Yorktown Victory Center Continental Army Encampment (Part 2)

Earlier this week we had the privilege of touring the Yorktown Victory Center and it's various areas of living history.  Today we are going to cover the Continental Army Encampment.  Again, a super job of recreating an historical view of what life was like during the American Revolution has been extremely well done and again, this one area alone is worth the visit for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of American History.

  One section of the encampment focuses on military operations and demonstrations of firing both muskets and canons are done throughout the day.

An interpreter, well versed in history, explains every step of preparing to fire a musket in a military lineup.  He goes through all the steps and fires the musket into an area free from any form of endangerment to any humans or species.  Once done, he further explains the steps for reloading and demonstrates the process until he once again fires a second shot.

Pictured above is part of a table of tools and weapons used during the period.

Multiple canons are on display and yes one of them does actually get fired.

There are a number of muskets on display and if you have never had the opportunity to hold one in your hands, you get a chance to do so here at the encampment.  Again, this is a living museum and many areas are hands on.  How often do you get such a grand opportunity?

There are numerous tents that you can go into and explore what life was like inside one of these.

Attention to detail is never lacking.  There are surprises around each corner and if you have your camera ready, you have some great opportunities to take advantage of.

An entire area has been dedicated to what cooking for the troops was like and even includes the supply shed.

Foods and their preparations are fully demonstrated.  The above is only a very small sampling of what you will see.

Pictured here is the troops laundry area and costs for having someone wash your cloths for you based on the money used during that period.

There is also the encampments doctor with all his tools and medicines used during the time and he covers their uses in full detail.  Sure we have pictures, but the objective is to get you to pay a visit and see everything for yourself and start your own educational process.  While we seek to educate as many people about our nation's history, we have found that taking a hands on approach gives a more true appreciation for such.  With that said, this is why we are promoting area museums and sites and will continue to do so.  It's a combined effort to bring our nations history to as many people as possible for a greater appreciate of what this country really is and can once again be.

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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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Armistead  Source information link.

The Cook Foundation Announces Battle of the Hook Art Competition in Commemoration of the 1781 Revolutionary War Battle Free Images Supplied

Battle of the Hook- By Chuck Thompson of TTC Media (Photo credit: Battleofthehook)

A Battle of the Hook reenactment will return to Gloucester, VA Oct. 19-20 at the Inn at Warner Hall.

Free Images Available From GVLN.  See Bottom Of Post.

Calling all artists!

The Cook Foundation is pleased to announce it will sponsor a Battle of the Hook poster competition in commemoration of the 1781 Revolutionary War battle that will be reenacted in Gloucester, VA Oct. 19 and 20 at the Inn at Warner Hall.

Original paintings, drawings and silhouettes are accepted.

Submissions should depict the Tidewater, Virginia region from 1776 to 1781 and feature the themes of perseverance, endurance and courage.

The winning entry will receive a $500 prize.

The competition is open to ages 18 and up. The winning entry will become the property of the 7th Virginia Regiment, who will use the artwork to produce a commemorative poster.

The winning artist will also agree to sign a limited number of the reproductions and be available for advertising and promotions.

The $25 entry fee is tax deductible.

Completed applications must be postmarked by Aug. 15 and mailed to Gloucester Parks, Recreation & Tourism at 6467 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061. Applications are available athttp://www.battleofthehook.org.

Artwork must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26 at the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust at 6894 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061. Artwork can be dropped off Aug. 23 and Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The winning entry will be announced Sept. 4 and unveiled at the Inn at Warner Hall’s Battle of the Hook Patriot Dinner on Sept. 11.

ABOUT THE BATTLE OF THE HOOK

On October 19 and 20 a reenactment of the 1781 Battle of the Hook that took place in Gloucester County, helping win the Siege of Yorktown and America's independence.

The reenactment, one of the largest recreations of a Revolutionary War battle, 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 Inn at Warner Hall, where the reenactment will take place, 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.

ABOUT THE COOK FOUNDATION

The Cook Foundation is a non-profit, private foundation in Gloucester, VA dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the community through the support of local arts and architecture. The Cook Foundation promotes aesthetic awareness and pride in the community. In June, the Cook Foundation presented its 7th Annual Symphony Under the Stars – a free family concert by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

For more information about the Cook Foundation, 

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10912498.htm  Link back to PR Web where article came from.

