Jul 24, 2009

Congradulations to the Campers


Campers sing choruses at the closing ceremonies of the 2009 Old Barracks Summer Camp. The ceremony concludes a week of fun learning about colonial army life, crafts, music, and food. At the proceedings they demonstrated how they learned to drill and march in formation and handle a play musket. Parents proudly watched the performances as the campers did their maneuvers and sang, accompanied by the Fife and Drums.

The camp was highly successful. We had full attendance with 30 campers. Attendance is limited by the number muskets, on hand. The 6th Regiment USCT was able to sponsor 4 campers at $250 each! Its well worth the effort to give kids in the community the opportunity to have this experience. This yearwe reached out to the West End Community Center who found interested kids and parents.

Unfortunately, for the 2nd year, the Barracks didn't have enough sign up for the music camp. The regiment sends interested cadets to learn the fife or drum at this camp so they can form up with the regiment at events as musicians. Sergeant Major of the Drums Gyasi Mann, who grew up in the hobby as a musician in the Barracks Fife and Drums, also instructs them in Civil War period music.


The campers thoroughly enjoyed camp. We'll be looking to bring the 12 year olds into our cadet corps to participate in events with the regiment.

Align Center

Jul 15, 2009

Play Roast Beef!




Photos





Line Up for Chow

Line Up for Chow

see larger image

uploaded by leonbrooks




At the command "Play Roast Beef", the Fife and Drums played this Revolutionary War tune that calls the troops get into formation for a meal. Today the troops here are campers, 9 to 12 years old, attending the Old Barracks Summer. The campers prepared the lunch themselves. On the menu was common pot stew, Johnny cakes, colonial bread, and honey butter. Historically, common pot stew was made by all the soldiers putting whatever they had to eat in the stew pot, so everyone would have something to eat.   Through the recreation of camp life as it was 200 years ago, they experience in Continental Army, Campers learn to:



  • Cook in the 18th century manner

  • Make  their own 18th century soldiers gear!

  • Sing and dance to 18th century music!

  • March to local historic sites and drill according to Baron von Steuben's Manual of Arms!

  • Make things using  colonial crafts!


Every year the 6th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops  sponsors minority youths to attend this camp, and invites them to participate in reenactments in the hope that they will learn that this is a part of their heritage - so one day, they can also tell the story of true freedom fighters.HUZZAH!


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Jul 6, 2009

After Action Reports

Battle of Monmouth Reenactment June 27th

The 1st Rhode Island Regiment participated only on Saturday. We had a good turn out at this event, fielding 10 reenactors, including 2 musicians. Upon arrival we setup camp and reported for morning drill. Because we were late we formed up with the militia instead of being assigned to a company of regular army. The commander deployed the militia by section to practice light infantry tactics and flanking maneuvers. Afterward, we returned to camp to greet visitors. There was a steady stream of visitors. Mostly, we interacted with individuals and small groups as they stopped by our camp, conversing and answering questions, telling the story of the 1st RI and blacks in the American Revolution. Sometimes our group would shift into 1st person, portraying fictional or historical characters from the period to debate each other on issues, or relay the characters experience in their terms. More formal presentations were given for larger groups.


For the afternoon battle reenactment there was large crowd of spectators. The Continental army marched across the field to form up in the woods. Our company while the other to to the field first. There was a brisk artillery exchange. Historically, this battle had the largest artillery engagement of the war, so it is great to have a lot of batteries to represent this aspect of the battle. When the time came are company deployed on the left flank to form up the whole battalion. The British and the American forces engaged according to the script as the crowd watched. After the battle the troops paraded off the field as narrator announced regimentnames in the order they marched.

We had one minor injury on the field when one reenactor received a flash burn from a musket that didn't have a flash guard attached. As with all reenactments an equipment safety inspection had been conducted. While a flash guard may not be required to pass inspection, the use of one is prudent. At future events it is recommended that a check for an attached flash guard be madepart of the inspection.


Lincoln Bicentennial Festival and Independence Day Parade 7/3-7/5



July 4th weekend the 6th USCT joined the 3rd USCT in Philadelphia for the Lincoln Bicentennial Festival and Independence Day Parade. A Civil War Union Army encampment was set up on the grounds of the Constitution Center. We fielded 4 troopers and 2 cadets. The 22nd USCT had 2 troopers. With the 3rd we were able to muster 12 to march in the parade. The 3rd regiment, based in Philadelphia, set up the exhibit fly tent. Inside there were tables displaying items such as uniform parts and various items a soldier would carry to the field, informational poster boards with photos.

The flow of visitors was continuous. Our tents were at the southeast corner of the grounds where tour buses often stopped to offload passengers, and directly across from Independence Mall. Other regiments and exhibits filled the grounds and visitors were treated to a number of ongoing activities and presentations - music, medicine, Navy exhibit, drill and troops on parade.


Security considerations restricted some things normally part of an encampment. We usually stack arms. Not long after we had stacked our rifles a National Park Service ranger informed us that we couldn't have any unsheathed bayonets at the event. For the same reason, soldiers at guard posts couldn't affix their bayonets. Normally there is a rifle firing demonstration at these events, but firing caps and powder cartridges were banned from the grounds.

The constant flow of vistors kept us very busy. At least two or three of us were usually engaged conversation with visitors. Many came to see the encampment, but most seemed to be out for the July 4th weekend and dropped by to see what was going on. We got to tell the story about US Colored Troops, which many appreciated. They often expressed awe and bewilderment that they never heard this information before, or that the movie Glory didn't tell all the story.

Many visitors wanted to have their photographs taken with us. We let them wear a uniform hat and coat and hold a rifle for the picture. This was very popular with the visitors who queued up for the chance.


Submitted by Cpl Leon Brooks
I would like to setup a Lincoln 2oo visitors memory photo album fromthe event. If you would like your photo included, please email a copy to 6thusct@gmail.com