New Article on the Material culture of Dunmore's War

 

My recent work on the material culture of Dunmore's War is in print, just in time for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant. Copies of the Sept/Oct 2024 issue of Muzzleloader Magazine featuring this work and more are available here:  https://www.muzzleloadermagazine.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_70&products_id=419

New Revolutionary War exhibit- "The Revolutionary Roots of Southwest Virginia"

 

 

 I am excited to announce that some of my recent work for the Town of Wytheville Museums will be opening soon. "The Revolutionary Roots of Southwest Virginia" was made possible by a grant from the VA250 Commission and features artifact loans courtesy of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources from the Fort Chiswell site. The exhibit highlights the diverse role that Southwest Virginia played in the American Revolution. The opening reception will be on September 13, 2024 at 5pm at the Thomas J. Boyd Museum.

Glenn F. Williams Lecture—Lord Dunmore’s War July 17, 2024 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Virtual and In Person

Lecture—Lord Dunmore’s War with Glenn F. Williams
July 17, 2024 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Virtual or in Person
Date:
July 17, 2024
Time:
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Event Category:
Lectures and Author’s Talks Venue
Anderson House 2118 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008 United States
Phone:
202-785-2040
Organizer

The American Revolution Institute
Phone:

202-785-2040

About the Speaker

Glenn F. Williams was the senior historian at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort McNair, D.C. Prior to that, his positions included historian of the National Museum of the U.S. Army Project, historian of the Army Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration, historian of the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service, curator and historian of the USS Constellation Museum and assistant curator of the Baltimore Civil War Museum – President Street Station. He is the author of several books, including Year of the Hangman: George Washington’s Campaign Against the Iroquois (Westholme Publishing, 2006) and Dunmore’s War: The Last Conflict of America’s Colonial Era (Westholme Publishing, 2017). In 2018, he received the Shelby Cullom Davis Award from the Society of Colonial Wars and the Judge Robert K. Woltz Award from the French and Indian War Foundation. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Backcountry gardens

The Norman Gateway and Moat Garden, Windsor Castle c. 1770 

by Paul Sandby (Royal Collection Trust)

On the eve of the first day of spring, I'd like to share some information on what produce was being grown in the gardens of the 18th-century backcountry in Colonial America- as one cannot live on parched corn and jerky alone. In the late 1760s in the Carolinas, the Reverend Charles Woodmason complained about "Subsisting on my Bisket and Rice Water and Musk Melons, Cucumbers, Green Apples and Peaches and such Trash."

Still Life with Quince, Cabbage, Melon, and Cucumber, 

ca. 1602, Juan Sánchez Cotán.

Annie (Henry) Christian of Dunkard's bottom wrote to her sister in law, Anne (Christian) Fleming at her home Belmont (Roanoke, Virginia) on April 29, 1775 "...I left some Turnip seed behind a glass in your Hall (if I remember right) with please send @ first oppertunity, & I must beg some Colewort [kale] seed [and?] Cabbage seed from you, as all that Mr. Christian brought me up, Seems good for nothing...P.S. I want a little Cucumber seed too." [MSS x-4 Washington & Lee University William and Anne Fleming Family papers ] 

 

Sarah and James Nourse

 

While traveling in Kentucky in the same year, Virginian James Nourse wrote about the food (including fresh greens) he ate:

"Sunday, June 18th ....Stopt about half an hour to eat Mulberries- by which means got wet before we got to Harrod's between 5 and 6 oClock, got an excellent stew of buffalo and as much Lettuce and young Endive as I could eat but no bread, made as good a Meal as ever I would with-a tolerable good house having a floor and a Chimney but not stopt- a pleasant situation & good water. Monday 19th Having breakfasted upon Stewed pork without Bread or Salad, proceeded for Boonsburg..."

 

William Calk's Journal of his trip to Kentucky mentions "...Elk gardin...Suplid our Selves with Seed Corn & irish tators...a walet of Corn..."[March 30, 1775].

