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By Bob Sullivan As a sutler selling eighteenth century printed material, one of the most asked questions I receive is, âWhy did they use âfâ instead of âsâ? Well, good reader, it is not an âfâ. It is an ancient Saxon character called an âethâ character. The eth character made its appearance in printed matter…
By Kim Newell Music serves as the alarm clock, walkie-talkie, and bullhorn of the American Revolution. All soldiers should be able to recognize and know what to do when they hear these verbal cues. Practice areas are set up where fifes and drums can play near the camp. Any sounds coming from elsewhere in the…
by Jim Newell, German Regt. Thankfully, no battles occurred there during the RevolutionâLancaster was much too important for that. The Borough of Lancaster was home to the Continental Congress in 1777 after the advancing British forced the evacuation of Philadelphia and before they moved on to York, Pennsylvania. Lancaster, some 50 miles west of Philadelphia,…
By Sgt. Addison P. Leftfoot Editorâs Note: Sgt. Leftfoot has served with several re-enactment units and often claims to actually âchannelâ the spirit of Frederick William Baron von Steuben himself when questions about drill arise. Look for Sgt. Leftfootâs Musing & Maneuveringas a fairly regular column in The Continental Soldier. Questions or suggested topics for this column can…
By Don Hagist This article is reprinted, with permission, from âThe Brigade Dispatchâ At the time of the American Revolution, a method for a soldier to show surrender or submission was to club the firelock, that is, to hold it shouldered but reversed, with the butt in the air and the muzzle down. Although this…
By John U. Rees Recently the proceedings of a number of British courts martial have been brought to light, providing another window on the day-to-day activities of common soldiers and their retainers (most notably in several articles in The Brigade Dispatch, Journal of the Brigade of the American Revolution). The following document, found in the…
By David McKissack â 7thVirginia, Continental Line The Road to Guilford Courthouse : The American Revolution in the Carolinas.John Buchanan. Retail Price: $30.00. Hardcover, 464 pages. Published by John Wiley & Sons. March 1, 1997. Unlike most people, reenactors know that much of the American Revolution occurred south of Philadelphia and Boston. Some are even…
By Don Hagist This article is reprinted, with permission, from âThe Brigade Dispatchâ A British newspaper carried an announcement for a fair called the Yattendon Revel, to be held on July 10 & 11, 1782. Among the activities was a Jingling Match by eleven blindfolded women, and one unmasked with bells, for a very good…
By Sue Huesken â 1stNew Jersey Regiment What You Donât Know CAN Hurt You! Ticks are active during the fall as well as spring and summer. The Blacklegged tick (formally called the deer tick) and the LoneStar ticks are the two types of major concern when it comes to transmitting disease to humans. Approximately 50%…
By James E. Newell â German Regiment, 1stContinental Regiment of Foot In the 20th century, we find it difficult to place ourselves in the mindset of the 18th century. In the words of one historian, âOne finds it necessary to disencumber his mind of prejudices unconsciously imbibedâ. We take for granted the plentiful supply of…