Need free images for your poster creation?  We have over 40 images we are giving free license to.  We will not be entering the contest for many reasons such as we do not like nor trust them.  We already have a poster for the Battle of the Hook we have been giving away and we already sell posters for the Battle of the Hook on this site.  Our profit is near nil on the posters for sale.  We didn't even want to make a profit on them but our hosting service does not allow us that option so we have the lowest margin on the Battle of the Hook collectibles we are allowed.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94782749@N03/sets/72157633201363512/  Link to our Battle of the Hook free licensed photo images.  You are free to use them any way you want.  We only ask that you give us credit for any image used.  It does not have to be in an obvious place, but must be given. The photos can be used for commercial purposes as well without royalties.  So design away.

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Yorktown, American Revolution Victory Video You WIll Love

We have chosen to help the serious lack of education about the history of our nation via cartoon videos, comics, e-books and every other form of media to help re educate or educate the people of this great nation.  We invite one and all to experience Americanism and American History in a fun and exciting way.  Learn what caused us to fight for our freedom to begin with.  We are going to be sharing a lot more of these videos here to help bridge the gap on the very serious lack of education about our nations history.  Every media tool we can use will be used to help in this area.

This (attributed to ) originally appeared during the , but was recycled to encourage the American colonies to unite against British rule. From The Pennsylvania gazette, 9 May 1754. Abbreviations used: South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England. This is a somewhat odd division: New England was four colonies, and Delaware and Georgia are missing (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Mass American Government Gun Confiscation Fails

Open Letter to the Citizens of Gloucester County Virginia,

“For the Common Good. “  Have you ever read the Constitution of the United States?  How about the Constitution of Virginia?

The year was 1775 the British Crown decided it was time to take the guns away.  Do you know the stories? A silversmith passed the warning protecting the magazines of Lexington and Concord.  The shot was heard around the world as the story goes.  The British Crown Governor of Virginia attempted the same thing in Williamsburg.

Because the British government failed I can say Happy 4^th of July to you!

Today we celebrate our freedom because of the brave men and women that found they had more in common than differences and worked together to get rid of a common enemy.  They united a group of colonies for their common good drawing up a rule of law establishing a Democratic Republic to protect us from mob rule.

The individuals were as afraid of mob rule as a king and they worked hard to establish a government that takes the consensus of the elected officials to make laws and rules.  These founders knew they had to make it difficult for changes ensuring that there would not be mob rule.

Let’s look at the government; the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state as one leg of the legislature.  The Senate, as originally formed had two representatives from each state selected by the state governments – changed constitutionally to be voted in by the state population the second leg of the legislature.  The President, approving or disapproving the laws sent to him.  The other parts of the government, the Court System, judges appointed by the president and approved by the senate, deciding if laws are constitutional or not; and the final leg of the government a free and independent press to inform the voters what is going on to allow the voters to concur or to let their elected official know they do not approve of what is going on.  Read the constitution to learn more.  What is going on in our federal government shows us the founders did it correctly.

Some points I would like to share; currently the government has a problem with individuals having semiautomatic rifles, firing one bullet with each pull of the trigger, while the military has automatic rifles that can fire three bullets to emptiyng the magazine depending on the setting used by the soldier.  At the time of the forming of our country American’s had superior weapons to the British Army.  The American Muskets had rifled gun barrels allowing more accurate and longer range shooting than the muskets used by the British Soldiers.  The Bill of Rights had had no problem with this.  Also, at the End of the Civil War after General Lee surrendered to General Grant; Grant allowed the Southern Soldiers to take the pistols and rifles home with them as stipulated in the terms of surrender.

During World War II the Axis Powers were not afraid of our military if they invaded us (but they learned better) they were afraid of the American population and its ability to defend itself.  During the Cold War, the Soviet Military was not afraid of our military.  The Soviets did not invade us because they knew there was no way they could defeat and control our country with the number of civilians that had and knew how to use our civilian weapons.

“Live Free or Die” what else is there to do when you think of our 4^th of July.  “For the common good.”

Sincerely,

Alexander James Jay

P.S.  Those that do not know history are doomed to repeat it.

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