Vol. 42, No. 4 Jamestown Settlement “Military Thr By Nancy Jennis Olds JAMESTOWN, Va.—They came with their armor, weapons, tents, and cooking pots. Armies, ranging chronologically from the Roman Legions to today’s Virginia Army National Guard, with several Civil War organizations participating Thirty-five groups came from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania setting up their camps at the Jamestown Settlement, renown as the site for the first permanent English colony Virginia in 1607, for the 2016 “Mi itary Through The Ages”. This popular event, which occurs just befo the approach of spring, this year on the weekend of March 19 through March 20, is a family-friendly eve open to the public. Participating groups test their skills in accura ly depicting military life accordi to their chosen time period, such the War of the Roses, the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and more contemporary wars such as the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, the War in Vietnam to name a few. Moving from camp to camp is
Pvt. Neil Burke, acting assistant Pvt. David Welker all of the 3rd U
he Ages” Event as simple as stepping back and forward in time, leaping from one century to the next! There was a strong showing of Civil War organizations, among them the Tidewater Maritime Living History-Associates, U.S.S. Aroostook, 1862, the 3rd U.S. Regular In fantry, 1861, and the Norfolk Light
group, the Jetersville Militia, 23r Regiment of Infantry, Virginia-1859 represented an earlier militia arou the time of the capture of abolitio John Brown and his band after their raid on Harper’s Ferry. Several qualified historians serv as judges for this broad spectrum of military reenactors with judging based on three defining periods which used these types of transformative weaponry: cold steel period, black powder period and modern period. The Civil War impressions qualified for the black powder period. All participating reenactors are judged by their unit impression and demonstration. The 2016 Reenactor’s Choice Award and the 2016 Visitor’s Choice Award go
rmaster, Pvt. Tom Weiss and gulars. Article photographs Nancy Jennis Ol
to the most outstanding impression. La Belle Compagnie, 1400, a medieval group, won both of those categories. The 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, 1861, won third place in t Best Unit Impression-Black Powder Period. The Tidewater Maritime Living-History Associates, U.S.S. Aroostook, 1862 won second place with the Best Unit DemonstrationBlack Powder Period and the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, 1861 gained third place in the same category. Visitors to the event were also welcomed to interact with these mili tary units testing their skills at s fighting, marching, or in the case o the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, 1861, thrusting a musket with a fixed bayonet into the “enemy”. Members of the Young Marines, a national youth organization headquartered in Quantico, Virginia, dressed in their mil tary khakis, lined up to try their s in dispatching the “enemy”. The Tidewater Maritime Living History Associates, U.S.S. Aroostook, recreated its history. It was Union Navy gunboat that patrolled the James River thwarting Confederate vessels from trading abroad. Members had their own cannon, which they demonstrated. The Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, 1865, brought their own cannon as well. This artillery unit is the Civ
War equivalent of today’s Virginia National Guard, founded in 1828. This medley of military prowess through the ages has continued since its inception in 1984. This year, three Civil War regiments and
one pre-Civil War militia regiment contributed to this truly unique eve encompassing centuries of military history at Jamestown Settlement.