It's a rainy morning in late September and my thoughts drift back to late July and Ticonderoga…the packing- the anticipation - the trip - the little ride on the school bus from the parking area. It is a partly sunny morning full of promise.

My wife Katherine and my daughter Emily accompany me to the camp. We are loaded down with equipment and blankets. We meet old friends - always the best part of the arrival - Chris & Marcia, Diana & Bill, Mark & Carol, Brian & Lynne, Tom, Justin and Neil. Dan's allergies bother him but he's there.

The camps are alive with activity. We settle in. Formation is called. This still never ceases to excite me. The units are formed - march up one by one - and soon the great line is assembled - as it has been many times before - the regiment is ready. The music plays. We sing "God Save the King". The Congressional forces stand down and the Crown forces march into the fort - past the crowds of onlookers - through the gate. Marching is the best part of the re-enactment.

Peters' Corps is placed in the advanced guard and we skirmish against superior numbers but triumph. We run through fields - trip over brush- and slog through swamps. What fun it is to be a ranger.

Later we return to the fort and become part of a trial. It seems some of us have been accused of drinking and dancing naked in front of ladies. As if that would ever happen. We are falsely accused and freed of course.

There is a great battle in the afternoon. The advanced corps is forced back by superior forces. The regulars come in and the battle sways back and forth across the field to a point where the Crown forces end up in the Congressional forces original position. A great deal of energy and powder are spent. I overhear one fellow comment about his demise "It was a good death".

The day turns to evening. We eat and a fellow on the hill opens a tavern. Brian and Lynne play their joyous music there. Katherine, Emily, and I go up to the tent. A navy man talks to us about our tin lantern - he knows a great deal about lanterns. There is a lady dancing to the music - she tells us about period dance. Lemon peels fly from the tent. There is a bowl being passed around among friends. I take a sip from the bowl and pass it on - it is quite unique. After a while, we decide to go to sleep but the bowl is passed many more times that evening and there is not much sleep.

The next morning someone passes by and shouts out lines from the "Loyalist alarm clock". I hear Bill say "You'll pay for that".

We are up - eat breakfast and form up for a morning skirmish. There are not as many as yesterday - the tavern has taken its toll - the ground is littered with lemon peels. Chris Cameron tells the advanced guard that we must take the heights around Ticonderoga in less than six minutes. In a brilliant headlong dash, we do it in four. In a second skirmish, Peters' Corp fights a rear guard action using the forest to ambush the Congressional forces at every turn. We surround them and they surrender. We march back.

Due to time constraints, my family and I have to leave. We pack and say our goodbyes. But something makes us take one more walk passed the sutlers - through the camps- and around the fort. So many special things have happened here.

I'm standing on a ferry crossing Lake Champlain and I catch a glimpse of Ticonderoga above the trees. I recall the sites and sounds- the faces and friends- the music and the march. It is a special time and a memorable place. It is a wonderful thing we do.

Cliff Nichols

Despite the thickening of the clouds and the light rain from time to time, Peters' Corps was not deterred in presenting what we do best in Amherst, Massachusetts. The crowds were thinner this year, but we made a good showing. Members in attendance were Justin Kennick, Bill Wigham, Marcia Kennick, Nancy and Dan Moraski, Tom DeLucco, Lynne Camenga, Neal Bourbeau and Brian Zawodniak. Our Commander, Chris Kennick, did make an appearance late in the day dressed in some odd-looking clothing, but we accepted him anyway. . .

Congratulations to Neal for being voted to Applicant Member status! Neal make his first appearance with our merry band at Fort Ticonderoga and did a heck of a job. Welcome aboard, Neal!

Tom DeLucco got his first taste at being the NCO for the event. Tom did well for his first time out. There is not much room to maneuver at the Strong House to begin with, and a new stone walkway was no help. But Tom prevailed and did well. This humble linseeded private got his first sergeantship at the Strong House as well back in 1997. Ah, memories!

I guess the day can be summed up with this expression: laid back! I am not sure if the weather kept the crowds away, but there was not as much traffic this year as there has been in past years. Nonetheless, we did get visitors and our individual unit members were Johnny's-on-the-spot (or Jane's) fielding questions about loyalists, muskets and food. Oh yes, Nancy, Marcia and Lynne prepared wonderful pies. They were indeed tasty. But what do you expect when you have ladies who are the best cooks in the Brigade of the American Revolution!

Peters' Corps did put up a smattering of musketry after lunch and Lynne and yours truly played music for those who would listen, and that is about that! Of course, like last year, we made sure that we ate and refreshed ourselves at the Amherst Brew House after the event! The Strong House is indeed a nice event with a relaxed atmosphere. It is a nice change of pace to say the least.

Your must humble and happy,

Pvt. Zawodniak

The Editor/Adjutant would like to thank Bob Delisle for his assistance in keeping our campfire going at the Strong House. Due to the light rain mentioned above by Private Linseed, our coals began to cool and our pies were in danger. Bob dismantled the bellows from his forge and used it to resuscitate our fire. In no time he brought our fire back to life and created even more coals in the rain than we could have hoped for on a dry sunny summer's day. The pies came out just fine.

Thanks again, Bob!!

It were a Glorious day with blue skies and forests turned to gold, coral-red and scarlet.

Ye Brigade were Yere in goodly numbers and Ye activities was not taxing.

Most of Ye folks was dressed in Yeir best in anticipation of a Banquet planned for Ye eventing.

Gaudy flies, simple stalls and merchants tents lined Ye parade wich were indeed a well kept meadow. Gigantic sugar maples spread Yeir branches over Ye milling groups of Yem as was investigating Ye latest in merchantile offerings. Yey was no fights or tantrums and everyone were in a good and festive mood.

About noon a number of us bound to do Militia duty was swored in and rec'd a generous Bounty of 10 Spanish Milled Dollars in Ye form of a Scrip of paper all signed and all. Yis most of tYe men Squandered on a horse race in which a Dutchman bested a Boston man. Some said Ye contest were rigged.

Yen Ye Militia was lined up to see if Yey had brought all Yeir gear and one Daley was found to be empty handed. However since he were Ye purveyor of alcholic beverages he were let off with a warning.

We was drilled as a Coy and did our wheeling so fine that even King Frederick would have given us a cheer. Upon viewing our magnificent performance upon Ye Field of Mars a recruiting party of His Majestie's 22nd Regt. of Foot offered us encouragement to join Ye Regulars in the form of great quantities of Ale. About 65 of our Stalwart Band did join and drank Ye Health of King George's Health. Wherein after we was marched off to Ye beat of Ye Drumm to the British Camp where further adventures awaited us.

Yere was a large number of the Local folk who was all simple andshowed Ye greatest interest in our everyday activities as if Yey had just come from Ye Moon.

All in all it were a lovely time for old Friends and new Acquaintances to meet in civil discourse, humor and Ye relating of fond reminiscences. It were a good change of pace considering Ye hard exertions of Ye Past Months.

Respectfully Submitted,
By Yr. Servant.

Wm. Wigham, Freeholder & Private
Sentinel. Anno Dom. 1774

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