A blast from the past in Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD – Every year at Fort Sewall, which overlooks Marblehead Harbor, participants gather to celebrate Gen. John Glover in the Glover?s Regiment summer encampment.Glover?s Regiment was reborn as a reenactment unit in the 1976 bicentennial year to honor Marblehead?s participation in the American Revolution. Seamus Daly, organizer of the event as well as captain of the regiment, planned the weekend?s events designed to teach the public about the unit?s history. Some of the activities found at Fort Sewall were a men-at-arms assembly, a canon display, a children?s drill and a battle scenario at Seaside Park.?There are three requirements to being a reenactor,” Daly said. “You have to have time, money and an intellectual commitment. You need to know the history.”Having been a history student all his life, knowing the history wasn?t a problem for Daly. He explained that this event took a lot of preparation and he, among many others, dedicated his time to make the July weekend successful in every way they could. The reenactors dressed in colonial outfits, and remained conscious of the fact that they were part of Glover?s Regiment and the role it played in the American Revolution.Not everyone who participated had a persona. But the participants each tried to submerge themselves into the time of the revolution. Glover and his men played a pivotal part in fighting against the British and the re-enactment was brought to life as much as they could.Daly and his troops walked through Seaside Park, where their battle would begin. And for them, that was the most exhilarating part of the day.?Even though we?re shooting blanks through our muskets, you really feel where you are,” Daly said. “You?re in the middle of a battle that?s actually gone on here before and now, here you are again experiencing it.”Larry Sands, who plays the role of the adjutant, assists with whatever the Daly needs. When asked about what makes this whole reenactment process worth it, Sands says it had to do with the history.?We?re involved here as much as we can be,” he said. “You feel the history. There are a couple of moments during the weekend where you feel like you?re in it.”Having help around the camp was important to the militia?s ability to succeed in battle. Powder monkeys were young boys assigned to help bring gun powder for the muskets. Along with supplying troops with gunpowder, they also split wood for camp. Theo Bachelder and Eoghan Daly were the powder monkeys for the regiment this weekend. They expressed their excitement at being part of such a memorable event with great gratitude.?It?s just fun to do this stuff,” Bachelder said. “I feel like we all learn a lot. Our parents are here, and we all get along with each other. Really, it?s just fun.”Walking through the camp, tents were pitched, there were places to sit around the fire and men and women were working – some cooking, others showing children what the muskets do. Then there were the captains and their officers talking and smiling with each other.Participants did their best to broadcast their mission to as many people as they could while having fun.?It?s all about the history,” Daly said. “Educating the public is what matters, that?s why we?re here, that?s why we do this. We genuinely love to do this.”