Wednesday 27 April 2011

Battle road slideshow

This is well worth a look - some really atmospheric Revwar photos from around the Lexington site.
'Tactical demonstration reenactment at Hartwell Tavern, Battle Road, Lexington,Ma'

Monday 18 April 2011

Today in history

The American revolution ended in 1783 - exactly 8 years to the day it began.

Sunday 17 April 2011

Stockbridge and Rangers novel


I was catching up on the Facebook page 18thc Native Reenactors and found this blog dedicated to fiction of the Stockbridge Mohicans to peruse - called With Sacred Honor some chapters are available through Amazon's kindle.
Chapter 1 - 4 here to whet your appetite.

Saturday 16 April 2011

Beast of Gévaudan


Wiki on the historical basis for the below movie.
French language documentary on the subject

Brotherhood of the Wolf trailer (Le Pacte des loups)

In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.
This 2001 film that mixes horror with martial arts isn't really about the SYW but its main protagonists are veterans of the F&I and it is quite an enjoyable mix of styles. See this Camp Fight scene which has echoes of Barry Lyndon.

Sauvages


From here

Guerriers des forêts de l’Est à l’époque de la guerre de Sept Ans

Cette reconstitution moderne montre de quoi pouvaient avoir l’air
un chef et des guerriers des peuples des forêts de l’Est dans les
années 1750, au cours de la grande lutte entre la France et l’Angleterre
pour le contrôle de l’Amérique du Nord. Les guerriers portent un
amalgame de vêtements européens et autochtones, mais leurs armes
sont principalement d’origine européenne. L’un des guerriers s’est
peint le visage, activité traditionnelle avant le combat.
Tableau de David Rickman [ministère de la Défense nationale]

Friday 15 April 2011

European French and Indian war


One of the things I enjoyed a great deal when I used to run a French and Indian war group in the UK was seeing who was out there in Europe reenacting the period and we had guest reenactors coming from Alsace, Germany, Holland and many more places - it seemed that in every corner of Europe there was some activity for the F&I - maybe a just a guy or two - a couple maybe but get them all together and you had a really interesting group. I would like to somehow use this blog for a similar type of encouragement - so that people all over the continent can know about each other and maybe attend each others events etc. How this will work I am not sure yet - I would like your ideas on how this might work but in the meantime if you have kit for the period think about going out to the woods for some photos and send them to me, detailing your interests and so on.
(The photo by the way is from about 98 - I am in red and the rest are German Iroquois reenactors. )

Friday 8 April 2011

Wednesday 6 April 2011

New Galloping Major Rangers


Received this from Galloping Major about their new Rangers figures. They look great.

To accompany our two existing packs of Rangers in our French & Indian War range, we've released two further packs:
Anglo-American Command & Characters (6 figures) and our first Personality Pack - Major Robert Rogers of His Majesties Independent Companies of American Rangers (3 figures). Rogers is accompanied by two other ranger characters, one tracking, and one to represent the black ranger 'Duke' Jacob. We've also released a new "Soldiers Free" promotional ranger figure.

Among other figures, I'm currently working on British regulars and provincials.


Friday 1 April 2011

The Light in the Forest 1 of 7 (1958)

This is one on the below list I didn't know - a chunk of Americana made by Disney starring Fess Parker. Opening scene is pretty spectacular and has Black Watch and 60th led by Bouquet in 1764 marching through the wilderness ...worth watching ... the opening scene at least. IMDB
Bumph; It is 1764 and a peace treaty between the Delaware Indians and the British requires all white captives be returned to their people. John Butler, kidnapped by the tribe when he was a child, is forced against his will to return to his family in Pennsylvania. Frontiersman Del Hardy and Shenandoe, a servant girl, try to help him adjust to his new way of life. Based on Conrad Richter's book of the same name and starring Fess Parker and James MacArthur.

'Five best French and Indian war movies'

Here's an interesting list of movies - see what you think. A couple on there I don't know. See also their choice of American Revolution movies.

The Royal Sword

If you are after French swords, buckles or acccoutrements this looks like the place to go. Website

Garnison de Québec. Compagnies franches de la Marine

www.lagarnisondequebec.com