Revrifles : Messages : 608-631 of 631

#608

From: benfranklin76@...
Date: Thu May 3, 2012 7:30 pm
Subject: Web site for Liberty Bell Event

Greetings all, The web site for the Guarding the Liberty Bell Event is now operational. The site address is: http://guardingthebell.weebly.com. Please go to it for updates and info and photos of the camp and stream. We are still accepting registrations and have decided to extend the registration dedline until Saturday June 2nd as I have some units that are waiting for their renewed insurance cover page to come. For those units who have not yet registered we asked you to PLEASE do so AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to give us the opportunity to make sure we have everything we need to make your involvement well worth your participation. Thanks much! Larry Gorecki, commander, Ottendorff's Corps

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#609

From: benfranklin76@...
Date: Wed May 16, 2012 1:43 pm
Subject: Liberty Bell Event

lt_gorecki

Send Email

Just to let everyone know we have extended the registration for this event"The Guarding of the Liberty Bell" If any individual belonging to a Continental Line member unit wishes to attend you are welcome to do so but you need to contact me at this address off of this site ASAP. Regards, Larry Gorecki, Commander Ottendorff's Corps

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#610

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:43 pm
Subject: Riflemen at Oriskany Event

umfspock87

Send Email

Dear List,

So it's Sunday afternoon and I'm sitting at home missing the big Rockford Plantation event (son's graduation trumped it), and one way I'm dealing with my envy is thinking about how cool the Oriskany event is going to be in August. So it's time for me to go into 1777 mode and join Mitch and the others by time traveling back 235 years ago.

Before I do that though, I should remind folks, expecially my fellow riflemen, just how important the summer and fall of 1777 was to the riflemen. After all, Daniel Morgan's Rifle Corps was formed in June and went on to do great things for the rest of 1777.

The month of June started out with a hint that something was brewing when General Washington issued the following order on June 1st:

"The commanding officer of every Corps to make a report early tomorrow morning, to his Brigadier, of the number of rifle-men under his command -- In doing which, he is to include none but such as are known to be perfectly skilled in the use of these guns, and who are known to be active and orderly in their behaviour...."

Nearly two weeks passed, however, before it was clear what General Washington was up to. He had formed a select corps of riflemen from amongst the army ( actually from the VA and PA regiments almost exclusively ). He described this corps in a letter to George Clinton of NY a month after it was formed.

"...Colonel Morgan's corps of riflemen, amounting to about five hundred. These are all chosen men, selected from the army at large, well acquainted with the use of rifles, and with that mode of fighting, which is necessary to make a good counterpoise to the Indians; and they have distinguished themselves on a variety of occasions, since the formation of the corps, in skirmishes with the enemy...."

Of course, when General Washington created this corps on June 13th, he was not thinking about using them against Indians, but rather, using them as light infantry troops. His first instructions to Colonel Morgan on June 13th read:

"The corps of Rangers newly formed and under your command, are to be considered as a body of light infantry, and are to act as such, for which reason they will be exempted from the common duties of the line."

Would anyone like to venture a guess at what "common duties of the line" means? I suspect guard details for one.

General Washington's instructions to Col. Morgan continued:

"At present you are to take post at Van Veighters Bridge and watch, with very small scouting parties (to avoid fatiguing your men too much under the present appearance of things ) the Enemy's left Flank, and particularly the roads from Brunswick towards Millstone, princetown, etc. In case of any movement of the Enemy you are instantly to fall upon their flanks and gall them as much as possible, taking especial Care not to be surrounded or have your Retreat to the Army cut off. I have sent for Spears which I expect shortly to received and deliver to you, as a defence against Horse...."

Note: There is a drawing of the spears in the Washington Papers that show and interesting, foldable spear with a strap.

Interestingly, if appears that there may have been a shortage of rifles in the army by 1777, for the general orders of June 13th read:

"Such rifles as belong to the States, in the different brigades to be immediately exchanged with Col. Morgan for musquets.... If a sufficient number of rifles (public property) can not be procured, the Brigadiers are requested to assist Col. Morgan, either by exchanging, or purchasing those that are private property...."

I don't know whether every one of Morgan's 500 men carried a rifle in his rifle corps, but I would assume so.

