Hundreds of re-enactors depicting armed forces from the first century A.D. to modern times came together on March 17 and 18 for Jamestown Settlement’s annual “Military Through the Ages.”
This year’s chronological display of military history featured 33 groups based in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Boudicca’s Rebellion to Virginia Army National Guard
Re-enactors portrayed soldiers and military encounters from Roman and Celtic times, medieval period, Hundred Years’ War, War of the Roses, French and Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812, and American Civil War. Re-enactors representing World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War and the Soviet War in Afghanistan took visitors through the 20th century, with the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the Virginia Army National Guard representing the present. Among the units participating in 2012, the second year of the American Civil War’s 150th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg, were a Union unit – the “3rd U.S. Regular Infantry” – and two Confederate units – “23rd Virginia Infantry” and “Nancy Hart Militia,” a female volunteer militia. Ground troops demonstrated military drills, uniforms and period cooking. The “3rd U.S. Regular Infantry” invited visitors to take part in hands-on company and bayonet drills, as well as learn about Civil War medical treatment and civilian life on the home front.
This year also marked the bicentennial of the War of 1812, depicted by “Fort Norfolk Garrison” with stations to “recruit” visitors and allow them to drill with wooden muskets.
Children’s Parade, Artillery Firings, Military Pass-in-Review
Among the weekend highlights, a noon artillery salute at the Jamestown Settlement ships on Saturday, March 17, marked the beginning of a children’s parade on the ships’ pier. Young “troops” were led through the museum’s re-created colonial fort and re-enactor campsites to formally present ribbons to each of the participating military units.
Four centuries of artillery were demonstrated at noon Sunday, March 18, featuring the firing of several guns — a 17th-century swivel gun and falcon, early 18th-century naval deck gun by the “Crewe of the Archangel,” Revolutionary War brass battalion gun, and a Virginia Army National Guard howitzer.
A posting of unit colors took place at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 18, and concluded with an awards ceremony, in which re-enactor units are judged on camp sites, clothing and cooking presentations, and field demonstrations.
Award recipients in 2012 were:
2012 RE-ENACTOR’S CHOICE AWARD
The Crewe of the Archangel, 1680-1730
2012 VISITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
Khe Sahn, Vietnam, 1967
BEST UNIFORM/CLOTHING IMPRESSION – Early Period Pre-1879
First Place – La Belle Compagnie, 1412
Second Place – Nancy Hart Militia, 1862
Third Place – 23rd Virginia Infantry, CSA, Company K – Keysville Guards, 1862
BEST UNIFORM/CLOTHING IMPRESSION – Modern Period
First Place – Stadtwehr Bremen (Civil Defense Force, Bremen), 1919
Second Place – Nederland, 1940
Third Place – West Cork Flying Column, 1919-21
BEST CAMP COOKING – Early Period Pre-1879
First Place (Tie) – La Belle Compagnie,1412
His Majesty’s Detached Hospital in North America, 1781
Second Place – Scara Karoli, 772-804
Third Place – 23rd Virginia Infantry, 1862
BEST CAMP COOKING – Modern Period
First Place – Stadtwehr Bremen (Civil Defense Force, Bremen), 1919
Second Place – Item Company, 3/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1944
Third Place – West Cork Flying Column, 1919-21
BEST CAMP– Early Period Pre-1879
First Place – La Belle Compagnie, 1412
Second Place – Crewe of the Archangel, 1680-1730
Third Place – 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, 1862
BEST CAMP – Modern Period
First Place – Stadtwehr Bremen (Civil Defense Force, Bremen), 1919
Second Place – Item Company, 3/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1944
Third Place (Tie) – West Cork Flying Column, 1919-21
Nederland, 1940
Honorable Mention – RT Colorado, Command and Control Group, North, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observation Group, 1969-70
BEST UNIT DEMONSTRATION
First Place – West Cork Flying Column, 1919-21
Second Place – The York Privateers, 1702-13
Third Place – 51st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1945
