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This article was published 9 year(s) and 3 month(s) ago

History comes alive in Marblehead

daily_staff

July 11, 2016 by daily_staff

PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Members of the Glover’s Marblehead Regiment march along Front Street toward Fort Sewall for the Revolutionary Way encampment on Saturday.

BY LEAH DEARBORN

MARBLEHEAD — Glover’s Marblehead Regiment held their annual day-long encampment at Fort Sewall on Saturday.

In addition to a schedule of educational events, costumed actors set up a series of tents to create an authentic Revolutionary War camp setting.

The highlight of the day was a skirmish between actors portraying the British and Colonial soldiers from Marblehead.

A boat full of men dressed as British soldiers fought choppy waters to land at Fort Beach, where they proceeded to advance on American reenactors who fought back by shooting powder from their weapons.

The fight came to a head at Fort Sewall, where onlookers watched British soldiers retreat after several of their members pretended to be shot and laid down on the ground.

Kay O’Dwyer, a reenactor and teacher at the Marblehead Community Charter Public School who helped organize the event, said the skirmish acted out by Glover’s Regiment isn’t based on a particular historical battle.

“The camp here could be any camp during the Revolutionary War era,” she said.

Brig. Gen. John Glover was a Marblehead resident and American Revolutionary War hero who ferried George Washington across the Delaware River during his 1776 attack on British troops.

Glover was placed at the head of a group of Marblehead soldiers known as the 14th Continental Regiment. They were charged with protecting Beverly from British warships, according to the history section of the regiment’s website.

Also present were the Molly Cutthroats, a visiting regiment of reenactors that recreates the lives of 18th century women.

“The women of Marblehead were left behind when the men went off with Glover,” said Kim Nuttall Woolf, the group’s captain. “While Marblehead’s men were off at sea with Glover’s Marine Regiment, the town’s women successfully convinced a British ship that Fort Sewall was fully garrisoned.”

The British ship retreated because of the women’s efforts, she added. British propaganda from the time spread stories of American women being uncivilized. As a result, some of their exploits during the Revolution were less publicized to avoid contributing to what they saw as a negative stereotype, she said.

Dr. Raymond Sullivan played the part of Colonial surgeon Dr. John Warren during the event.

Sullivan, who described himself as a “late-blooming historian,” said he got involved in re-enacting about eight years ago.

“We always try to be as authentic as possible,” he said.  

A table of “camp-followers” sold lemonade, molasses candy and other items to raise funds for the regiment while they spoke with visitors and practiced embroidery.

Other events included a shooting contest called Last Man Standing, a drum concert and two children’s drills.

The drills, which Capt. Seamus Daly of the regiment said are always a crowd favorite, taught kids basic military maneuvers such as how to hold a wooden sword and properly march.

“We’re training the new recruits,” said reenactor Katie Sullivan.  

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