Remembering Brandywine

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The Colonial Line. Reenactors portraying colonial soldiers fire at oncoming British troops.

As has been the case for years, the 1777 Battle of Brandywine was commemorated in Chadds Ford at the Chadds Ford Historical Society over the weekend. The commemoration was a scaled-down battle reenactment, but still with soldiers drilling and firing muskets and cannons.

According to Randell Spackman, president of the Historical Society, this weekend’s two-day event is a preliminary runup to the sesquicentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, and the 250th anniversary of the 1777 Battle of Brandywine.

Port Arms. Reenactors drill with muskets as was done in colonial times.
Ferguson’s Rifle. Fred Magner, portraying Maj. Patrick Ferguson with a replica of the eponymously named Ferguson rifle that the British officer helped develop. It was the first true rifle used, with a rifled barrel and was breach-loaded. There is a story that Ferguson had a colonial officer in his sights at one point in the battle but didn’t shoot. That officer? Gen. George Washington.
Tending to business. ‘Twas always such. Uniforms must be mended at times.
More chores. Tending to the cooking fire.

 

Music lessons. There were no radios in colonial days, so marching orders while under fire were relayed by the tattoo of drums. Young boys could be the drummers.
Telling the story. Long-time reenactor Paul Loane talks with visitors at the Chadds Ford Historical Society. Loane has been reenacting for 52 years. He said he only intended to reenact up to the bicentennial in 1976, but he’s still at it.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.


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