. We had a great time! My 11 year old daughter Olivia especially enjoyed the Chocolate discussion: hearing it three times, and also the wool/spinning/knitting discussion - please let the “lady that had a farm in Pennsylvania, who was a widow” know that Olivia enjoyed her talk, and has started collecting Onion Skins [for dyeing textile]."

The event concluded on Sunday afternoon with a Constitution Day parade with all the reenactors through downtown Nevada City. The Delaware Regiment and California Consolidated Drum Band were awarded First Place in the Parade.

 

All in all a splendid several days helping children and adults understand and appreciate the story of the courageous men and women who lived these times, British, French and American.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Huzzah!