Camden, 2011

The Revolutionary War Field Days in Historic Camden was on November 5-6 this year. There were so many things to do, as well as reenactors to talk to about life during the Revolutionary War. Dr. Christine Swager and I told stories about three Revolutionary War women who fought against the British and Tories. Throughout the two days, there were artillery demonstrations, a fashion show, fife and drum performances, and colonial craftsmen. 

The Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site is called an outdoor museum on a 98 acre plot of land. On this weekend, there is a time warp as many walk the paths in colonial costumes. I met Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and he was just as witty as I imagined.

There were shops on Sutler's Row where we could buy replicas of these times. A baker was set up right next to our tent, and the lines to go in his tent were always there. Right before we left, I finally broke down and bought toasted sourdough bread with melted cheddar.

The Battle of Hobkirk's Hill was reenacted on Saturday. The preparation was evident in the camps, as men from both sides readied themselves for their parts. This battle took place on April 25. 1881, but the cannon and musket firing gave reality to the men who fell to the ground.

In the camps, life went on without interruption. There were meals to fix, mending to do, and knitting to complete.

Children of all ages played with sticks, balls, and whatever was lying around. I saw no X Box games set up. A wooden spoon beat a cadence in the background.

The camp was in constant motion and activity. Small children carried buckets to get water. There was practice with bows and arrows. Above is the evidence of hunting expeditions with the tanning of hides. To survive in the eighteenth century, everyone had to be a participant.

The artillery demonstrations helped the visitors realize that everyday life had in its background the possible sounds of enemy fire at all times. The bright sun and cloudless sky could have been deceiving.

I wonder what these two soldiers were talking about. It appears to be a serious discussion. Even though both are at ease, there is an intensity in their stances. I guess the camaraderie in the military never changes, whatever the war under discussion.

     This brings to my mind a quote by Peter Muhlenberg from a Lutheran sermon read at Woodstock, Virginia in 1776. "There is a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away. There is a time to fight, and that time has now come." 

King's Mountain Celebration, 2011

Thomas Jefferson called the Battle of King's Mountain "the turn of the tide of Success." It was fought on October 7, 1780 during the Revolutionary War. It was the first major patriot victory to occur after the British invasion of Charleston in May, 1780.      There is a 26 minute film, produced by the History Channel, that gives an excellent overview of the battle, as well as introducing the major players.      After watching the movie, you will want to visit the museum. There is an original Ferguson rifle there, as well as many artifacts found on the site.       Each year the National Parks Service invites the public to view a reeenactment of this battle, visit the camps of reenactors, and see how the army lived during a campaign. The living history demonstrations make the world of the eighteenth century  come alive.     On Saturday, October 8, of this year, I had the opportunity to be a part of this year's celebration. With my knitting in hand and my books ready to autograph, I spent the morning beside Dr. Bobby Moss, the noted author of nine books on the Revolutionary War. What a privilege to talk to him!

I was asked to speak about the lives of women during the Revolutionary War and set up a table of pewter, wool, knitting, corn husk and church dolls, a butter churn, paddle and mold, etc. This was my version of show-and-tell.

Gourds were used for containers and dippers; today we see them made into clocks  or decorative pieces. Someone has called them the natural Tupperware. I believe it helps all of us to both see and touch articles that we aren't familiar with to get a better understanding of their usages.

This butter pat was my husband's great, great grandmother's. Even with much use, you can still tell that one side is flat for patting the butter into the mold. The other side is rounded for allowing the whey to fall back into the crock. Even though my churn is made of crockery, rather than the more typical wood, it shows a different container used during these times.

This butter mold is also a family heirloom that has a carved out design for the presentation top of the butter.

 I showed balls of virgin wool from both lambs and sheep that look and felt quite different. Then I had yarn spun from that same herd of sheep. Lastly, there was a wool blanket, hand made from their wool. The children were quite interested in how long it all took to get from the sheep to the blanket; my only reply was that it took a long time. Does anyone know the approximate length of time from shearing to laying the blanket on the bed?  

Pioneer Day in Gray Court, South Carolina

On the second weekend in September, Pioneer Day is celebrated in Gray Court, South Carolina. The Gray Court-Owings Historical Society was organized in February, 2001 with fourteen dedicated members and has grown to thirty members. It was founded to preserve the history and historic structures of this small rural area.

 The two small towns of Gray Court and Owings grew up around the railroad to serve the small farming communities nearby. The first European settler in the area was Richard Owings III who brought his family from Owings Mill, Maryland about 1757. His son Richard Owings IV was a patriot in the Revolution. The area has much historic value and as yet luckily has evaded the swath of the bulldozer and development. The towns consist of old homes and buildings and there is beautiful farmland outside the town limits.

 The Culbertson Back Country Settlement is on a beautiful two-acre circle on the old Georgia Road in Gray Court, just in front of the old Gray Court cemetery on the hill. This is where Pioneer Days is celebrated. The road was an old wagon road to Georgia that once was traveled by stagecoach to the Dorroh Inn just down the road. The Settlement consists of two log cabins, a block house, a one-room African-American school, corn crib, 1882 church, and a blacksmith shop. All of these structures have been given to the society and were in need of rescue.

