Colonial Spymaster (#15) — Exploiting Potential Turncoats

All spying tools and techniques have little worth unless you have a reliable source of information.  A great deal of useful information can be acquired passive observation.  Troop counts and movements, rumors, and observations of the comings and goings in the enemy camp can give you insights on what they plan to do but the …

Historical Tidbits — The Incredible Fear the British Bayonet Charge Creates

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, it’s good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. October 7, 1763 — Royal Proclamation of 1763, issued by King George III, forbade all settlement west of a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains, which was delineated as …

Historical Tidbits — Royal Proclamation of 1763

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. October 7, 1763 — Royal Proclamation of 1763, issued by King George III, forbade all settlement west of a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains, which was delineated as …

Historical Tidbits — BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN

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. October 7, 1780 – BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN:  Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson of the 71st Foot.  Coming after a series of …

Historical Tidbits — Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton taken

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. October 6, 1777                Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton taken On October 6, 1777, the British Army, led by Henry Clinton, attacked Forts Montgomery and Clinton, supported by cannon fire …

Every Wonder Why We Call it a “Duffle” Bag?

If you make your tent out of ordinary “canvas” you are going to get wet in the rain.  Canvas is a stout cloth, probably named after cannabis (Latin: “hemp”), made by tightly weaving material, mostly cotton, wool, and linen. This definition has not been that precise forever since the word canvas has come to signify …

Historical Tidbits — The militia attack on Fort Wilson – October 4, 1779

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. On October 4, 1779, the home of James Wilson, a noted Pennsylvania lawyer, was attacked by the Pennsylvania militia.   Wilson was accused of profiteering and being sympathetic to the …

Historical Tidbits — Battle of Germantown

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. October 4, 1777                Battle of Germantown After taking the American capital, British General Sir William Howe positioned two brigades and a contingent of Hessians troops in Germantown.   Much like …

Colonial Spymaster (#12) — Disguises

If you are routinely going places where the enemy discusses, either intentionally or unintendedly, matters of military or political significance, you may wish to remain anonymous.  To do this, spies employ disguises.  The most common disguise is to simply change your clothes.  Sometimes soldiers sent on reconnaissance missions would wear civilian clothes such as when …

US Marines in the American Revolution –The Evacuation of Fort Billingsport

2 October 1777 Defenses along the Delaware River were planned to protect Philadelphia, the capital of the new republic, against a possible invading naval force. Aware of these defenses, the British entered the Chesapeake and took the capital by the land route. By late September 1777, the enemy was in the rear of these defenses …