Fort Loudoun Day 18 May 2024
Why and When is Fort Loudoun Day observed?
Fort Loudoun day is usually celebrated on a Saturday closest to 18 May, because it was 18 May 1756 when Colonel George Washington writes in a letter, "I am also detained here [Winchester VA] to construct and erect a fort [Fort Loudoun], which the Governor [Lt Gov Dinwiddie acting as Gov in lieu of absentee Gov Lord Loudoun] has ordered to be done with expedition."
In 2016 on Washington's birthday, a reenactment group was created to portray one of the companies of the Virginia Regiment who built that fort.
That group is the Captain George Mercer Company of the Virginia Regiment. George Mercer also doubled as Aid de camp to Colonel George Washington. The group usually celebrates with the French and Indian War Foundation who owns part of the site of that Fort Loudoun.
For more pictures on Fort Loudoun Winchester VA see this link.
18 May 1756 or 3 May 1756?
Although we use May 18 as the official start date of building the fort, May 3rd is the actual authorization to start, ratified by the House of Burgessess.
Henings Statues:
Henings statutes always show the March 25 date – the start of the session — at the top of each page.
.
See this act of legislature, Chapter II, XVI, page 33, specifying the building of a fort in Winchester VA. Or this link.
.
Journals of the House of Burgesses:
The March 25, 1756 session, ending May 5, 1756, is covered here on page 335 to 397 of the 1756-178 Journals of the House of Burgesses.
.
The Journals of the House of Burgesses actually show the law passed May 3rd in that 1st session of the House of Burgesses beginning March 25, 1756.
May 3, 1756
The Governor has commanded me to lay before your House a Letter
from Col. “Washington,
dated at Winchester,
the 27th of April last,
inclosing Letters from several “other Officers of the Regiment.”
And the said Letters were read, and thereupon,
.
Resolved,
That a strong Fort
n the County of Frederick,
for the further Security
of the Frontiers
of this Colony.
.
Source:
Journal of the House of Burgesses.
.
Declaration of War
The day before Colonel George Washington wrote his letter about building Fort Loudoun, war was officially declared, despite that war in actuality started 2 years before.
Fighting undeclared unofficial wars is not new.
Many battles have already been fought when this war was "unofficial." Battles such as July 9, 1755, Braddock's Defeat. Battles such as July 3, 1754, Fort Necessity. Battles such as April 18, 1756, the Battle of the Great Cacapon. These are just the highlights of the many battles and skirmishes that have already scared all the "back inhabitants" to leave their homes to go back to east of the Blue Ridge.
Even James Wood, the Founder of Winchester leaves Winchester with his family to Stephensburg (Stephens City).
On 9 May 1756, William Fairfax, in a letter to Colonel George Washington, mentions James Wood leaving Winchester : ". . . Colo. Jas Wood’s Removal with his Family, added to the Fears of many people below, thinking He would not desert his Plantation without the utmost Necessity."
.
May 17, 1756
Virginia did not know that Great Britain declared official war on the day before Fort Loudoun construction began.
This declaration took awhile to cross the Ocean Blue and then to travel from Williamsburg to Winchester.
Wikipedia had it right.
17 May 1756
Source for that date of 17 May 1756
This link is now broken because the sale at Christies was completed. The Declaration of War was sold.
The text of the Declaration of War:
.
August 15, 1756
Colonel Washington
got word of this
ordering for the next day,
Sources
.
18 May 1756 was a Busy Day
This day May 18, 1756 was a busy day
when starting building of Fort Loudoun.
Just look at the correspondence here.
And One more thing . . .
Executions of the Men listed below
were delayed
this day of May 18, 1756
Nathan Lewis was convicted of cowardice for returning to Fort Edwards from the Battle of the Great Cacapon. And a Henry Campbell convicted for embezzling and then for deserting twice.
.
Nathan Lewis still ALIVE?
As late as 18 May 1756, some 2 weeks after the Court Martial’s sentencing, Sergeant Nathan Lewis is still living.
.
Washington writes 18 May 1756 letter to Adam Stephen who is still at Fort Cumberland.
.
