Showing posts with label Siege of Yorktown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Siege of Yorktown. Show all posts

Friday, October 18, 2013

Battle of the Hook Event Schedule

We have the event schedule and can not think of a better time to be posting it than now.  So here it is.

Return to the Hook Schedule of Events: Saturday, October 19 The Inn at Warner Hal


9 a.m.
Site opens to the public

9:30 to 10 a.m.  
Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Warner/Lewis Cemetery – Warner Hall Cemetery

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Battalion Drill – All Armies, Respective Drill Areas

10 to 10:30 a.m.
Artillery demonstration, Main Battlefield

11 to 11:30 a.m.
French Boat Landing and Skirmish with Crown Troops - Boat Landing Battlefield

11:30 to noon
Colonial Ladies Program and Tea – Manor House Front Porch

11:45 a.m.
A Revolutionary Drama – “James and Elizabeth” – Manor House Stage (creek side)

1:30 to 2 p.m.
Cavalry Demonstration, Crown and Allied Forces - Main Battlefield

2 to 2:15 p.m.    
Encounter with Mrs. Whiting – Main Battlefield

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Battle of the Hook - Main Battlefield

4 to 4:30 p.m.
British Public Court Martial – British Camp

4:30 p.m.
Site Close to Public

6:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Dusk Artillery Demonstration - Main Battlefield

6:30 to 7 p.m.
Storming of Redoubt – Main Battlefield

Sunday, October 20

10 a.m.
Site opens to the public

10 to 10:30 a.m.
Period Church Service – Arts and Education Tent

11 to 11:30 a.m.
British Boat Landing, and Skirmish with Allied Troops - Boat Landing Battlefield

12:15 p.m.
British Brigade Sending for the Colours Ceremony

12:30 p.m.
Massed Military Music – Manor House Stage area – (creek side of house)

12:30 p.m.
British Artillery Drill – Main Battlefield

1 p.m.
Fashions of the Revolution – Manor House front porch

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Attack on the Gloucester Redoubts – Main Battlefield, all troops

3 p.m.
Event closes
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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

American Revolution - Liberty's Kids - Going Home



Liberty's Kids, episode number 39, Going Home.  Even though the war was pretty much over, other troubles were just beginning.  The independence we just own had it's own new issues that were being realized.  The foundations for this new nation had to be built in order to make sure this new nation could survive.

As we end this section working with Liberty's Kids, which has been such a pleasure, we have been stating that we have every intention of continuing our Liberty Education Series and we already have a number of other videos we will be working with along with continuing to bring books and articles about our nations history.  Plus we are moving ever closer to an extraordinary event coming to Gloucester, Virginia in October known as the Battle of the Hook.

  The Battle of the Hook is an American Revolutionary battle that took place before the battle in Yorktown happened, effectively cutting off Lord Cornwallis's planned retreat route through Gloucester, Virginia.  Cornwallis really was surrounded.  If you look at the Articles of Capitulation of Lord Cornwallis that we published here a few days ago, you will see that not only did Lord Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown, but at Gloucester, Virginia as well.

  This is rarely covered in the history books as it is not as exciting as the rest of the story of the final defeat.  Even the Liberty's Kids videos missed this.  October 19th and 20th, 2013, one of the nations largest Revolutionary War re enactments will take place on the grounds of George Washington's grandfather's estate, Warner Hall, in Gloucester and will include sea battles.

  That is truly exciting.  One of the area's seldom covered about the American Revolution are the prisoner's of this battle.  So today we are bringing you a special e-book that covers just that.




This is a custom edition we put together.  Nathan Hale is on the cover of this edition being questioned by the enemy in Montreal.  This e-book is also great for those researching family genealogy.  We are also including one of our Fife and Drum videos here as part of the American celebration of History.

  
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Sunday, August 11, 2013

Yorktown, American Revolution Special Edition




Liberty's Kids, episode number 36 of 40 episodes.  Yorktown.  We are almost through with this section of our Liberty Education Series and it has been a pure pleasure to work with these videos.  They are impressively well researched and presented.  Though we found a few faults and a few areas of question, those areas were minor and not worth arguing overall as we also considered the audience for these videos.

