A sextant is an intimidating complex instrument. It consists of an A-shaped frame with an apex of 60° on a sextant or 45° on an octant. Along the rounded lower edge of the frame is an arc, the limb, that is marked with numbers for the degree of the angles that the sextant can measure. An index …
Continue reading “Colonial Surveyor – Determining your Position using Celestial Navigation”
Yesterday, six intrepid explorers ventured out of the western sallyport of Fort Mifflin on a survey mission to map a path to the High Batteries. It was a rough day weather-wise but our surveyors persevered to not only find these ruins but to do so with a high degree of accuracy. Between 1866 and 1876, …
October 17, 1778, General Charles Cornwallis raised a flag of truce over the fortifications at Yorktown after having suffered not only the combined French and American attack but also disease, lack of supplies, inclement weather, and a failed evacuation. With the French navy in the York River and siege lines advancing on his position, defeat …
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. May 30, 1783 – The Pennsylvania Evening Post became America’s first daily newspaper. Benjamin Towne published the first issue of the Post on January 24, 1775. The paper was supportive of …
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. May 29, 1790 — Rhode Island became the last of the 13 States to ratify the US Constitution. Rhode Island became the 13th state to enter the Union after …
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. May 29, 1787 – At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, the Virginia Plan calling for a bicameral legislature, an executive, and a judiciary branch of government was proposed by …
“Hands on” 18th Century Surveyor class May 29, 2021 — 11:00 am & 2:00pm (two sessions) 11:00 – 12:00 Mapping the Fort (urban surveying)Military survey of grounds inside the fortPreparation of plat plan for use by military architect1:00 – 2:00 Wilderness Survey (beyond fort’s walls)Military survey of trail and paths to mortar casematesPreparation of surveyor’s …
We will be conducting an 18th Century Surveying Class on May 29th at Fort Mifflin. Join us to learn the art and science of surveying the land in the 18th century manner. We will measure and map the Fort interior at 11 am and learn basic surveying and mapping skills then take a “Wilderness” expedition …
Continue reading “Mapping the Fort – 18th Century Surveying at Fort Mifflin”
Navigating from point to point is a relatively simple task for most surveyors or mariners. You establish a compass bearing from where you are to your intended location then measure out the distance (or in the case of sailing a speed and a time) to the new location giving what we call today a vector. …
Continue reading “Vector Computations without the Benefit of Modern Trigonometry”
We will be conducting an 18th Century Surveying Class on May 29th at Fort Mifflin. Join us to learn the art and science of surveying the land in the 18th century manner. We will measure and map the Fort interior at 11 am and learn basic surveying and mapping skills then take a “Wilderness” expedition …
Continue reading “Mapping the Fort – 18th Century Surveying at Fort Mifflin”
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 