“…Instances of this are now before them of Nathan Lewis, Corporal James Thomas, and Henry Campbell—all under Sentence of Death—The first for his cowardice at the action at Edwards’s; the others for desertion. I have a warrant from the Governor for shooting of Lewis, and shall delay the execution until the arrival of the new Recruits [ see orders 18 May 1756 reaffirming this point ] . The others were tried but to-day; and the proceedings of the Court will be sent to the Governor; if he approves the Sentence—I shall make it my particular care to see them executed; as I shall every individual that offends in the like cases.7 “
.
As late as 23 May 1756, Nathan Lewis is still alive. GW in Winchester VA, writes to Lt Gov Dinwiddie, notes Nathan Lewis’s status:
.
"…as Lewis against Cowardice: whose execution I have delayed until the arrival of the Draughts. "
That's it.
That's our lead story.
Research notes below, list some of the above information and also lists some details of past Fort Loudoun Days.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces.
Discover some resource links.
Compiled by Jim Moyer, updated 3/20/2017, 4/4/2017, 4/6/2017, 5/17/2017, 2/6/2018, 3/5/18, 3/27/2018, 5/12/2022, 5/17/2024
.
What still stands there at the site ?
The Well.
The well still exists.
Go to the Well of History.
See a video of the well still there built by George Washington's men:
Research Notes
In this year of 2022, we are covering 1758. The Virginia Regiment is still staffing and building Fort Loudoun. Lt Charles Smith, the Foreman of the building crews, reported the status of Fort Loudoun on 23 Feb 1758. See that story and the report here.
Why do we have a Fort Loudoun Day?
.
We try to celebrate it on the weekend before or after as close to May 18 as we can.
.
.
.
Fort Loudoun Day is based on a
May 18, 1756 letter GW writes
about starting construction of the fort.
.
Col George Washington writes from Winchester VA to Lt Col Adam Stephen at Fort Cumberland May 18, 1756 :
.
18 May 1756 letter Col George Washington in Winchester VA writes to Lt Colonel Adam Stephen who is at Fort Cumberland – Click on picture to enlarge. Hit backspace to return here. Click on source to see more.
Sir: When I wrote to you last,
I expected to have been at Fort Cumberland ere this; . . .
.
I am also detained here [Winchester VA] to construct and erect a fort, which the Governor has ordered to be done with expedition.
.
As it will be necessary to have a number of Carpenters, &c. to carry on the work with spirit, and vigour;
.
18 May 1756 letter Col George Washington in Winchester VA writes to Lt Colonel Adam Stephen who is at Fort Cumberland – Click on picture to enlarge. Hit backspace to return here. Click on source to see more.
you are desired to send down all the men of Captain George Mercers Company;
.
those that are there of Captain Bells.
.
All the men that are really skilled in masonry: and if all these do not make up fifty; you are to complete the party to that number, out of the best Carpenters in other Companies.
.
Source:
.
Col George Washington writes to Lt Col Adam Stephen
.
Sketch of the Well at Fort Loudoun. This well still exists today. This sketch is by James E Taylor embedded with the Yankee General Sheridan Campaign headquartered in Winchester VA
.
Although we use May 18 as the official start date of building the fort, May 3rd is the actual authorization to start, ratified by the House of Burgessess.
.
Henings Statues:
The authorization date is often confused when looking at Henings statutes. Henings statutes always show the March 25 date – the start of the session — at the top of each page.
.
See this act of legislature, Chapter II, XVI, page 33, specifying the building of a fort in Winchester VA. Or this link.
.
Journals of the House of Burgesses:
The March 25, 1756 session, ending May 5, 1756, is covered here in on page 335 to 397 of the 1756-178 Journals of the House of Burgesses.
.
The Journals of the House of Burgesses actually show the law passed May 3rd in that 1st session of the House of Burgesses beginning March 25, 1756.
.
May 3, 1756
The Governor has commanded me to lay before your House a Letter from Col. “Washington, dated at Winchester, the 27th of April last, inclosing Letters from several “other Officers of the Regiment.” And the said Letters were read, and thereupon,
.
Resolved,
That a strong Fort be with all Expedition and Dispatch erected at Winchester, in the County of Frederick, for the further Security of the Frontiers of this Colony.
