On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., those who wishing to see Kingston burn yet again will assemble at the Old Dutch Church on Wall Street for a re-enactment that will eventually split down the two paths of Green Street and Crown Street and reunite at Frog Alley to conclude at the Hoffman House.
In conjunction with the burning, the Senate House State Historic Site is hosting the re-enactment group Third Ulster County Militia’s 18th-century period demonstrations such as coopering, blacksmithing, cooking, medicine and musket-firing. According to Senate House Site Manager Tom Kernan, the day of demonstrations and activities is free of charge, and guests will enjoy hands-on activities like cornhusk-doll making and candle-dipping. (Who needs Facebook when you have hot wax?) Tours of the Senate House are open: $4 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and children under 12 are free. Rural Felicity will be performing Colonial-period music throughout the day as well.
“We invite the people uptown after the battle to come to the Senate House and enjoy the activities of the Third County Militia,” said Kernan. “It should be a lot of fun and a nice afternoon and people can experience what kind of activities went on back in the eighteenth century.”
Playing the bad guys
Don Beale, a retired history teacher, leads the 16th Queen’s Light Dragoons, a group of Revolutionary War-era British army re-enactors. Beale says he can afford a cocky attitude because he already knows the outcome of every battle. Beale encourages the public to wear “some kind of fancy dress, doesn’t have to be period,” for the Colonial Ball, which will musicians playing string instruments, flutes and recorders and a caller to explain the period dances.
“We will land on beaches at 10 a.m.,” said Beale. “We are doing what would have happened if the rebels had fought back, so we will secure the beachhead and then move up the road to the Strand area where the rebels will make a last stand for the day. In the early afternoon, there will be a surprise attack at the camp.”
The camps will be open to the public, available to talk and answer questions. The British will be at Kingston Point; Americans and the boats will be at the beach itself.
“The next day people are congregating at the Old Dutch Church. We are going to march from the county office buildings and then march down past Wall Street, past Green, and we will be in the old Stockade area,” added Beale. “Either the rebels or the British will be in the Persen House, whoever gets there first. If the rebels do, I will take it away from them, but if we get it first we are keeping it.”
There will be boats. Impressive ones, said Gene Tozzi of the First Ulster County Militia, another group of re-enactors. Tozzi said people can expect to see The Mercury, a 24-foot periauger. The Mercury, a reproduction of a boat style commonly used by the Dutch in the olden days, is docked year-round on the Rondout.
“I will be working with the boat, which will be British for most of the weekend. Saturday morning will start with a British vessel attacking the beach. Then all of the boats will come around the creek behind the Maritime Museum at which time the Mercury will turn coat and change colors and become an American boat. There will be eight boats chasing our boat in a running gun battle, starting by the Cornell building and end just past the city docks with cannon, rifle and musket fire. That will coincide with the battle on the street. There will be continuous action between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from the beach, and the public can follow behind the British troops as they march into town or they can watch from the strand. There will be areas for spectators.”