Greene Homestead Hosts Revolutionary War Encampment

Over 100 visitors from four states attended the first annual Revolutionary War Encampment held last weekend at the in Coventry in honor of the Major General of the first American Army. 

Dozens of reenactors from the 2nd Rhode Island, Le Regiment Bourbonais, Gloucester Light Infantry, Warren Militia, 3^rd Continental Artillery, 6^th Connecticut Regiment, Pawtuxet Rangers, 54^th British Regiment of Foot and United Train of Artillery came to honor General George Washington’s Second in Command.

On the grounds, many of the the 21^st-century reenactors in military and colonial clothing staked out areas to camp overnight and then demonstrated how life was on the campgrounds during one of General Greene’s campaigns to defeat the British Army.

Musket fire and other military exercises were also executed.

Riding on Huckleberry-his Morgan horse- Dave Loda of the 6^th Connecticut Regiment portrayed David Humphries, an aide-de-camp for General Greene. “An aide-de-camp had to be a great horseman, read and write and be battle-tested,” said Loda. “Humphries helped order supplies, create secret correspondence, help with troop movement and serve as high-speed reconnaissance then.”

“Most people don’t know that because of rain or humidity, gunpowder often got wet and could not ignite,” said a member from the 6^th Connecticut Regiment. “So most soldiers fought in hand-to-hand combat with their bayonets.”

Representative Lisa P. Tomasso (D-Dist. 29, Coventry, West Greenwich) was accompanied by her sons Nicholas, Nathan and Aidan, who went on a tour of the home, listened raptly and asked frequent questions of the tour guide and reenactors.

“You feel a lot more connected to history here,” praised Nicholas, a high school senior who first visited the homestead when he was 10. “This tells us more about our history such as where did we come from and how did we get here.”

“I think this is absolutely wonderful,” said Nathan. “It looks like a normal house in the middle of a neighborhood.”

“It was awesome,” said Aidan, who compared the tour of the famous general to one he took at the home of an all-time great entertainer. “It was kind of like Graceland (boyhood home of Elvis Presley), and General Greene was the only person to go from a private to a general in one day!”

“This is very important to the community and young people in Coventry and the state to continue the stewardship of this property,” said Rep. Tomasso.

Ellen Snyder of Johnston came to visit the site for the first time with her father, Richard Johnston. “I liked the copy of the grandfather clock inside the house,” she said.

And yes, the redcoats came, represented by the 54^th British Regiment of Foot from Coventry, CT. This regiment was involved in raids of Newport in the three-day battle of Rhode Island, in Warren and in New London and Danbury, CT, militia members revealed.

Homestead Trustee Richard Siembab suggested that if the Coventry war hero were alive today, he’d have used his military expertise to mobilize militia and citizens alike to repair 2010 flood damage that immediately shut down a road to the site.

“General Greene would have fixed the Laurel Street Bridge quickly,” he said. “Remember, he crossed the icy Delaware River on Dec. 25-26, 1776 in a storm with General Washington to defeat the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton.”

 “It was a very successful two days,” concluded Siembab. “It still amazes me that so many people who come here still do not know we exist, especially from our own state. But everyone had a good time and learned a lot.“

Editor's Note: Interested in seeing the property for yourself? The Homestead is now open for tours Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $5/adult, $3/child. Visit www.nathanaelgreenehomestead.org for more information.

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