.
Page 393 Journal of the House of Burgesses of its session starting March 25, 1756
.
.
.
Declaration of War
May 28, 1754
Historians date the start of the French and Indian War to Jumonville Glen.
.
July 9, 1755
Even though, a major battle had occurred – Braddock’s Defeat, declaration of official war had not occurred.
.
Norman Baker, historian for the French and Indian War Foundation, discovered the exact outline of Fort Loudoun. His disovery was proven accurate by subsequent archeological dig. For many years legends guessed the site to be more south on the Fort Loudoun apartments grounds. Click on aerial photo to enlarge.
May 17, 1756
Virginia did not know
yet that
on the day before
Fort Loudoun construction began.
.
August 15, 1756
Colonel Washington
got word of this
ordering for the next day,
.
.
.
ONE MORE THING.
This day May 18, 1756 was a busy day
when starting building of Fort Loudoun.
Just look at the correspondence here.
.
.
.
And One more thing.
Executions of the Men listed below
were delayed
this day of May 18, 1756
Nathan Lewis was convicted of cowardice for returning to Fort Edwards from the Battle of the Great Cacapon. And a Henry Campbell convicted for embezzling and then for deserting twice.
.
Nathan Lewis still ALIVE?
As late as 18 May 1756, some 2 weeks after the Court Martial’s sentencing, Sergeant Nathan Lewis is still living.
.
Washington writes 18 May 1756 letter to Adam Stephen who is still at Fort Cumberland.
.
“…Instances of this are now before them of Nathan Lewis, Corporal James Thomas, and Henry Campbell—all under Sentence of Death—The first for his cowardice at the action at Edwards’s; the others for desertion. I have a warrant from the Governor for shooting of Lewis, and shall delay the execution until the arrival of the new Recruits [ see orders 18 May 1756 reaffirming this point ] . The others were tried but to-day; and the proceedings of the Court will be sent to the Governor; if he approves the Sentence—I shall make it my particular care to see them executed; as I shall every individual that offends in the like cases.7 “
.
As late as 23 May 1756, Nathan Lewis is still alive. GW in Winchester VA, writes to Lt Gov Dinwiddie, discusses all the men listed above in the previous letter and finally notes Nathan Lewis’s status:
.
…as Lewis against Cowardice: whose execution I have delayed until the arrival of the Draughts.
.
.
.
.
.
.
FORT LOUDOUN DAY 2018
Compiled by Jim Moyer, updated 3/20/2017, 4/4/2017, 4/6/2017, 5/17/2017, 2/6/2018, 3/5/18, 3/27/2018
.
In 2018 the Saturday closest was May 19, 2018:
.
This was a hard fought for day. The rain was coming so hard and relentlessly each day leading up to this day, that many called out. Then the day’s event was cancelled. But then since one of our former members was selling all his gear, a few were going to show up anyway to buy up that gear. And then someone posted on Facebook, an old tune, what are we fighting for ? Don’t ask me, Next Stop is Fort Loudoun, Man. Those of us who showed up in uniform marched to the walking mall where a Children’s Festival was being held. We marched down there to find recruits and let our presence be known. One of us sang a few tunes. That singer was hard on the men. It was bad enough we had French prisoners to worry about who marched with us. Then we marched back to Fort Loudoun to raise the Union Jack of King George II. We fired 3 musket volleys. The last one volley was in honor of our Foundation Historian, Norman Baker, who served on Iwo Jima in WWII.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Saturday May 19, 2018
Photo by Winchester Star of the Captain Mercer Company of the Virginia Regiment when they observed Presidents Day Monday February 19, 2018. Click on photo to enlarge.
The annual
commemoration
of the beginning
of construction of
Fort Loudoun
is observed on
the French and Indian War Foundation’s property at:
. 419 North Loudoun Street Winchester, Virginia
.
on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
.
.
.
.
Who will be there?
.
1. Captain George Mercer‘s Company of the Virginia Regiment 1754-1758.
.
In the Red Coat is our esteemed General Braddock. With him are the Mercer Co of the Virginia Regiment celebrating with the General the 275th Anniversary of Fairfax County June 17, 2017
.