 

As you can see, great attention to detail in the restoration of this log cabin give it a life of its own that takes visitors back to the 18th century.

As you can see, the porch is held up by sturdy rocks.

 The rock chimney stands tall, and the back country settlement gives a visual of our ancestor's way of life.

 Inside the cabin were teen age girls working with wool. They happily explained the process from carding to spinning.

 This loom was set up to finish a rug.

 Costumes were worn by the young and old. This girl was decked out from head to toe as a Cherokee. She said the moccasins were quite comfortable.

 This family goat posed for the cameras of many.

 It was hot around the fire, but all day the blacksmith continued to create small tools from his forge.

This September day brought many smiles to our faces, as we met new friends.

 And it was time for the parade! There were walkers and animals of all descriptions. The street was lined with spectators. Dianne Culbertson and Sarah Jane Armstrong, the organizers for this event, led the way.

 There was much clapping for our flag.

 As I said, there were animals, too. This pig and goat walked sedately with their caretakers.

 Most were in colonial dress.

 Many chose to make bricks that day, and the process was a surprise. I heard someone say that maybe some of the Lowe's and Home Depot personnel would be surprised at the old way of doing things.

 These two handmade quilts were beautiful. Besides being exhibited, they were given away in a raffle. I admit to being a bit jealous of the winners.

 This lady was making another quilt. Her stitches were small and precise.

 These hand carved spoons were made of various woods indigenous to our region, including peach.

 There was a group of Cherokee Indians at this event. They entertained many with their storytelling, drum playing, and explaining their costumes.

 Mark C. Anthony, the SCSSAR President presented a program on American flags and their history that fascinated many.

 For every age, there is something to look at, listen to, and learn from.

 In the Owings Music Hall, the shape note singers sang from 9:00 to 4:00. They started in the morning with a hymn and a prayer. Several times during the day, I went to sit at the back and savor their music.

On the second Saturday in September, the public is invited to celebrate our American heritage in Gray Court, South Carolina. Bluegrass music and barbecue are additions to this day, as well as friendly people to answer your questions about this part of our history. You will want to put this festival on next year's calendar!

Festifall at Walnut Grove

 Every year the Spartanburg County Historical Association hosts a two day historical reenactment at Walnut Grove Plantation in Roebuck, South Carolina. This was the home of Charles and Mary Moore; it was built in 1765. During Festifall, hundreds of reenactors camp out for two nights and share their expertise of what life was like during the 18th century. Spinning wool into yarn was a simple, but time-consuming process.

Spinning wool into yarn was a simple, but time-consuming process.

Dressed in their colonial costumes, they will both explain and answer questions about their activities. In front of this lady are the dyed skeins of yarn.

Besides dressing their parts, the blacksmith will be making hinges and nails at his forge. Broom making, basket weaving, and buckets and barrels made by the cooper are all demonstrated.

No, this dachshund was not dressed for battle. Its owner did have her dressed up for the occasion though. The dog posed well for pictures, but only at a distance. Her attire brought in her own personal audience.

This is a small spinning wheel that was portable. In comparing it to the chair, you can see how handy this was for the housewife.

Carding was an important step in the making of cloth. After the shearing of the wool, it was cleaned with these carders. The metal combs took out any twigs or burrs.

This handcrafted wagon would have been used for hauling corn or any other similar task. At this point the children were enjoying playing with it.

As author and illustrator of Courageous Kate and Fearless Martha, we also chose to dress as my protagonists would have dressed. Besides selling my books, John cut silhouettes of the children.

There is a reenactment of the skirmish that actually took place at Walnut Grove in the fall of 1781. The roar of muskets is loud, and the reality hits home as we see "soldiers" fall to the ground. Because of the militia arriving in time, the house was not burned to the ground, even though lives were lost.

As you can see from the smoke, there is reality to this battle.

There is contrast all over the grounds during these two days. I saw men, women, and children going about daily tasks as they worked hard to put food on the table, take care of crops and animals, see to their family's needs, and fight a war for independence at the same time.

These militiamen are mustering together. Just as they would have been dressed during the Revolutionary War, these Patriots wore their regular clothes. They had no uniforms, but the military drills were serious.

Walter Edgar quoted in his book, Partisans and Redcoats, that a "man's best friend was his rifle." Those rifles were never far away from their owners.

During the eighteenth century, children dressed like adults.

There was never a moment of idle time during this century. Meals took a long time to prepare, whether it was in a home in the fireplace or outside over an open flame. Mending was an endless task, and because each person had few clothes, they had to be kept in wearable condition.

The cars in the distance certainly don't seem to belong to this fireside scene, but it is part of the spell that is Festifall as you step back in time and see first hand how our ancestors lived. Visitors come back every year, because there is so much to see. If you have never visited Walnut Grove Plantation, I encourage you to put it on your list for next year.