Living History

Fun Afternoon

The afternoon of March 18th was relatively mild and sunny here in Williamsburg. It was a good day to attend an exhibition at the nearby Jamestown Settlement Museum called Military Through the Ages. Dedicated re-enactors displayed the clothing, equipment, food, weapons, and campsites of soldiers through history from the time of ancient Greece up to the modern Vietnam War. The re-enactors were wonderful! They easily stayed in character and spoke convincingly about details of life during their selected historical time period.

For example, the next picture shows a re-enactor portraying a surgeon with the American Revolutionary War army. He patiently explained the uses of medical instruments and medicines displayed on the table before him.

Directly opposite the surgeon's table was a British Royal artillery unit from the same Revolutionary War time period.

One artillery unit member was casting musket balls from molten lead. The silvery molten lead can be seen below in a small metal cup sitting in the fire near the left end of a piece of firewood.

The molten lead was scooped from the cup and poured into several molds to make musket balls. The re-enactors gave musket balls to visitors, but, even when solidified, the balls were often still too hot to handle.

Another 18th century display featured engraved powder horns.

Going back further in time, a group called La Belle Compagnie portrayed the time of the Hundred Years War between England and France 1337-1453.

Exhibits were not always about weapons. Food preparation, sewing, games, and crafts were also prominently displayed.

Another group, Lord Grey's Retinue, portrayed life in the medieval household of Lord Henry Grey of Codnor, England in 1471. One member displayed armor in use at the time and helped visitors try on various pieces.

Near the armor exhibit an archer explained the use of a longbow.

His supply of arrows was impressive. Also impressive was the hundreds of pounds of strength needed to operate the bow and the incredible range of the arrows. They could travel 100 to 200 meters or more!

The archer also displayed different types of arrowheads. Some were meant to penetrate armor. Some were meant to penetrate chain mail. They all look deadly.

Another interesting group was Das Teufels Alpdrucken Fahnlein (The Devil's Nightmare Regiment), German mercenaries of the Holy Roman Empire in 1529. They featured colorful uniforms and fearsome swords.

Here they march as a group.

Ancient Greek warriors represented the 5th century BCE. The crested Greek helmets look particularly fearsome.

Who are the people who become so dedicated to this role playing? How do they get interested in one particular historical time period rather than another?

This enjoyable exhibit returns each year. I hope to attend next year and learn more.