The Long Hunter's Journal
The newsletter of the Utah ALRA
July 2005
Grant Davis, Lieutenant
James Chandler, Sergeant of Arms
Steve Gish, Scribe
Lieutenants Message
I want to say a special thanks to Steve Gish and James Chandler for all their work on the Uinta Camp. I can only imagine how much time Steve spent painting the 35 targets for us to blow holes in. Their efforts made the camp a real success and a great time! Three cheers for them…Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Hopefully you are thinking a head of things you might demonstrate at the Fort Bridger Rendezvous. I am looking forward to that event and spending time around friends.
August Family Camp/Meeting
Due to the delays caused by the changes in the fort it seems everyone already has prior commitments. We are therefore canceling the August Family Camp. We will have a normal Saturday meeting at the fort on August 6 at 10am. New probationary member Duane Dyer will be showing us how to make rope. The fort should be available for us to camp Friday night. The Lieutenant will send out confirmation of that shortly.
Unita Camp 2005
The weather cooperated for the most part at this years' Unita Camp. A good turnout included; James Chandler, Grant Davis, Kirk Davis, Duane Dyer, Steve Gish , Gregg Hansen, Trent Isaacson, John McCann, Terry Pendley, Scott Rawley, and Kevin Molett. A little light rain fell Thursday evening but didn't stop the early arrivals from setting up. It fell again late Saturday afternoon which didn't dampen SR's spirit who planned to stay over.
The shooting included metal gongs, a running rabbit, and a woods walk. A few tried the running rabbit, which is an ALRA skill, but couldn't master the task. Terry Pendley arrived Saturday to show how it was done…three times!
The scenario for the woods walk was a group of militia, when looking for stolen horses, encountered British soldiers and Indians allies. The group moved out single file until they were surprised by a group of Indians and British soldiers. Though surprised, the enemy was quickly put down except a few that escaped. Following the ambush, a scout let the group across an open filed to a trail. Moving down the trail, an Indian was spotted holding a bloody knife at the throat of a captured Continental Army Soldier. Two skilled marksmen were selected to shoot the jeering Indian who didn't understand the range and accuracy of the long rifle. The threat was removed by shots to the chest and neck and the Soldier freed.
Continuing at a quicker pace down the trail, Indians were spotted on both side and a fight quickly ensued. Following this engagement, what appeared to be a white man dressed Indian style and his wife and small children was spotted. His hands were raised but before a council could be called a shot range out and the man fell. Oh well, we'll never know if he was friendly or a spy.
The group now realized that they were discovered and selected a seasoned frontiersman to lead them out of danger. Capt. Matt, with a sharp eye and a deliberate pace, headed the nervous group safely through a quacking aspen forest to the edge of a clearing. A large group of British regulars and Indians was spotted and before they could react, most were cut down by a volley of fire from the woodsmen. Satisfied that the threat was over, the weary militia took a break before making it safely back to the station.
Brain Tanning
Steve Gish and Grant Davis worked on brain tanning two deer hides. The process began several days earlier when Steve began soaking the hides in garden lime to loosen the hair. He had also fleshed one hide so that it could place in the brain solution upon arrival. Time did not permit the complete progress but Steve explained the steps involved to the group.
Colonial Dinner to Benefit Crystal Frazier School Fund
The Frazier's will be hosting a colonial dinner to help Crystal with the expense of her upcoming trip to New York to attend school. The dinner will be held on Saturday, August 23 at one of the Frazier daughter's home in American Fork (280 N. 400 E.) at 6:30pm. Any and all are invited. It is colonial themed (meaning colonial food). They will have their camp kitchen out under their marquee and be cooking a 4-course meal (appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert) hopefully served on historical plates, forks, etc. It will be $20 per person. Anyone is welcome to come, but it is on an RSVP basis. Please RSVP to Crystal Frazier at crystaliz247@yahoo.com or (801)226-8532. Please RSVP by July 20th.
Status of Fort Buenaventura
I have been talking to the director of Parks and Recreation for Weber County about our use of Fort Buenaventura. The county lawyers have drawn up a yearly contract for the fort that includes a clause about club use (this includes any clubs that use the fort). We will need to commit to a specific number of service hours as a trade for our use of the fort. We can accomplish these hours through service projects, rendezvous demos, teaching school groups at the fort, the pioneer craft fair, etc. I don't yet know how many hours we will need to commit to, but the Director of Parks and Rec is willing to work with us.