 

An extensive list of the vegetable, flower and fruit seeds that "Messers Benton and Wharton" shipped to the Illinois country in 1768 is available in Appendix C of Mark Baker's "Sons of a Trackless Forest" (print version only).

Fort Robinson on the Holston

 In 1761, the second year of the Cherokee campaign, Virginia forces plodded on; recently promoted Provincial commander Colonel Adam Stephen wrote from his post at the Long Island of the Holston river (in modern Kingsport, TN):

"I have erected a square redoubt of hewed logs on a piece of very strong ground on the banks of the river, with four bastions, the exterior 120 feet. I have done this from the just sense I have of the great advantage of it will be to have a post maintained here, either by the King or Colony. It is the only advanced between Pittsburg & Ft. Prince George, commands a large river navigable to the Mississippi & not only awes the Cherokees, but several other numerous tribes of Indians."

 

 

Watercolor illustration of Fort Ligonier, Pennsylvania from 1762. 

The "square redoubt of hewed logs" at Fort Robinson may have closely resembled this view.

The fort was at the end of a line of advance posts and camps that Virginia provincial forces had recently erected, departing in stages from the forts in the Roanoke valley, stretching towards Fort Loudon in Tennessee (Byrd papers, Volume 2 note on page 727)

Bryan's to Dunkard Bottom [Pulaski County, Virginia] 40 miles
thence to Sayer's Mill [Reedy Creek at Ft Chiswell-Modern Wytheville] 24
Thence to Davis' 26
thence to Stahlnaker's 25 [Marion Va/Chillhowie/ Fort Attakullakulla]
thence to the halfway spring 25
thence to the Big Island 25 [Kingsport TN Fort Robinson]

 Detail from a 1766 map showing the Holston river in relation to Fort Chiswell, Wytheville Virginia

(labelled "Bird's camp in 1760"), Fort Loudon in Tennessee and Fort Prince George in South Carolina.

"A map of the Indian nations in the southern department, 1766". William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan Library Digital Collections 

 

 Portrait of Speaker John Robinson (1704-1766) Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

This fort was named for Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Colony Treasurer, John Robinson. Robinson was Colonel John Chiswell's son in law, and had invested with Chiswell and recently resigned Virginia Provincial commander, Colonel William Byrd in the lead mines named for Chiswell in modern Austinville, Virginia. 

Colonel Adam Stephen's "General Return of the troops at Great Island", dated November 28, 1761, showed 744 men of the Virginia Regiment, 408 North Carolina Provincials (including 52 Tuscarora Indians) for a total of 1,152 men present at that point (Fauquier papers page 654).  

 

 Christoph von Graffenried (1661-1743), John Lawson (1674-1711), 

and an enslaved man as prisoners of the Tuscarora, 1711. This drawing depicts the moments before Lawson's torture and execution at the hands of the Tuscarora in 1711.

Returns from December, 1761 show that military stores there contained: 6 Barrells of powder, 4 Casks of Cartridges, 1 Cask of Flints, 300 Weight of Barr Lead, 100 [pounds] Buck Shott, 2 Casks of Musket Balls, 20 Quires of Cartridge paper... 15,000 Weight Flower, 3,000 Weight Beef (Fauquier papers page 653).

On November 19, 1761, a 400 man delegation led by Kanagatucko, the "nominal king of the Cherokees,"arrived and sued for peace with Colonel Stephen. Kanagatucko asked for an officer to accompany them back to the Cherokee towns. Virginia Ensign Henry Timberlake left Fort Robinson to join the Cherokee as a diplomatic hostage on November 28th, 1761. He would later return and escort Cherokee emissaries to London.

The fort appears to have been abandoned in 1762 as Virginia forces withdrew at the conclusion of the campaign, but it was later reoccupied as "Fort Patrick Henry" in 1776.
 

