The American Revolutionary War, officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in September of 1783 but most of the fighting ended with the Siege of Yorktown in October of 1781. Because of the treaty negotiations, the Continental Army did not fully disband until 1783. Army service does not pay well and in …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
Spy vs Spy: George Washington’s and King George’s Spies (#1)
America’s Most Famous Spy — Dr. Benjamin Church Long before Benedict Arnold defected to the British, Benjamin Rush committed treason against the Continental Congress and the Army. Like Arnold, Benjamin Church seemed the paragon of the patriot cause but he was likely paid for his treason and ultimately died in disgrace. Church was a member …
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Historical Tidbits — The Lightning Experiment
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. June 10, 1752 – Benjamin Franklin demonstrates that lightning is a form of electricity. This kite experiment will make Mr. Franklin one of the most famous men in the …
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Basic Colonial Brewing #11 — Managing Heat
A friend of mine recently comment that my 18th Century brewing demonstrations are so much more relaxed than what they see when modern methods are used. WOW! It must be like the duck on a pond – calm above and paddling like mad below. Even when you ignore the added complexity of simultaneously speaking to …
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Historical Tidbits — HMS Gaspee BURNED!
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. June 9, 1772 – The HMS Gaspee, a British customs ship that ran aground in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The Gaspee, commanded by Lieutenant Dudingston, was engaged in a …
Historical Tidbits — Lord Dunmore Leaves Williamsburg
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. June 8, 1775 Lord Dunmore retires to British shipping. Dunmore and his family fled the Governor’s Palace in the middle of the night and took up residence aboard the Fowey. Want …
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A Proper Gentleman’s Club
A traditional gentlemen’s club was a private social club originally set up by and for British upper-class men in the 18th century. These clubs were, in effect, “second homes” in the center of London where men could relax, mix with their friends, play parlor games, get a meal, and in some clubs stay overnight. Expatriates, …
US Marines in the American Revolution — Ohio River Row Galley
Summer 1782 As Rogers Clark was faced with the monumental task of maintaining military control over the Ohio River valley. With few men at his disposal, he decided to construct an armed row galley for use in securing the navigation of the Ohio, particularly at the mouths of the Miami River and Licking Creek. By …
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A Belt on the Disc of Saturn
We all know about Saturn’s rings. They were first observed by Galileo in 1610 but what about the planet itself. Turns out most of the focus of early astronomers (indeed even modern astronomers) has been on the rings but take a look at this letter in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London …
Beer Recipe: Valley Forge Spruce Ale
The encampment of Continental Army at Valley Forge (12/19/1777 — 6/19/1778) is known as the time of the greatest suffering. By the end of the encampment, almost a forth of the original army had died of disease, exposure, and privation. The food was said to have been both bad and infrequent. Even though food was …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 