Glover's Encampment This Weekend

The following press release was submitted by Francie King:

It’s a time-honored tradition.

On the weekend after the Festival and the Fourth, Marblehead’s is transported back in time to the 1770s when the sailors, wenches, and camp followers of Glover's Marblehead Regiment stage their annual colonial encampment there.

The public is encouraged to visit Fort Sewall, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, July 7, for tours of the camp and the Fort, a peek inside a Rev War tent (yes, Regiment lads and lasses do live, sleep, and cook outdoors all weekend long), and a taste of what life was like in the later years of the 18^th century.

Visitors will see open cooking fires, sutlers selling wonderful wares (remember Big Bear Trading and our singing blacksmith, Dean Rantz? Look for them this year), folks dressed in the clothing of the period, and of course the noisy traditional mock battle between American and British troops. (Bring your chairs, binoculars, and earplugs!)

A couple of highlights not to be missed this year:

• Tours of Fort Sewall throughout the day on both Saturday, July 7 and Sunday afternoon, July 8.
• A half-hour of military drilling and marching (with wooden muskets) for pint-sized would-be colonial solders, at 11 a.m. Saturday (if you’ve ever dreamed of traveling back in time to the Revolutionary War and joining America’s fighting forces, or you know any small soldiers who might enjoy it, do join us for this); kids under 7 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
• The skirmish between the British Royal Navy and the brave Continental forces starting at 1:30 p.m. and featuring several visiting colonial reenacting units
• And a swashbuckling sword fight on the camp’s parade grounds at 5 p.m. Saturday

Saturday: The Battle of Grape Island

Colonial musicians will herald the start of camp by marching through Marblehead on Saturday morning.   Skirmishes between the British and the colonials will begin on Gas House Beach at around 1:30 p.m. when a militia detachment encounters a Royal Navy long boat party embarking regular infantry for Grape Island (Gerry Island). This will escalate into a full exchange of cannon fire at around 2 pm, followed by a seaborne assault on Grape Island by the colonial forces at 2:30 pm. Best viewing points for the entire engagement are: Fort Sewall and Gas House Beach.

Post battle entertainment will consist of sea-shanties, the gentlemen’s duel and musicians from 4:30 through 6:30 pm Saturday.

Camp will officially close to the public Saturday at 5:30 p.m., although the music can be freely enjoyed from the Fort Sewall walkways.  

Sunday: July 8

Camp reopens at 10 a.m. on Sunday for a traditional colonial church service to which the public is warmly invited. Colonial Reverend Dennis Calhoun will officiate. Camp will again be open to the public in the afternoon, and finally end with an arms demonstrations and camp tours.

The full camp schedule will be posted soon on the Glovers Marblehead Regiment website at www.gloversregiment.org or you can see it posted at Fort Sewall the week of July 2.

Come join us in the 18^th Century!!