2. General Edward Braddock !!! Finally the General will visit us. 🙂
.
3. Colonel James Wood. Our stalwart founder of Winchester Virginia.
.
4. Colonel James Wood, II Chapter of the Virginia Society of Sons of the American Revolution and members of its Color Guard.
.
5. Vendors will be there. Maybe you need some things to join the Virginia Regiment? Maybe you want to read a story? Maybe you want to prepare for a frontier that could erupt at any time?
.
.
Activities:
1. Tours of the Fort Loudoun grounds
.
2. A flag-raising at noon
.
3. Musketry demonstration
.
4. Recruitment. March with the Virginia Regiment.
.
.
This is a free event.
.
At Fort Loudoun May 16, 2016 . . . . Interpreters – Left to Right . . . Ayden McClung, Thadd McClung both of the Provincial Militia, Ft. Dobbs, NC . . . William Hunt: Lt. of 1st Virginia Regiment . . . Fred Harmon of the Continental Army, Virginia Line, 13 Regiment, Fort Pitt . . . Robert Andrews, Brett Osborn: Col. James Woods Color Guard . . . Raleigh Boaze, speaker at the day’s event
.
Usually
Fort Loudoun Day
is the Saturday
nearest
the 18th of May
because
that is the day
construction
of Fort Loudoun began.
.
See the letter
to Lt Col Adam Stephen
stationed in Fort Cumberland.
PAST EVENTS
‘
.
.
LAST YEAR’S
FORT LOUDOUN DAY
.
Saturday 20 May 2017
419 N Loudoun St Winchester VA
.
.
See previous
.
Our President David Grosso of the
French and Indian War Foundation
conducted free tours
around the fort’s footprint.
.
·
.
Also on site was
of Colonel George Washington’s
Virginia Regiment.
.
.
Left to Right on front row:
Jim Moyer, Charles Harbaugh IV, Eric Bartock, Tony Elar.
.
In between Eric Bartock and Tony Elar, and behind them is our commander, Tony Elar Jr (yes, the older one is Jr 🙂 )
.
Click to enlarge this photo.
.
Photo taken on Fort Loudoun Day, May 20, 2017
.
Also on May 20, 2017, Fort Loudoun Day. Front and center is Mark Tooley from Fort Edwards Foundation holding up the camera, with Jim Moyer as Private in Captain Mercer Company of VA Regiment and Frenchman with his cannon in the background.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fort Loudoun Day, May 14, 2016
Compiled by Jim Moyer
.
Time for the whole event:
10 a.m. to 3 p.m (rain curtailed event at 130pm)
419 N Loudoun St Winchester VA
.
Speaker: Tony Elar – 11:30am
Tony Elar and his son and Foundation member and Jim Moyer are
recreating Mercer’s Co. of the First Virginia Regiment.
The company served under Washington at Fort Loudoun.
Topic: “Soldiers of the Virginia Regiment”.
Time: 11:30 a.m.
.
See Pictures of this year’s Fort Loudoun Day 14 May 2016
.
In the captions you will see Bold Italic representing links to further information. Click on those links.
.
.
·
.
.
Pictures below are of the participants of last year’s event (2015), who will reappear this year (2016):
.
Living history participants scheduled to appear for your questions:
.
Col. James Wood, see story on his only election.
.
.
.
.
Col. Wood’s Color Guard
.
.
.
Soldiers Mercer’s Co.
.
.
.
.
Dept. of Geographers – colonial era surveyors
.
.
Raleigh Boaze – Interprets life on the frontier as a backwoodsman
.
.
.
.
.
.
See what happened on
.
.
.
.
Fort Loudoun Day , May 16, 2015
commemorates start of building Fort Loudoun in May 1756.
See video below:
.
.
We are delighted to announce a speaker, Raleigh Boaze
.
Subject of talk by Raleigh Boaze:
“General Braddock’s Failed Attempt to
Capture Fort Duquesne and the Colonies Involvement “
.