I do know that his unit was divided into eight companies, four made up of Virginians and four of Pennsylvanians. Morgan's second in command was Lt. Col. Richard Butler of PA. Major Joseph Morris of New Jersey ( believe it or not ) filled out the staff officers.

O.K., I'm three days early on mentioning all this as it didn't occur until June 13th, so I will stop here with this closing thought.

Although Rockford Plantation is a great place to honor the memory of General Edward Hand, a legendary rifle commander in his own right, there are no better battles in the Revolutionary War to pay homage to the riflemen (or at least Morgan's rifle corps) than the battles of Saratoga (sorry King's Mountain, I know you disagree).

And since both Freemen Farm and Bemis Heights are on the schedule for the Oriskany event, I hope my fellow riflemen out there will take advantage of this opportunity and turnout in strong numbers. What better way is there to honor the riflemen of the past than by reenacting their most significant battles for a new generation?

Sincerely,

Mike Cecere 7th VA

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)

#611

From: Richard McCreight <dougmcr8@...>
Date: Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:02 pm
Subject: Re: Riflemen at Oriskany Event

dougmcr8...

Send Email

Mike - very cool...and if you did not know...to this day Rangers in Ranger battalions today do not pull post guard and detail or other 'normal' fatigue duties that the remainder of post troops do...

Doug

Sjt, Rifle Coy

1st VA

From: "umfspock87@..." <umfspock87@...>
To: Revlist@yahoogroups.com; RWProgressive@yahoogroups.com; Revrifles@yahoogroups.com; 7thvareg@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, June 10, 2012 3:48:24 PM
Subject: [Revrifles] Riflemen at Oriskany Event

Dear List,

The month of June started out with a hint that something was brewing when General Washington issued the following order on June 1st:

Would anyone like to venture a guess at what "common duties of the line" means? I suspect guard details for one.

General Washington's instructions to Col. Morgan continued:

Note: There is a drawing of the spears in the Washington Papers that show and interesting, foldable spear with a strap.

Interestingly, if appears that there may have been a shortage of rifles in the army by 1777, for the general orders of June 13th read:

I don't know whether every one of Morgan's 500 men carried a rifle in his rifle corps, but I would assume so.

O.K., I'm three days early on mentioning all this as it didn't occur until June 13th, so I will stop here with this closing thought.

Sincerely,

Mike Cecere 7th VA

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)

#612

From: benfranklin76@...
Date: Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:51 pm
Subject: Rev War Event at Daniel Boone Homestead

lt_gorecki

Send Email

I have been contacted by the Friends of The Daniel Boon Homestead asking to
organize a Mid Atlantic weekend event in 2013. I would appreciate anyone having
information on dates and locations of 2013 events to share that info so we can
begin the process of selecting a date for this event. I am also looking for a
British Brigade counterpart to co-host this event should it come to be. Regards,
Larry Gorecki, commander, Ottendorff's Corps, Continental Line

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#613

From: Chuck Faust <bandofothers@...>
Date: Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:18 pm
Subject: Re: Riflemen at Oriskany Event

bandofothers

Send Email

Mike,

After reading the first paragraph of your email, I couldn't help but think about how you missed

the Wyoming event and the exciting battle scenarios, etc. Well, I hate to be the bearer, but the Rock Ford

event eclipsed the Wyoming event on both days - the combined battalion of CL Rifles & Lights

fought in the woods for both days and the overall command was very pleased with the outcome!

Here are the responses, and thanks, from both Matt Murphy & Bob Heallly of the Continental Line. . . . .

Let's give them a little hell at Oriskany! I know you will lead us into some great engagements!

I hope to see you in August.

YMH&OS

Chuck Faust

Donegal Rifles

Hello Chuck,

From where I was standing on both days (in the rear with the few other REMFs), it really did look as if your company covered more ground and did more to harass the enemy than any other body of troops under Bob's command. Naturally, since you were in the woods I couldn't see your guys for much of the time but it was always a nice surprise to find rifleman or light infantryman pop up just at the right spot and at the right time. Your company really did operate like the elite troops they're supposed to be portraying so take THAT Crown lights and irregulars!

I knew that Bob was going to be able to put your talents to great use and he surely did.

See you at the next fight!