Dunmore's War 250th Encampment August 31st, 2024

 "...We according marched, we marched to the waters of New River to Drapers Meadows at Col. Billy Prestons..."

 

Pension Application of Robert Bleakley (Blakeley) W279 

Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

 

 

Portraying Virginians under Lewis: Smithfield Plantation, August 31, 2024

The encampment will be centered around a Composite/Model Company scenario, portraying a volunteer company of Virginians in August 1774 on the spot where they originally encamped at William Preston's home prior to marching to battle at Point Pleasant. 

Participation is juried, and by invitation only. Emphasis will be on quality, not quantity,  and participants will be doing some interpretation, drill and demonstrations for the general public during daytime hours (reading Glenn Williams' book on Dunmore's War is highly recommended). Female impressions should be centered around sewing hunting shirts/grain bags for the group during public hours.

When: The Weekend of August 31st, 2024. Friday (8/30) night arrivals, Sunday morning departures (no public programming on Sunday).

Where: Historic Smithfield, Blacksburg Virginia.

Wear: Civilian clothes with the majority of participants in unbleached linen "Osnabrigs" hunting shirts and blue woolen "Indian leggings". See below.

 

The Volunteer companies from western Virginia mustered in their civilian clothing and for the most part brough their personal arms and equipment. Some of the westernmost companies under Lewis appear to have purchased unbleached osnabrig linen hunting shirts and blue woolen Indian leggins, as well as other minor necessaries such as clasp knives and printed handkerchiefs from local stores.

Rifled arms were preferred, but shortages of rifled arms meant that some men were armed with smoothbores. The portion of the army under Dunmore received 300 stands of arms and accoutrements (bayonets and cartridge boxes) from the magazine in Williamsburg, the western companies appear to have utilized shot bags and horns exclusively. 

 

Tomahawks or small hatchets appear to have been common sidearms. 

 

 

Modern glasses and facial hair of any kind beyond three days’ growth will not be allowed (three days' growth being assumed to be similar in appearance to the British grenadier in Morier's Culloden painting).

 

 

 Detail from Morier showing the outer limits of acceptable facial fuzz for the event.

Participants will be expected to encamp in reproduction tents (or sleep outside under the stars) with minimal camp equipment.

 

 

 

Clothing:

Civilian clothes, Eighteenth century men commonly wore a coat, waistcoat and breeches of linen, wool, cotton, silk or a blended fabric, as well as a linen or cotton shirt, black felt hat, and wool or linen stockings, buckled shoes and a stock or handkerchief around their neck.


A full civilian suit of appropriate cut and fabrics with the addition of an unbleached linen hunting shirt (caped, fringed and open before) and blue woolen Indian leggings are preferred (numerous instances of 1.25 to 2 yards of "coating" or "blue cloth" were purchased for this purpose). Sleeved waistcoats and linen trousers are acceptable substitutions.

 

1770s rifle by Adam Haymaker of Winchester Virginia. 

Haymaker was later paid for "repair of Guns" for the campaign in October 1775.

 

Preferred Arms:
Pre 1774 American rifle (barrel 36 inches or more) with a wooden or 2 piece brass box. Kibler "Colonial American" or "Woodsrunner" kits are recommended for the novice.

Pre 1774 British military musket, fowling piece, Dutch musket, or Indian trading/Carolina gun, or an American composite gun featuring parts of the above.

