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Vol. 1 No. 7
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BY JUDITH DORATO O’GARA The British are coming! And, for that matter, so are the French and the American Revolutionists. In fact, from October 15-17, history itself will come alive at Millis’ Oak Grove Farm, as the town prepares for the largest scale war reenactment it has ever seen. Over 700 re-enactors, from as far south as Pennsylvania and New Jersey and as far north as Vermont, will make their camp on the 109-acre parcel of land to participate in the “Fight at Richardson’s Tavern.” “We’ve been planning this event for two years,” says Nathan Maltinsky, of the Millis Historical Commission, which sponsors the event with the Lexington Training Band (www.lexingtonminutemen.com). About 20 people worked together on a committee for the event, and 45 individual regiments have signed up to participate. The event has been sanctioned by Northern Department of the Continental Line and is cosponsored by His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot (www.redcoat.org) and the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment (www.2ndmass.org). The public is invited to attend, starting Saturday, at no charge, although the Historic Commission does suggest a $10 donation in order to recoup the $5,000 it has spent to make the event happen. Spectators are advised to wear comfortable shoes and are cau-
You Say You Want a Revolution Revolutionary War Re-Enactment Coming to Millis, Oct. 15-17
tury clothing, and soldiers won’t necessarily have uniforms. According to the Historic Commission’s Mark Slayton, “A lot of Americans were basically farmers and tailors and cobblers, and they didn’t have military uniforms. They basically came in what they were wearing,” he says. “So, when you see the Lexington Minutemen, you’ll see the British decked out in their uniforms, but you’ll see the Americans in civilian garb.” Soldiers won’t be the only ones dressed in “kit.” Sutlers, or traveling merchants, will also set up at the event. These vendors will be dressed in period clothing, selling everything from Revolutionary-era clothing to 18th century military accoutrements. There will also be fife and drum as part of the encampment.
Shown here at Oak Grove Farm in Millis, Lexington Minutemen Eric Chetwynd (left), Bill Poole and Brad Chetwynd came dressed in “kit” to a planning meeting for the Revolutionary War Reenactment to take place here on October 15-17.
tioned not to bring pets. (Past Civil War re-enactments have frightened dogs and caused safety issues.) In addition, the Commission is selling electric “Millis Liberty Candles,” for $5 apiece to raise money for the event.
and an artillery drill, which demonstrates how cannons are filled.” In addition to military exercises, two battles are planned on the large field, one on Saturday at 3 p.m., and the second on Sunday at 2 p.m.
“It will be kind of like Plymouth Plantation, where they’ll be in character all the time,” says Maltinsky. “They will be portraying camp life with cooking over the fire. There will be drilling exercises, including musket drilling
According to Maltinsky, the event will present a “What If?” scenario. This is not meant to portray a particular battle, although many of the re-enactors will portray particular individuals. Rather, the scene evokes what might have
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happened had the two armies, the Americans, having lost the Battle of Rhode Island, and the British, advancing on a supply depot in Wrentham, encountered one another in October of 1778. Lexington Minutemen and the British re-enactors worked together to develop a battle story to present a realistic skirmish that might have occurred between cavalry, artillery and infantry. The battle re-enactors will be dressed in all manners of 18th cen-
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Women and children will be seen dressed in character as well, says Maltinsky. These are known as the “camp followers,” and according to Maltinsky, “It was not uncommon for officers to bring the family along with them (to battle). The women would do the laundry and cook for them,” he says. The civilians of the camps, in fact, will conduct their own events. A sewing circle and ladies tea will be held on Saturday, and a fashion show and children’s games take place on Sunday. Millis historians will be resur-
WAR RE-ENACTMENT continued on page 2
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