Raleigh Boaze is a living history interpreter of the 18th century colonial frontier. Mr. Boaze presents a first person account of life on the ‘American’ frontier in the years 1754 to 1775. Dressed in backwoodsman attire and accoutrements, he describes the settlers’ strife at the hands of the Native Americans aligned with the French opposing encroachment of the British colonists beyond the Appalachians and underscores the importance of this period in the eventual founding of our country.
.
Mr. Boaze presents his interpretation of the 18th century frontier life in schools and before civic groups in the Mid-Atlantic region and has been instrumental in bringing about changes to history texts used in the public schools to ensure that they accurately portray life on the frontier during this period.
.
.
2014’s Fort Loudoun Day
See video below:
.
.
———————————————————–
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A Thank You
to all those who participated
and visited
on Fort Loudoun Day
this past Saturday, 20 May 2017.
.
The following presenters were there. And thank you.
.
President David Grosso took over the tour of the Fort Loudoun footprint. Those who went on that tour liked that David Grosso carried the aerial photo to show point of reference.
.
To the Living History Interpreters :
.
Captain Mercer’s company of Colonel George Washington’s VA Regiment of 1756. Left to Right are Jim Moyer, May or Middletown Charles Harbaugh IV, Eric Bartok, Tony Elar
Mayor of Middletown, Charles Harbaugh IV Experienced Living History Interpreters Eric Bartock Tony’s son
.
Tony Elar Jr, (yes Jr) acting as our Captain George Mercer
.
Bret Osborne, who leads his two woodsmen
to raise the Flag, a flag in 1756 only 47 years old of the union of England and Scotland parliaments, and 9 years since the Battle of the Culloden.
.
And Steve Resan, our stalwart James Wood, also our Foundation board member, who has some interesting stories about that Well at Fort Loudoun.
.
Mark Tooley, Center. Jim Moyer part of George Washington’s VA Regiment under Captain Mercer on left. and on the right is French Living History Interpreters on right with his cannon in the background.
Our French Living History Interpreters with their 3 pounder cannon – a thank you. Some younger citizens of this great Republic got to see the cannon fire.
.
More on our French visitors to come. .
And Mark Tooley and another selling books from the Fort Edwards Foundation.
.
Raleigh Boaze, a living history interpreter who gave at a previous Fort Loudoun Day a great story on the Braddock Expedition.
.
John Adamson displayed his rifles and shared his knowledge on the rifles and muskets of the time. Normally 7 grooves and almost one full turn inside a 72″ barrel do those 7 grooves make. Fascinating. See info on his visit to our annual meeting last.
The Geographers – Left to Right – Michael Wood and Robert ‘Kass’ Kassebaum . This Fort Loudoun only Robert Kassebaum and wife set up the display.
. The Surveyor. Quite a store of knowledge there. They have appeared at every Fort Loudoun day since 2015.
.
See their website – http://armygeographer.org/
And their Facebook Page.
.
And we had several authors there.
Norman L. Baker, Foundation board member, who was in the battle of Iwo Jima. Take a look at his books on Fort Loudoun, The Braddock Road, and the ring of forts in old Frederick County.
.
Patrick Murphy, a Foundation board member, was there too. His book has 131 pages, Beautifully Illustrated. The story of the French & Indian War in Shenandoah County as it exists in memory and artifact. Full color illustrations, fold-out map of French & Indian War sites in the County.
. An author of historian fiction was there. More follow up on him at a later date.
.
Left to Right. Our Captain George Mercer, Tony Elar Jr, Jim Moyer and Living History Interpreter, Raleigh Boaze
.
And one final thank you
to the energy and exuberance
of our Captain George Mercer,
aide de camp to George Washington,
our Foundation member,
Tony Elar Jr.
.
.
FORT LOUDOUN DAY 2017
Compiled by Jim Moyer, updated 3/20/2017, 4/4/2017, 4/6/2017, 5/17/2017
.
Fort Loudoun’s footprint in Winchester VA, on a hill overlooking the downtown walking mall. Click on photo to enlarge. Hit backspace arrow to return here. Click on this photo enlarge. Hit backspace arrow to return here.
Saturday 20 May 2017
419 N Loudoun St Winchester VA
.
Stay tuned for further details.
Starts at 10am
ends 3pm
.
.
.
Tours around the Fort’s footprint are conducted free.