Today we are presenting a number of special e-books as they relate to this episode and are a real education to the founding principles of this nation.  So this is an extended series today.

We are beginning with Peggy Owen.  The story of a Quaker family.  Quakers were against every form of war, until it was realized that the American Revolution was more than just a war for freedom to govern ourselves.  It was a total revolution of the principles of Christianity itself.  Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, liberty, independence are all tied together for a reason.  They are the foundations of this nation and there has never been freedom from religion as so many want you to believe.




Free downloads of this e-book are available on our SlideShare site.  You will have to sign in with either a Facebook account, LinkedIn account or create a free account to access the free download.  You can read it here online by clicking the icon in the lower right hand corner to enlarge the book into a full size screen view.

  Our next book are letters written by General Lafayette to a host of famous people of the period.  It is a first hand look of what the situation really looked like.



Both of these books are full and complete and represent incredible detail to the War for independence.


Pictured above is the schooner, Alliance, sailing the York River.  In the background is Gloucester, Virginia.  This shot was taken from the yorktown beach.  The area where the Battle of Yorktown was fought and American Independence won.


The above is a picture of one of the types of canon found on the ships during this war.  This canon is from the Kalmar Nyckel, taken while docked in Yorktown.


This picture gives you a real world idea of what fortifications actually looked like and how they were used.  If you were charging towards these, you had no easy way of penetrating them.  


  
Actual canons used in the American Revolution at Yorktown.  These are on permanent display along with a lot more all over Yorktown.

Tomorrow we have more special surprises prepared for this series.  Stay tuned for more incredible content. 


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Saturday, August 10, 2013

James Armistead, American Revolutionary Double Agent Spy



Liberty's Kids episode number 35, James Armistead.  The first double agent spy of the American Revolution under the command of General Lafayette.

After getting consent of his master, he volunteered in 1781 to join the army under General Lafayette. He was stationed as a spy. First he spied on Brigadier General Benedict Arnold (by this time, Arnold had defected from the American Continental Army to lead British forces). After Arnold departed north in the spring of 1781, James went to the camp of Lord Cornwallis. He relayed much information about the British plans for troop deployment and about their arms. The intelligence reports from his espionage were instrumental in helping to defeat the British during the Battle of Yorktown.

While pretending to be a British spy, Armistead gained the confidence of General Benedict Arnold and General Cornwallis. Arnold was so convinced of Armistead's pose as a runaway slave that he used him to guide British troops through local roads. Armistead often traveled between camps, spying on British officers, who spoke openly about their strategies in front of him. Armistead documented this information in written reports, delivered them to other American spies, and then returned to General Cornwallis's camp.

Although Virginia passed a manumission act in 1782 allowing for the freedom of any slave by his or her owner, James remained the property of William Armistead. (A 1783 law targeted specifically at freeing slaves whose owners had used them as substitutes for army service in exchange for their liberty did not apply to James). However, in 1786, with the support of William Armistead (then a member of the House of Delegates) and carrying a 1784 testimonial of his service from the Marquis de Lafayette, James petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. (The facsimile of the letter of commendation can be viewed on the Lafayette College website.[2]). On January 9, 1787, the Virginia Assembly granted James' petition. At that time he chose to add "Armistead" and "Lafayette" to his name, to honor the general.[3]

He continued to live in New Kent County with his new wife, one son and several other children. He became a farmer and at one point owned three slaves.[4]By 1818 he applied to the state legislature for financial aid. He was granted $60 for present relief and $40 annual pension for his services in the Revolutionary War.




