Endview plantation reenactment 20185/7/2023 ![]() ![]() When a cavalryman circles an infantry group counterclockwise, they have to reach across their body to saber the infantry. By having to rally into fours as the American Cavalry approached, we gained an appreciation for fast movement and swords! It was interesting that the cavalry would mistakenly circle our orbs in a counterclockwise direction. We realized that whoever got the cavalry in that battle scenario was to win the battle. There was a cavalry detachment that switched sides at each battle. We altered the scenario in each battle to give each army a change to win a victory each day. The scenario involved British and British Indians Americans (both Regulars and militia) and American Indians. For each battle the stands were full of spectators. There were two battles each day on Saturday and Sunday. It’s more fun when you recognize who you are shooting. In the battles of the next two days we were always opposite to the Rifle Regiment and we enjoyed taking shots at each other. ![]() It was a wonderful opportunity for the riflemen of each army to meet each other, exchange technical information about armaments, tactics and history and enjoy fellowship. This unit was celebrating its 20 th anniversary at Mississinewa and we, as fellow riflemen, were invited to the celebration. The highlight of Friday was the party at the camp of the US Rifle Regiment. The British forces had only to watch, enjoy the battle, and the burning of the Indian village. It was an attack on an Indian village by the American Militia and the next day’s counterattack by the Miami Indians. The Friday battle was a reenactment of the original battle. On Friday, there were over 4,000 school children from the surrounding school districts in attendance. I had to assume tactical leadership for the Rifles this weekend. Although Captain Black joined our mess, he was assigned to the British Indian Dept. These are all maneuvers that we must know for Waterloo 2020, so this practice time was important for us. Once in a column of twos, we practiced deploying from this formation into a line in front, to the right and to the left. In particular, we reviewed “Advance by Files from the Right”. Photos of the dinner meal can be seen on the “Photo Gallery” section of our web site.īecause of the number of riflemen we had, we were able to practice our company drill each day. We ate a formal dinner each evening in a large marquee tent. The ladies of the 3 rd Battalion established a very complete and ornate mess. We were joined in our mess by Captain Chris Black of the Royal Engineers. There were three riflemen from the 3 rd Battalion. We joined the 3 rd Battalion, 95 th Rifles to form a company and a combined mess. The 1 st Battalion was represented by Jim Tate, John Dittamo, Bill Goumas and Rich Miller. Not only is it a large event in terms of both reenactors and spectators, there are a huge number of sutlers in attendance. Roanoke, Virginia event is billed as the largest War 0f 1812 event in the country. Practice it to become accustomed to the alternating trot and walk. I would challenge all of you to try this marching pace. On flank guard duty, marching over rough unpaved terrain, the faster pace was necessary for the riflemen to stay up with the main body marching on a road. This counterattack action would slow down the rear guard. A rear guard often needed to stop to repel an attack by following French cavalry. On rear guard, the faster pace was necessary to enable the Rifles to catch up to the main body. On advance guard duty, the Rifles had to move faster than the following main body. It was important that Riflemen move at a faster pace than regular line infantry. You count a pace each time your left foot strikes the ground. This marching pace alternated three paces at a trot with three paces at a walk. Sir John Moore developed this faster marching pace for the rifle and light infantry regiments. On page 50 the authors described the special marching pace of he 95 th Rifles. II by George Caldwell and Robert Cooper (Bugle Horn Publications 49 Cromwell Road, Great Glen, Leicester LE8 9GU, England 2006. In their book, Rifle Green in the Peninsula Vol. ![]()
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