.
Norman Baker is our tour guide, usually.
.
He was in the battle of Iwo Jima in WWII.
.
.
.
Fort Loudoun Day is based on a
May 18, 1756 letter GW writes
about starting construction of the fort.
.
Col George Washington writes from Winchester VA to Lt Col Adam Stephen at Fort Cumberland May 18, 1756 :
.
18 May 1756 letter Col George Washington in Winchester VA writes to Lt Colonel Adam Stephen who is at Fort Cumberland – Click on picture to enlarge. Hit backspace to return here. Click on source to see more.
Sir: When I wrote to you last,
I expected to have been at Fort Cumberland ere this; . . .
.
I am also detained here [Winchester VA] to construct and erect a fort, which the Governor has ordered to be done with expedition.
.
As it will be necessary to have a number of Carpenters, &c. to carry on the work with spirit, and vigour;
.
18 May 1756 letter Col George Washington in Winchester VA writes to Lt Colonel Adam Stephen who is at Fort Cumberland – Click on picture to enlarge. Hit backspace to return here. Click on source to see more.
you are desired to send down all the men of Captain George Mercers Company;
.
those that are there of Captain Bells.
.
All the men that are really skilled in masonry: and if all these do not make up fifty; you are to complete the party to that number, out of the best Carpenters in other Companies.
.
Source:
.
Col George Washington writes to Lt Col Adam Stephen
.
Sketch of the Well at Fort Loudoun. This well still exists today. This sketch is by James E Taylor embedded with the Yankee General Sheridan Campaign headquartered in Winchester VA
.
THIS Assembly met in its first session
on March 25, 1756,
to authorize building this fort
and continued in session till May 5.
.
.
.
BTW the day before
was made by Great Britain to France.
Winchester VA didn’t get news
of this declaration until August 1756
but war unofficially started
according to historians
at Jumonville PA in 1754
.
.
ONE MORE THING.
This day was a busy day. Just look at the correspondence here.
.
.
PAST EVENTS
Fort Loudoun Day, May 14, 2016
Compiled by Jim Moyer
.
Time for the whole event:
10 a.m. to 3 p.m (rain curtailed event at 130pm)
419 N Loudoun St Winchester VA
.
Speaker: Tony Elar – 11:30am
Tony Elar and his son and Foundation member and Jim Moyer are
recreating Mercer’s Co. of the First Virginia Regiment.
The company served under Washington at Fort Loudoun.
Topic: “Soldiers of the Virginia Regiment”.
Time: 11:30 a.m.
.
See Pictures of this year’s Fort Loudoun Day 14 May 2016
.
In the captions you will see Bold Italic representing links to further information. Click on those links.
.
.
.
.
Pictures below are of the participants of last year’s event (2015), who will reappear this year (2016):
.
Living history participants scheduled to appear for your questions:
.
Col. James Wood, see story on his only election.
.
.
.
.
Col. Wood’s Color Guard
.
.
.
Soldiers Mercer’s Co.
.
.
.
.
Dept. of Geographers – colonial era surveyors
.
.
Raleigh Boaze – Interprets life on the frontier as a backwoodsman
.
.
.
.
.
.
See what happened on
Fort Loudoun Day in 2015
.
This video, unfortunately, does not cover all those who helped.
To see all credits listed for those involved please scroll down.
.
.
—————————————————————————-
For the source of celebrating Fort Loudoun Day,
see letter from George Washington to Adam Stephen May 18, 1756.
Another site to check for that same letter is here.
—————————————————————————–
.
Left Click on any picture to get a larger picture.
Left click again and picture will become very large.
.
Raleigh Boaze, was our featured speaker this year on Fort Loudoun Day 16 May 2015 Saturday.
.
.
A living history interpreter in frontier deerskin and linen, not a re-enactor, Raleigh Boaze flashed a smile and a blade when somebody mentioned a man bag.
.
Were frontiersman extra sensitive someone asked?
.
About the Braddock Expedition, its gigantic logistical problems, its impact afterwards, how the collision of two forces led to a horrific battle, Raleigh Boaze detailed this epic story for the audience.
.
