by Bea Peterson
History came to life in Walloomsac on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, as re-enactors camped and fought to relive the Revolutionary war battles that took place on those very grounds 237 years ago.
Hundred of visitors wandered through the campsite near the Barnett House on Caretakers Road that housed the many soldiers and their families over the weekend. The re-enactors were only too happy to describe their tasks such as map reading, firearms care, cooking, clothes washing, yarn spinning, games and much more. An exhibit of the story of the battle was on display as well.
[private]On Saturday afternoon Ingrid Schaaphok described several of the colonial people who were in the area at that time and what their roles were and why they were there. It was fascinating history. For instance, one man was given a New York land grant that he farmed. When the war began, the New Hampshirites said the land belonged to them, and they stole his farm. It was understandable, then, why he fought with the British.
A Native American re-enactor described his role in the War for Independence. He fought for whichever side gave his tribe the “best” gifts. That side was determined by the women of the tribe as they were a matriarchal society. Another interesting point he brought up was that, since cows were brought over here from Europe, the native people knew nothing of dairy products and to this day most of them are lactose intolerant.
One group of re-enactors actually walked the route they would have taken to get to the first battle.
History Clash
Later on Saturday it was interesting to see cars lined up on Route 67 and stopped to allow men carrying muskets and women in bonnets and long dresses to walk across the road to get to the battle site.
Let The Battles Begin
The first battle was the Storming of the Dragoon Redoubt on Hessian Hill. Lt. Colonel Paul Loding, dressed as a Commander in His Majesty’s 53rd Regiment Afoot, gave some background on what was to happen and described the battle for the many visitors gathered to view the re-enactment. While waiting for the battle to begin, a Hessian re-enactor explained that Germany at that time was not a country per se but was made up of about 20 small principalities under the Holy Roman Empire. Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse-Kassel and other German princes hired out some of their regular army units to Great Britain to fight in the revolution. About 30,000 of these men served in North America. They were all called Hessians because the largest group, almost 13,000 of them, came from Hesse-Kassel. The German contingent came in entire units with their usual uniforms, flags, weapons and officers. Fighting alongside the Hessians, the Torys and the British in Walloomsac were the Brunswickers, sent by Duke Charles I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
During the first battle and the Repulse of Breymann’s Relief Force that followed, there was cannon and rifle fire that sounded like fireworks. Smoke from the weapons filled the air with an acrid smell. Men fired their weapons and moved forward while others fired or held their ground, whichever the case was at the moment. Men fell, and the troops moved on. At the end of the day, as history will tell you, the American forces were the victors.
Commemoration Ceremony
Following the re-enacted battles, troops from both sides gathered with military precision, amidst commands shouted in English, French and German, at the top of the Battlefield to honor and remember those who actually fought at that spot all those years ago.
President of the Walloomsac Battle Chapter, National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, John Sheaff, began the ceremony. As he did last year, he reminded the gathering that this was a commemoration ceremony and not a celebration of war. “We are not honoring the battle; we are honoring the people who fought that battle,” he said.
Remembered this year was General Stark’s very moving letter regretting that at age 81 he was unable to attend a reunion of the Battle of Bennington.
Wreaths were placed at the memorials by members of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution and a series of volleys were fired by each unit on the field.
Hoosick Town Supervisor Mark Surdam thanked event organizer Peter Schaaphok and all the participants for “bringing history to life” for everyone attending. Schaaphok received praise from many at the event.
On Sunday there was a re-enactment of Stark’s Attack Over the Walloomsac River. However, this battle was a little tougher to visualize as the men crossed the red iron-sided bridge which had signs stating “one way bridge” and telephone wires in plain view.
However, the afternoon Battle for the Tory Fort, held way up on a hill, was more in keeping with the actual situation as the brush and fields don’t look that much different today than they did in 1777. The inch by inch forward march of the Americans as they shot in groups, reloaded, moved forward and shot again, was breathtaking as chances of being shot by those holding the Tory Fort increased. Of course the battle was won when one group of soldiers came around to the side of the small fortress and saved the day.
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