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Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Battle of the Hook Reenactment in October To Include Amphibious Landing, Cavalry, Recreated Period Tavern and More, According to Recently Released Schedule of Events

Battle of the Hook Revolutionary War Reenactment Returns to Gloucester Oct. 19-20 at the Inn at Warner Hall

Gloucester, Va. (PRWEB) July 25, 2013


The British are coming back, with the Americans and French, too.
And now we know exactly what time. On Oct. 19 and 20, the Allies will engage the British Legion and other Crown forces in a reenactment of the 1781 Battle of the Hookthat took place in Gloucester County, helping win the Siege of Yorktown and America's independence.
A full schedule of events for the event – the largest Revolutionary War reenactment in the country – was released this week for the community.
Saturday, October 19 at the Inn at Warner Hall
9 a.m.

Site opens to the public.
Live field archeology dig and demonstration on the grounds of historic Warner Hall.
Display of actual artifacts from the Battle of the Hook and related historical paintings and art.
Period music, civilian and military.
18th century farm setting with live animals.
Colonial tavern demonstration.
Dramatic presentations.
Camp life in the British, French, and American camps.
Display of art and writings done in commemoration of the Hook.
Period sutlers and craftsmen displaying and selling their wares.
Food service.


9:30 to 10 a.m.

Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Warner/Lewis Cemetery


9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Battalion Drill.


10 to 10:30 a.m.

Artillery demonstration, battlefield.


11 to 11:30 a.m.

French Boat Landing and Skirmish.
Colonial Ladies Program.


1:30 to 2 p.m.

Cavalry Demonstration, battlefield.


2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Battle of the Hook, battlefield, all troops.


6:30 to 7 p.m.

Dusk Artillery Demonstration, battlefield.


7 to 7:30 p.m.

Storming of Redoubt.
Closed to the public.


Sunday, October 20 at the Inn at Warner Hall
10 a.m.

Site opens to the public.
Live field archeology dig and demonstration on the grounds of historic Warner Hall.
Display of actual artifacts from the Battle of the Hook and related historical paintings and art.
Period music, civilian and military.
18th century farm setting with live animals.
Colonial tavern demonstration.
Dramatic presentations.
Camp life in the British, French, and American camps.
Display of art and writings done in commemoration of the Hook.
Period sutlers and craftsmen displaying and selling their wares.
Food service.


10:15 to 10:40 a.m.

Period Church Service.


11 to 11:30 a.m.

British Boat Landing, and Skirmish.


1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Attack on the Gloucester Redoubts, Battlefield, all troops.


4 p.m.

Event closes.


The reenactment will bring together more than 1,000 infantry, cavalry, artillery and maritime landing reenactors from across the country at the Inn at Warner Hall, home of President George Washington’s ancestors.
“This Revolutionary War reenactment celebrated General Washington’s victory over the British Army,” said Warren Deal, the Battle of the Hook planning committee’s chairman. “Historic battles will be brought to life by living historians. Recreated military units from across the country will encamp near the actual battlefields where the American Revolution was won after six long years of fighting.”
This is the second Battle of the Hook reenactment. The first took place at the same location nearly five years ago.
The events leading up to the Revolutionary War’s Yorktown Campaign and the subsequent victory of the Allies that insured the independence of the United States are well known. Less well known is the Battle of the Hook – the battle that took place across the York River from Yorktown 16 days before the British capitulation. Although rather brief, it included the largest cavalry engagement of the war, with more than 500 horsemen involved.
The Battle of the Hook reenactment in Gloucester is being financed entirely by donations, including the educational programs.
Donations are tax deductible and checks should be made out to First Virginia Regiment and mailed to Battle of the Hook c/o First Virginia Regt., 1596 N. Village Rd., Reston, VA 20194.
The Inn at Warner Hall is located roughly three and a half miles from U.S. Route 17 and a 30-minute drive from Colonial Williamsburg. The battlefields of Yorktown are within 15 minutes and Jamestown, America’s first settlement, is a 50-minute drive along the scenic Colonial Parkway. The state capitol of Richmond, the Norfolk Harbor, and Virginia Beach are within an hour’s drive.
For more information about the Battle of the Hook, visit http://www.battleofthehook.org.
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