Accoutrements:
Plain, small leather shot bag (around 7 inches square with flap and shoulder strap)
Powderhorn in good repair/well sealed (large 1 pound or so capacity)
Powder measure of tin, horn or antler
Pre 1774 style hatchet, tomahawk or small axe with leather cover for the blade.
Blanket- white woolen with red, blue or black stripes, recommended to be carried with a hoppus or blanket strap.
Canteen- staved wood, tin, or a glass bottle for water
Market wallet for small necessaries and rations

Documentation:

Pension Application of Robert Bleakley (Blakeley) W279
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
[Capitalization and punctuation partly corrected]
State of Kentucky } Sct
Wayne County }
On this 24 day of September 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the County Court th
of the County court of Wayne and State of Kentucky Robert Blakely a Resident of Wayne County
and State of Kentucky aged seventy four years or seventy five years old on the 12 day of th
January 1833, who Being first duly Sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following
Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832 th
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served
as first Sirgent as herein stated.
My first service was in the latter part of September 1773 I enlisted with Capt. John Floyd
as a volunteer for 18 months to go to the opost [outpost?] on or near the Ohio. Col. Charles
Lewis was Col and Andrew Lewis Chief Commander of the Expedition, & I then lived in Henry
county Virginia [formed from Pittsylvania County in 1777] on Black Watter [Blackwater River, in
Franklin County since 1786]. We according marched, we marched to the waters of New River to
Drapers Meadows at Col. Billy Prestons [William Preston’s plantation at present Blacksburg] we
then marched down new River to the mouth of the Cannawwa [sic: Kanawha River at Point
Pleasant] and on the 10 day of October 1774 we had a severe battle under Andrew Lewis our th
chief commander and other officers, with the Shawnee Indians. 86 of our men was killed in the
battle & many wounded. Charles Lewis was mortally wounded Col. William Flemming [sic:
William Fleming] of Roan Oak [sic: Roanoke River near Big Lick, now Roanoke VA] was our
Doctor or Surgeon. on the next day the Indians sent in a flag & Govenor Dunmore came up with
about 2000 more officers & soldiers, and the Indian agreed to capitulate and gave 5 Indians as
Hostages, to be sent to this Opost, untill a final Treaty.

[Capt. William Russell to Col. William Preston. 3QQ78- undated believed to be August 1774]

Dr. Colo. I have long expected to have been releived, by Men at our Forts, that the Volunteers might March, to the appointed place of Rendezvous: such relief was promised the Men when they Engaged and such they must have; other ways are ready, only some brown Linen which Mr. Brander told me,
should be up before the Army Marched from Rendezvous..."

Capt Wm Russell to Col. William Preston
August 28th, 1774

"Dr. Colo. I have got as fare as Mr. Branders with a handful of Men out of my own Company.  I think our Number of private Men is thirty one....the Men I have, are fit for the business, but are badly fix'd, for want of Hunting shirts, and Blankets; but as I hear Mr. Branders Waggon,
is on this side New River; I hope we shall get supply'd...I shall be glad Sir., if it can be done, to have a Gun provided against we come down, as I have a very good Hand without: when I was in the service before, there was near twenty press'd Guns: which the Country freely pay'd for,
 and I doubt not, but the same necessity will be allowed now..."

 

 

New Dublin August 4th 1774

To 1¼ yds blue Cloth for leggons….@6……...…..- 7 - 6

 

 

New Dublin August 23 1774

47 Capt Harrod & [per] Cowen

    ...To Jno Cloys wife for making Hunting Shirts...1/2/6
    Miss Sally Kincaid for making 10 shirts 1/10/-
    To Miss Grills for making 9 do 1/7/-

[Col. William Christian to Col. William Preston. 3QQ89]

