We are on the eve of a very important election. Much has been said about the Constitution and what is Constitutional so let’s take a few weeks and look at the foundational letters written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the creation of the US Constitution. The comment tab is open. Please share your …
Continue reading “Federalist #8: The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States”
Randell Spackman and I just agreed that there will be a Colonial Brewing Class at Thornbury Farms on November 7. Details are still in work but like all of my classes, this will be a limited space offering so I am announcing now so those of you who want to secure your seat have a …
Continue reading “ANNOUNCEMENT: We are planning a Fall Brewing Class”
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 …
Spies sometimes need to transport things in secret through enemy territory. Simply refusing to comply with searches at border crossings or military checkpoints will immediately raise suspicion to they must find a way to allow themselves to be searched while keeping the messages or other contraband safe. To accomplish this, they often employ the smugglers’ …
Continue reading “Colonial Spymaster (#14) — Hidden Compartments”
One of largest series of Antifederalist essays was penned under the pseudonym “Centinel.” The Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer ran this 24 essay series between October 5, 1787 and November 24, 1788. This selection is from the eleventh letter of “Centinel,” appearing in the Independent Gazetteer on January 16, 1788. The evils of anarchy have been portrayed …
Continue reading “Antifederalist No. 6 — The Hobgoblins of Anarchy And Dissensions Among The States”
Hang around any group of reenactors and you will always see them with a haversack. Even though most of us throw our car keys and wallet in there, it’s not a purse. It’s an essential piece of military kit that dates back to the Middle Ages. The haversack gets its name from the Dutch word …
We are on the eve of a very important election. Much has been said about the Constitution and what is Constitutional so let’s take a few weeks and look at the foundational letters written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the creation of the US Constitution. The comment tab is open. Please share your …
Continue reading “Federalist #6: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States”
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 …
Continue reading “Every Wonder Why We Call it a “Duffle” Bag?”
When Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River in 1535 in search of the Northwest Passage, he met 50 canoes filled with Micmac Indians, who signaled a desire to trade by waving furs on sticks. This began the very fruitful trade between Canada’s First Peoples and the Europeans, first the French and later the …
A common procedure used by spies to pass information to their contacts is through the use of a “dead drop.” The spy places the message in a prearranged unattended location, often hidden, and leaves it. Later, his or her compatriot will come and collect the message. Using a “dead drop” means that the spy and …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 