YMH&Obt. Servant,

Matt

Chuck,

Words cannot express how impressed I was with your handling of the combined Rifles & Lights. You took what could have been a route on Saturday due to the ineptness of an inexperienced commander and turned it into a real stand up fight. On Sunday, the entire planned hinged on you getting from one flank to another quickly and holding an entire British brigade down with only one company. Needless to say, you performed above and beyoned anything I could have asked for. When I saw Michael Grenier of the BBrigade later that day he said "you know Bob, you sent your horse and lights against two brigades (their 2nd brigade and their light brigade), and they got blown away until the end of the battle." My reply to him was "and where were those two brigades positioned for the whole battle?", to which he replied "in my rear". As you know Chuck, that was exactly the plan. Between you and half of our Dragoons, you neutralized 2/3 of the British line. I tip my hat to your leadership abilities, and to the fighting spirit and tenacity of all the men under your command.

Best Regards,

Bob Healey

From: "umfspock87@..." <umfspock87@...>
To: Revlist@yahoogroups.com; RWProgressive@yahoogroups.com; Revrifles@yahoogroups.com; 7thvareg@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2012 3:43 PM
Subject: [Revrifles] Riflemen at Oriskany Event

Dear List,

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)

#614

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:53 am
Subject: Re: Riflemen at Oriskany Event

umfspock87

Send Email

Hey Chuck,

Uggggh. You're killing me. Well, although I'm envious that I missed it, I'm glad ya'll had a great time.

It sounds like you pulled a Daniel Morgan out there. Way to go!

I haven't heard anything official from anyone about the command structure of our rifle company so I'm not 100% positive I've been given command of the company, but hopefully I'll get some sort of word soon and then will be able to act. Needless to say having now missed two excellent rifle events, I'm very eager to attend Oriskany. I hope to make Newtown too, but that's always tough because it falls on the weekend before I return to school. But I won't worry about that now, all thoughts are on Oriskany!

Cheers and Well Done!

Mike Cecere

-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Faust <bandofothers@...>
To: Revrifles <Revrifles@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Jun 20, 2012 2:18 pm
Subject: Re: [Revrifles] Riflemen at Oriskany Event

Mike,

After reading the first paragraph of your email, I couldn't help but think about how you missed

the Wyoming event and the exciting battle scenarios, etc. Well, I hate to be the bearer, but the Rock Ford

event eclipsed the Wyoming event on both days - the combined battalion of CL Rifles & Lights

fought in the woods for both days and the overall command was very pleased with the outcome!

Here are the responses, and thanks, from both Matt Murphy & Bob Heallly of the Continental Line. . . . .

Let's give them a little hell at Oriskany! I know you will lead us into some great engagements!

I hope to see you in August.

YMH&OS

Chuck Faust

Donegal Rifles

Hello Chuck,

I knew that Bob was going to be able to put your talents to great use and he surely did.

See you at the next fight!

YMH&Obt. Servant,

Matt

Chuck,

Best Regards,

Bob Healey

From: "umfspock87@..." <umfspock87@...>
To: Revlist@yahoogroups.com; RWProgressive@yahoogroups.com; Revrifles@yahoogroups.com; 7thvareg@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2012 3:43 PM
Subject: [Revrifles] Riflemen at Oriskany Event

Dear List,

Reply | Messages in this Topic (4)

#615

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Wed Aug 1, 2012 4:30 am
Subject: Oriskany: Here come the RIflemen !

umfspock87

Send Email

Dear List,

Like everyone who is heading to Oriskany this weekend, I'm really, really excited about this event. Although it is billed as Oriskany 235th, it is every bit a commemoration of the crucial Saratoga battles as well, and since those battles are my favorite, it's always a thrill to participate in reenactments of them.

Not only were the fights at Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights extraordinary engagements, but they were also battles in which Daniel Morgan's rifle corps really shined.

So, to help highlight the contribution of Colonel Morgan and his riflemen, I offer a few passages from my rifle book along with other observations.

I begin with an excerpt of a letter from General Philip Schuyler, commander of the northern department, to General George Washington, dated 235 years ago today.