Bill Hunt, our last year’s speaker, was in English Lieutenant Dress Uniform. He often portrays Andrew Montour, a metis, and who was paid high compliment by Conrad Weiser, and George Washington.
.
.
On Picture Below.
Interpreters – Left to Right
Ayden McClung, Thadd McClung both of the Provincial Militia, Ft. Dobbs, NC
William Hunt: Lt. of 1st Virginia Regiment
Fred Harmon of the Continental Army, Virginia Line, 13 Regiment, Fort Pitt
Robert Andrews, Brett Osborn: Col. James Woods Color Guard
Raleigh Boaze, speaker at the day’s event
.
And two engineers were there under a tent, using ink from lamp oil, the other drawing the outlines of a fort with 4 corner bastions.
See their website – http://armygeographer.org/
And their Facebook Page.
.
On picture below :
The Geographers – Left to Right
Michael Wood and Robert ‘Kass’ Kassebaum
.
Correction for video: 419 N Loudoun is the Baker-Darlington-Hardy House.
.
Norman Baker, French and Indian War Foundation historian, working with the Boy Scouts sprayed a line representing where the 16 foot high wall stood, impressively showing the curtain wall to be 18 feet wide at its base.
.
.
Norman Baker walked the group around the perimeter of the fort to show its size and command of this 40 foot rise overlooking the Winchester walking mall.
.
.
Steve Resan, another French and Indian War Board member, walked about as James Wood (Senior). By the way, James Wood died in 1759, but here James Wood was — walking about, clearly present in front of us all, occasionally clearing his throat, and establishing firm footing with his cane, could inform all comers of the details of his life.
.
Patrick Murphy, another board member and author of French and Indian War in Shenandoah County, Life on the Inner Frontier 1752-1766, confirmed there were Eastern Woodland Buffalo, for which James Wood paid bounty.
.
Our speaker, Raleigh Boaze, on Fort Loudoun Day, after his speech on the Fated Braddock Campaign, showed us his rifle, the source of daily modern metaphors:
.
flash in the pan,
half cocked,
cock sure, cocky,
lock stock and barrel,
keep your powder dry
buck = 1 dollar for a male deerskin
.
Raleigh Boaze spoke of the clothing he made and how he made the rifle he carried.
Porcupine Quill, cut and flattened, vegetable color dyed, decorated his knife holster, belt, and other parts of the frontier woodsman clothes
.
Mayor Elizabeth Minor came,
along with City Council Member John Hill.
.
More details to come of all those who came to help portray living history, and of all those Board members who helped with this event, setting up chairs, tables, the tents, and who brought food and refreshment on a day that bore down some hot temperature.
.
THE FLAG RAISING
Always on Fort Loudoun Day, do those so dedicated, raise a flag which at the time of Fort Loudoun was just 50 or so years old, representing only the parliamentary union of Scotland and England.
.
And such union was so fragile, that the Scottish troops the King raised for this war didn’t hang around long in London before they shipped out to North America, because the Battle of Culloden 1746 was still a fresh sore in many memories.
.
And after a recent referendum for Scotland independence not voting for a stronger version of the home rule they have now, the new Party emerged to take seats away from Labor.
.
Click on flag above to see its history
.
Who knows? We might be seeing this same flag again.
.
.
.
Brett Osborn, former member of Board of Directors. This year he didn’t bring his fake rotten teeth. .
.
Living History Interpreters have lots of details to consider, details simply beyond the scope of we civilians.
.
..
Pictures below taken by R Patrick Murphy, member of the French and Indian War Foundation Board of Directors
.
.
————————————————————————
.
Our 16 May 2015 Fort Loudoun Day advertisement:
.
Fort Loudoun Day , May 16, 2015, 10am to 1pm
commemorates the start of building Fort Loudoun in May 1756.
.
We are delighted to announce a speaker, Raleigh Boaze
AND …
last year’s speaker, Bill Hunt who portrayed a British Lieutenant
AND …
A group portraying Washington’s Engineers
The Dept. of Geographers https://www.facebook.com/ArmyGeographer was a staff unit of Washington’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War.
They functioned as road surveyors & cartographers for
Washington’s northern & southern armies.
.