Head Of Rich Creek, Septr. 3: 1774
I am informed that Men & provisions were moving from Stanton Wednesday and thursday was a week and that several Compys were at the Warm Springs.
It is also said Mathews dont propose taking out all the flour at once, but to send back the pack horses from the mouth of Elk. That LA. Dunmore wrote to Ch. Lewis
that some of his men had taken some little Towns & killed three or [four] people & that his Lordship was at fort Pitt. The above news came by one of the Woods's.
 He says also that there is Jents plenty and all goods necessary for the men such as Shirts Blankets Leggons.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM COLONEL WILLIAM PRESTON, DATED FINCASTLE, SEPTEMBER 28, 1774.
That part of the army under the command of Colonel Lewis, which is to meet Lord Dunmore at the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, or New River, assembled at the Great Levels of
Greenbrier,to the amount of about fifteen hundred rank and file. Colonel Charles Lewis marched with six hundred men on the 6th instant, for the mouth of Elk, a branch
of New River,which empties some distance below the Falls, there to build a small Fort, and prepare canoes. Colonel Andrew Lewis marched with another large party the
12th instant, for the same place; and Colonel Christian was to march yesterday with the remainder, being about four hundred, and the last supply of provisions.
This body of militia being mostly armed with rifle guns, and a great part of them good woodsmen, are looked upon to be at least equal to any troops for the number that
have been raised in America. It is earnestly hoped that they will, in conjunction with the other party, be able to chastise the Ohio Indians for the many murders and
robberies they have committed on our frontiers for many years past...

Both linen tents and tin kettles were in use by the men of the expedition.

[Captain John Floyd to Col. William Preston. 33S42, 43.]
    Sept. 18th 1774...
    I am in hopes we shall make out pretty well about kettles we are also allowed 60 yards of tent cloth for a company...” p. 206-07.


      [Col. William Christian to Col. William Preston. 3QQ146.]
    “Camp Union Septr. 12, 1774...
    The kettles and Tents were chiefly distributed before I came  I could get but 16 or 17 battered tin kettles for all Fincastle & but few Tents  But I am told oxen brigs [unknown symbol or doodle here] enough for Tents will be brought with the Pack horses to morrow  If the major is not marched
when you get this Intelligence I really think we ough[t] to send over the whole Country and try to beg or borrow kettles for to do withougt[sic] is very hard almost [im?]possible
 It will presently make men sick to live on Roasted meat without broath.” p. 198. 

 

 Glenn Williams at Smithfield, August 31, 2024

18th century Clothing Workshop with Henry Cooke in Manassas Virginia Oct 21-22

 

18^th Century Clothing Workshop

October 21-22, 2023 Old Manassas Courthouse, Manassas, VA

 

Henry Cooke at the Paul Revere House

As 18^th century garments were generally fitted (if not in their initial construction, upon distribution by regimental tailors), it is nearly impossible to produce most period garments on a “off the rack” basis. To get a proper fit, it is necessary to either find a quality tailor or taking up the needle and thread on your own. For those who choose the later, fitting and sewing 18^th century clothing can be daunting to the novice to say the least, as well as those with experience in modern techniques.

To help with whatever garments you’re working on, this general sewing skills 2-day workshop with Henry Cooke of Historic Costume Services is an opportunity for participants to get assistance with their projects. While the novice may not complete their project in two days, they at very least should leave with a partially constructed garment, the skills to finish the project and instructional information to refer to.

Students are encouraged to bring their own materials and patterns (or coordinate with the instructor for a “kit”), whether it’s a project you already started and need troubleshooting to finish, or haven’t begun yet as you’re not sure where to start.

Because of the limited workspace and the attention required for each student, the class sizes are limited to first come, first served. Continental breakfast and boxed lunches with your choice of sandwich, chips, a drink and cookie will be provided both days. Complete workshop details, including directions, material lists, etc. will be distributed to registered participants.

What you need:

• A sewing kit including scissors, pins, tailors chalk, linen thread (or cotton hand quilting thread), seam ripper, hand sewing needles, beeswax, tape measure, and yardstick. Please also bring any fabric and patterns you may need for your garment. Sources of supplies are available upon request.

• Optional: Sewing machine with cotton thread for internal seams, iron (with steam feature) and ironing board (we will have one for general use)

Location: Old Manassas Courthouse, Manassas VA

Date: October 21-22, 2022

Class Size: 12

Class Cost: $165

Includes: Two days of instruction, continental breakfast and Boxed Lunch (sandwich, chips, a drink and cookie) both days

Contact Todd Post at historyhandson@gmail.com or 703-920-0133 with any questions.