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Living History
in the
Lake
Champlain and Lake George Region |
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by James P. Millard
Committed
to realism and historical accuracy! |
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We here at
America's Historic Lakes are not re-enactors. It is not something we have been drawn to, and to be frank, in the past we haven't
paid much attention to the many gatherings that have taken place at
regular intervals throughout the area. That all changed on a hot day in
June, 2000 when we attended The Grand Encampment of The French and Indian
War at Ticonderoga. We came away with a new appreciation for Living
History- and the many dedicated individuals who pursue it with such zest
and passion. We think these photos tell the story quite well. Nothing else
comes quite as close to showing what it was really like... |
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The
Grand Encampment
of the French and Indian War
Ticonderoga New York
June 2000
(or is it 1757?)
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(Click
on thumbnails to see a LARGER photo*)
Camp views
The encampment was something to behold, if anything shows the dedication
these folks have towards historical accuracy and realism while they are
attending these events
it is the camps. To step into the camp is to step back in time...
we felt out of place with our cameras and other modern-day gadgets- trespassers
in an ancient time.
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French Marines march
We assume they were Marines- we
know they were impressive. Disciplined, stately, heroic in their white
uniforms with dark tri-corn caps. They marched onto the battlefield to the
cadence of their regimental drummer. Their ensign- we think it read "PER
MERE ET TERRAS," was majestic in the hot summer breeze. Occasionally, as
they waited patiently for the order to advance, they would break into an
unfamiliar French tune.
 
British troops, Colonial militia, Rangers, on the march
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The English speaking soldiers
were represented, as in colonial times, by a variety of groups. There were the
Grenadiers- impressive in their huge, if impractical, hats. The Rangers proudly
took the field, marching up in their distinctive green garb. The Colonial
militia, looking as they truly were, like individuals- less disciplined and
regimented than their colleagues in the regulars. The Indians- proud, certainly
distinctive, unruly and undisciplined, accustomed to their own manner of communicating
and warfare.
The Battle- The British advance
Battle scene: below the Fort. British
advance
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French Battle lines
Capitulation, with honors
French parley with Indians
We know there were Mohawk and
Abenaki present... some struck the warpost with the Francaise, they were usually
accompanied by the Black Robes of the Jesuits, others aligned themselves with
the Great Father in England, others still took a "wait and see"
attitude.
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French Marines,
Indians
 
Black robes, Indians
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Want to know what's coming up?
Bulletin Board and Schedule of Upcoming Events
As a public service, The Lake Champlain and Lake
George Historical Site is providing a Bulletin Board and Schedule of Upcoming
Events to the History Re-enacting Community. If you would like your event
listed at no charge on one of the leading history-related websites in the
country, simply send us an email with the details to:
webmaster2@historiclakes.org |
Twitter, too!
