Yorktown 225th - Day 1

It has been a few weeks now and I am still digesting my first trip back East to a Revolutionary War event. To sum it all up, it was the greatest experience I could have hoped for.

The actual 225th Anniversary event was scheduled to take place the weekend of October 20th-22nd. My family and I arrived in Williamsburg, VA on the 14th to get a little bit of sight-seeing. I had never been to the so-called "Historic Triangle" in Virginia and was just blown away when I first got there. Colonial Williamsburg was fantastic, the Jamestown Settlement was a great place to visit and I enjoyed the bit of the Yorktown battlefield I toured.

I won't bore you with the details of my sight-seeing but instead go straight into the reenacting bit. Early on the morning of Friday the 20th, the RV and trailer showed up at the Fusilier Redoubt to unload the gear the California contingent brought along. Since it wasn't possible to bring tents and equipment on an airplane trip, a few of the 23rd living in CA rented an RV and trailer and drove it all the way across the USA (in a record 56 hours) so that we could have an impressive camp. So that morning was spent setting up camp and making it look proper.

After setting up camp, including putting up the same tent multiple times as it was blown down by the wind, it was time to get ready for the first battle. Having only participated in battles in California (where a total of 12 is considered a decent showing), I didn't really know what to expect. The battle was held at the Endview Plantation, which usually holds Civil War reenactments. It had a few nice fields ready for the battle.

We marched into position and soon a few muskets (and rifles) could be heard going off. I thought to myself, "Hey, this is familiar. I know this sound." Then the roaring boom of a volley from a company went off and I was taken aback. It sounded as if the 23rd was going to have to take on the whole Continental line by itself. Meanwhile the cavalry had a skirmish, which was very cool to see as we don't have that in CA.

After the cavalry stopped showing off, the light infantry deployed. It was good to see the Delaware lights from California out.

Shortly afterwards, both sides were pitched in a heated battle. Volley after volley roared over the field. The 23rd, and the rest of the Union Brigade, was being held in reserve (the idea of saving your best for last). The Loyalists were out, slogging it with the militia.

Soon it was the 23rd's turn to come up and deploy.

We put up a good fight, but in the end the Continentals just out numbered us and we were forced to withdraw. During the action, I was wounded but managed (with the help of a drummer) to make it back to the line to do my duty once again.

With our pride still intact and our heads held high, we marched off the field of battle to the cheers of the crowd.

To top off the first day, we showed off a little bit to our adoring audience.

After the battle, I was just amazed at how awesome it was to be part of this and I couldn't wait for the next day.