For Ft. Loudoun Day we will portray
Washington’s engineering managers
during the construction phase of the fort 1756-1758.
.
We will have our survey instruments, maps and probably an inked diagram of Ft. Loudoun made with period drawing instruments. We will have our own table & fly.
.
———————————————————————
.
Subject of talk by Raleigh Boaze:
“General Braddock’s Failed Attempt to
Capture Fort Duquesne and the Colonies Involvement “
.
Raleigh Boaze is a living history interpreter of the 18th century colonial frontier. Mr. Boaze presents a first person account of life on the ‘American’ frontier in the years 1754 to 1775. Dressed in backwoodsman attire and accoutrements, he describes the settlers’ strife at the hands of the Native Americans aligned with the French opposing encroachment of the British colonists beyond the Appalachians and underscores the importance of this period in the eventual founding of our country.
.
Mr. Boaze presents his interpretation of the 18th century frontier life in schools and before civic groups in the Mid-Atlantic region and has been instrumental in bringing about changes to history texts used in the public schools to ensure that they accurately portray life on the frontier during this period.
.
For the source of celebrating Fort Loudoun Day,
see letter from George Washington to Adam Stephen May 18, 1756.
Another site to check for that same letter is here.
.
—————————————————————————
SEE FORT LOUDOUN DAYS FROM
.
THE AGENDA OF EVENTS
MAY 17, 2014 SATURDAY
10AM TO 1PM
419 N. LOUDOUN ST
CELL PHONE TOUR 703-574-6110
Everyone is Welcome, All free, Light Refreshments, Rain or Shine
10am to 1pm
Tours of the grounds every half hour
by Historian and Author Norman Baker
18th Century Painting demonstrations
by Living History Interpreters Kevin O’Malley of New York
Larry Johnston, “Liberty Man” will be present
Steve Resan will portray James Wood
11:30am Speaker: Bill Hunt – Portraying a Lt. in the F&I War
12 Noon Raise the British Flag
By 1756, when George Washington and his men
began building Fort Loudoun,
the union of Scotland and England was only 50 some years old
See what the Union Jack looked like in link below:
with Living History Interpreters and Bagpiper Bryant Lafollette
———————————————————————————–
FORT LOUDOUN DAY 2013
————————————————————————————
This letter states one of the reasons why
we celebrate this day every year:
From George Washington in Winchester VA, May 18, 1756
To LIEUTENANT COLONEL ADAM STEPHEN
“Sir: … I am also detained here to construct and erect a fort, which the Governor has ordered to be done with expedition. As it will be necessary to have a number of Carpenters, &c. to carry on the work with spirit, and vigour; you are desired to send down all the men of Captain George Mercers Company; those that are there of Captain Bells. All the men that are really skilled in masonry: and if all these do not make up fifty; you are to complete the party to that number, out of the best Carpenters in other Companies.”
[Note:Washington’s plan for this fort, which was called Fort Loudoun, is in the Washington Papers , Library of Congress. An extract of the act of the Virginia Legislature, dated May 12, 1756, authorizing the building of the fort, is also in the Washington Papers. ]
Click on complete letter below:
Pictures from Fort Loudoun Day 2013
Larry Johnson and Jim Hildbold bring the spirit of Fort Loudoun Day to life.
Larry Johnson, “Liberty Man”, explains life in the 1700’s.
Mom and son look over Liberty Man’s display.
A good time was had by all ! Charles Hall & Patsy Gochenour pose for a picture.
Dad and son join Living History Interpreters Jim Hildbold for a photo op.
Local SAR members provide support for the raising of the Union Jack.
From Left to Right: Paul Chase, Ralph Pierce, Jim Hildbold, Rob Andrews, Brett Osborn and Jack Lillis.
Liberty Man in a reflective moment before giving his presentation.
Norman Baker, FIWF Historian, provides visitors a most excellent tour.
Dr. David Clark, Archaeologist, explains how to conduct a proper dig.
FIWF Board members and SAR support: Steven Resan, Norman Baker and Brett Osborn.
Essay Contest Winner Sydney Shepard, Living History Interpreters Phil Hunter and Essay Contest Runner Up Taylor Hall.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
Comments