Hartwell Tavern - Revisited

The Regiment returned to Hartwell Tavern the weekend of June 13-14. Our host was Mark Nichipor and the National Park Service. Those members in attendance were: William Wigham, Dan Moraski, Chris & Marcia Kennick, Mark & Carol Cafazzo, and Brian Zawodniak who was Sergeant for the weekend. Originally built in 1733, Hartwell Tavern is located on The Battle Road in Minuteman National Park in Lincoln, MA. The Tavern is beautiful and the National Park Service (NPS) keeps the area immaculate and as free of 20th C. intrusions as possible. The NPS has made great strides in this area, even since we were there two years ago, and the area looks even more 18th C. than when last we were on site.

The weather on Saturday was atrocious. It rained constantly, sometime at the level of a hurricane/monsoon. Dan, Mark and Chris managed to make a fire during the downpour (no mean trick), but alas, it was eventually washed out when a river appeared and "ran through it.' We thought that we should start fly-fishing, the water was of that volume. Some visitors showed up in spite of the downpour, and we delighted them with an 18th C. scene of tavern life. Several members of the Regiment sewed, made food stuffs, played cards, sang, and best of all were treated to the masterful fiddle playing of Chris Kennick. After visitor hours, the Regiment adjourned to the barn on site - spacious, warm and most importantly - dry !!

The weather on Sunday was much improved and there were many more visitors. We continued our interior activities and as the rain eventually stopped added outside drill, marching and firing. We talked with people from England, Canada, Sweden, China, Japan and the West Coast of the United States. Some local people also came out. We explained the Loyalist point of view during "America's First Civil War," in our usual informative and entertaining manner. John Newell helped us round out the day by appearing in his excellent 18th C. impression of a local civilian who was Loyal to the Crown.

In spite of the weather, we consider the weekend a resounding success. Our thanks to Mark Nichipor and the rest of the staff of the NPS at this great site.

After Action Report - Hubbardton Battlefield

Peters' Corps arrived at Hubbardton early on Saturday morning and pitched the sail (or it might be a wagon cover) next to the libne of the Regiment von Specht, Sgt. Runk commanding. We quickly readied our selves and left many of the details to Marcia Kennick to sort out. When the drums beat the assembly we found ourselves in line with not only our German Kameraden but the 21. Rt. Of Foot, the 23., the 24., the 29 and the 53.

The units engaged maneuvered very well and there was no lack of action. We soon found our ample supplies of ammunition exhausted. Thanks to the 21. Rt. of Foot we were resupplied with a large sack of cartridges and continued. The 6th Masstts Cont'l Regt. was turned over to Chris Kennick and myself as prisoners while Pte. de Lisle was detailed to bring in another group of POWs.

That evening we ate well thanks to Marcia Kennick and from what we could scrounge from The British Commander, Col. Paul Loding and the 29th Rt. of Foot. Muskets were quickly cleaned and more cartridges rolled. When chores were done we spent a good deal of time renewing old acquaintances and making new friends.

That night we slept like babies with the clean and refreshing mountain air wafted in on gentle breezes. The next morning a gaggle of demented dwarfs with drums took evil delight in waking us all from our serenity. We had scarcely gotten our bacon started when we were beaten to Arms and after a sharp action returned sweating to a cold wreck of a breakfast. A quick watering down and cleaning up and we were ready to go again.

Peters' Corps historically was attached to the German troops as an advanced screen of rangers. This was because we had several Germanspeakers in the ranks of the QLR which facilitated communication with General v. Riedesel. We worked so well together that we agreed to do the same whenever we were again on the field together.

Sunday morning Jim Casco came by with some ordnance stamps professionally made in England. We got him to stamp our muskets and had a long talk with him on sundry matters.

We had a chance to observe the several units on the field and noticed that the Sixth Mass. Rt. was especially good at as a cohesive unit, had consistently crisp volleys, and moved together well. They were unremarkably dressed as a unit but individually they were conservatively well attired albeit sometimes in very worn garments. Overall, a very excellent impression.

I personally found that the use of a leather palm was quite necessary after about the 12th shot. These were first used by the army of Frederick the Great I have been told and they really help in keeping up a good rate of fire.

There were people from as far away as Rhode Island and Ontario and we were luck to have two members of the Select Marksmen with us, one Sgt. Stevens and a very good man from Canada. Their arrival made the job easier for the rest of us who had been sore pressed earlier.

A swarm of Indians appeared on Sunday whose leader appeared to be speaking Mohawk. That was impressive in itself but later another Indian was heard communicating in German...very interesting.

We were impressed by all the friendliness and efforts to help each other during the weekend. There were some very fine craftsmen in attendance and we noticed generally that the event had been blessed with a steady improvement in a number of respects. We rather suspect that the gentle and persistent efforts of Dave Bernier are responsible for this progress.

From the spot where we were camped we could look in every direction and see magnificent green mountains. Latter day intrusions are very few indeed. There is a Visitors' Center (with indoor toilets) which does not insult the site, and a house across the valley perhaps a mile away. Otherwise the battlefield is pretty much as it was on that fateful day in 1777.

All in all it was a delightful weekend which will be remembered fondly for a long time.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Wigham, Sjt.
Capt. Justus Sherwood's Coy.
Queen's Loyal Rangers.
(Peters' Corps) BAR

Sage Tea

Celeste Sherry sent this recipe for Sage Tea from Van Cortlandt Manor to Peters' Corps:

"Take a little Sage, (about a teaspoonful) a little lemon balm, put it into a pot. Slice a lemon, peel and all, a few knobs of sugar, one glass of white wine, pour on these 2 or 3 quarts of boiling water, cover it and drink when thirsty; when you think it strong enough of the herbes, take them out, otherwise it will make it bitter."

Marcia

After Action Report - Hartwell Tavern

We were invited to the Hartwell Tavern again this year by the invitation of Mark Nichipor. Mark and Carol Cafazzo, Bill Wigham, Dan Moraski, Chris and Marcia Kennick all left the Moraski's house a 6:15AM Saturday. We had some problems getting to the event. The Kennick's had some car trouble and the Cafazzo's forgot the center ridge pole to their fly, which they went back home for. Had Carol and Mark not gone home, the Kennick's could be still sitting on the side of the road with all their equipment. What a site that would have been.

We got to the park around 9:00AM and were met by Brian Zawodniak who gave us directions to the tavern. The weather was not the best. We had torrential rain all Saturday. The men tried hard to keep our fire going but with the rain and the river of water that emptied out into our fire pit we gave up on the idea of cooking outside. Mark Nichipor gave us permission to sleep in the barn which was a God send. We still had some good food and drinks with the modern convenience of the small stove in the barn. We got a lot of sewing done, played cards and heard some fiddle music played by Chris. Brian left in the evening to sleep at some friend's house. I think he must have felt guilty for in the morning he arrived with coffee and donuts for us all. What a treat. This time we even had Boston Cream!!!

We decided (since Brian was not there) we would make him Sargent for the weekend. What a surprise it was when Brian found out the next day that he was the Sargent.

Brian did a good job on drilling the men Sunday. I am afraid that he might like the idea of being in charge. We better watch out, this new guy just might take over.

Not many visitors showed up on Saturday, but Sunday, with the break in the weather, brought many visitors to the Tavern. True to form the weather changed just in time so we could load the cars in the rain.

The improvements to the park from the last time we were there was remarkable. I would like to go back some day with Chris and see the rest of the houses on the trail.

Many thanks to Mark Nichipor and the Rangers at the Minute Man National Park.

Marcia Kennick

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