I think we will be able to make this work and help the fort as well. I realize that all of us are busy and I will try to work out a fair deal that doesn't tax us too much. However, I will need each of your help if we are to maintain our fort use.
Calendar of Events
Time-Line History Event
Kent Klien invited ALRA Patriots to attend a "time-line" history event that will be held in the Midvale Park in September. Period re-enactors from Mountain Men, Scottish Highlanders, Civil War buffs, etc. will participate. Kent will be participating in a Colonial setting. Anyone wishing to demonstrate a Colonial skill is invited. Camping and Public Restrooms is available. Here is the information Kent sent along: American Heritage Festival, Sept. 15-18 @ Midavale City Park. 445 W. 7800 S. behind (north) the Elementry school in the Park. 30$ camp fee. Contact: Linda Allen @ 801-261-1756 or tgs1231@comcast.net
Historical Notes
CAPTIVE - July 4th, 1781 W 4. This day all officers that are present on the Island assembled, to commemorate the 4th July it being the anniversary of Independency and drank the 13 following 1st. United State of America may they ever be free Independent & Surviving (sovereign), 2nd. The King of France / 3d. the King of Spain, 4th the United State of Holland / 5th. The Continental Congress / 6th. Genl Washington / 7th our American ambassador in Europe / 8th the French Ambassador in America -9th. The French Adml. And Navy in America, 10th. Genl. DeRochambeau & the French Army in America / 11th the American Arms / 12th a Speedy Releasment to the Allied Prisoners, 13th what we have gained by our arms may we support by our Virtue-and spent the remainder of the Day in Jolletry & Mirth under a Flagg which had the Figure of his Excellency Genl. Washington on it. Dirary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution 1775-1783, p. 212.
FLAG, American Up until the outbreak of the Revolution, Americans used the British Union Flag, which was proclaimed by King James I in 1606 and was superseded by the present Union Jack in 1801. On 14 June "77 Cong. Passed the Flag Resolution, which specified that there be 13 stripes, red and white alternately, and that the union be 13 white stars in a blue field, "representing a new constellation." This left considerable latitude to flag makers as to the type of stars, their arrangement, and the arrangement of the stripes.
The Bennington Flag" is believed by many authorities to be the first Stars and Stripes flown by ground forces. Said to have been carried or present at the battle of Bennington, Vt., Aug. "77, its field-nine stripes wide-has an arch of 11 seven-pointed stars over the numerals "76" and has two more stars in the top corner of the field. Top and bottom stripes are white, rather than red. Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, page 369.
MARKSMANSHIP A lot about tactics and courage is explained by the little-realized fact the American marksmanship during the Revolution was very bad and British marksmanship was almost nonexistent, except in the special units of Riflemen organized by both armies and by the Germans. At Lexington and Concord "only one American bullet out of 300 found its mark," writes Ward, "only one man out of 15 hit anybody." (W.O.R., 50) At Wetzell's Mills, six years later, 25 expert riflemen, all of them veterans of Kings Mountain, fired from relative close range at the gallant British Lt. Col. James Webster as he led his troops on horseback across a ford they were covering-eight or nine of these riflemen fired twice-and Webster was not hit once. (Ibid., 782, citing many sources) Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, page 680.
The Death of Wolfe by Benjamin West 1770 - Benjamin West painted the painting below in 1770 of the death of Wolfe in the French and Indian war. The painting was subsequently purchased by an English Lord whose posterity subsequently gifted it to Canada. The painting now hangs in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The painting is considered to be fraught with historical problems. One of the main problems being that many of the people depicted in the painting didn't fight in the French and Indian war. However, as a historical costume reference it is still of some use. Colonel C. P. Stacey, Director of History at the Department of National Defence in Canada said the following of the painting: "One matter about which West seems to have taken some care is the representation of uniforms. Wolfe's own costume is precisely that shown in J. S. C. Schaak's picture of 1766, said to be based on a drawing by Hervey Smyth: the red coat, waistcoat and breeches, the black mourning band (for his father) on the left arm, and at his feet the 'fusil' and bayonet which Schaak represents him as carrying. It may be noted however that, except for the Ranger, all the officers in the group are improperly dressed: they have gone into action without their hats." Of special interest to our group is the dress of the ranger at the left who is wearing leggings, moccasins, and an ornate shot pouch with horn.
Click on the Image for High Resolution Version (362K)