Gen. Schuyler to Gen. Washington Aug. 1, 1777

"The most unaccountable panic has seized the Troops...A few shot from a small party of Indians has more than once thrown them into the greatest Confusion- The day before Yesterday three hundred of our Men...came running in, being drove by a few Indians, certainly not more than fifty."

Schuyler's steady stream of bleak reports prompted General Washington to send reinforcements northward in mid-August. Among these reinforcements were the riflemen of Daniel Morgan's rifle corps. Washington's letter to Schuyler, announcing his decision to send the Rifle Corps to New York, best describes the nature of this unit.

Gen. Washington to Gen. Schuyler Aug. 16, 1777

"I am forwarding as fast as possible, to join the Northern army, Colonel Morgan's corps of riflemen, amounting to about five hundred. These are all chosen men, selected from the army at large, well acquainted with the use of rifles, and with that mode of fighting, which is necessary to make them a good counterpoise to the Indians; and they have distinguished themselves on a variety of occasions, since the formation of the corps, in skirmishes with the enemy. I expect the most eminent services from them, and I shall be mistaken if their presence does not go far towards producing a general desertion among the savages."

On the same day Washington penned the above letter (Aug. 16, 1777) he also wrote to Colonel Morgan with orders to march north.

Gen. Washington to Col. Morgan Aug. 16, 1777

"You will march...with [your] corps to Peekskill, taking with you all the baggage belonging to it. When you arrive there, you will take direction from General Putnam, who, I expect, will have vessels provided to carry you to Albany. The approach of the enemy in that quarter had made a further reinforcement necessary. I know of no corps so likely to check their progress, in proportion to its number, as that under your command. I have great dependence on you, your officers and men, and I am persuaded you will do honor to yourselves, and essential service to your country."

By the time Morgan's men joined the northern army in early September, their numbers had decreased to around 400 men. An active summer and a long march took their toll. Morgan also found himself under a new commander. Congress replaced Gen. Schuyler with Gen. Horatio Gates. Gen. Gates reinforced Morgan's rifle corps by drafting 15 select musketmen from each regiment to serve in a light infantry unit under Major Henry Dearborn of New Hampshire. Dearborn's force numbered approximately 250 men and served as a separate unit under Colonel Morgan's command. Together, this force of riflemen and light infantry was capable of both long ranger marksmenship and up close combat.

Note: As far as I know, there were no riflemen at the battle of Oriskany, so the riflemen coming this weekend know that they are to fight as militia line troops in the Oriskany battle. Morgan's Rifle Corps played a prominent role in both the Battle of Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights, however, so we are all excited at the opportunity to fight as riflemen for those battles.

I hope to share some details of those battles latter on today (as I am heading north on Thursday).

In the meantime, Here's to Colonel Daniel Morgan and his riflemen.

Best Regards,

Mike Cecere 7th VA

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#616

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Wed Aug 1, 2012 1:34 pm
Subject: Opening Engagement at Freeman's Farm

umfspock87

Send Email

Dear List,

So last night I posted some items about Morgan's Rifle Corps and General Washington's decision to send them to New York.

Today I want to highlight what Morgan's Rifle Corps did at Saratoga in September and Oct. 1777 since we will be re-enacting both the battles of Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights at Oriskany this weekend. There is a lot of info to share so I will be doing it in installments. If there are any typos below, please forgive. I've had to type the excerpts directly instead of cutting and pasting them. I'm still looking for an electronic version of my riflemen manuscript.

The Opening Engagement at Freeman's Farm

It's Sept. 19th, 1777 and General Burgoyne is advancing ( somewhat blindly) towards the American position at Bemis Heights in three columns. General Gates is informed that the enemy is advancing and sends Col. Morgan and his men to investigate. They are about to run into Burgoyne's center column, advancing through the woods.

Excerpted from: They Are Indeed a Very Useful Corps: American Riflemen in the Revolutionary War

Morgan's light corps, numbering around 600 men, advanced through the thick woods in two sections. They marched about a mile and a half and emerged onto the edge of an abandoned farm. The clearing was dotted with trees and stumps. Two small buildings, described as cabins by many eyewitnesses, sat on a rise of ground about 300 yards away. The opposite wood line was only 150 yards beyond the cabins. Morgan's corps arrived at the clearing just as an enemy advance party attacked the American picquet posted at the cabins. Samuel Armstrong, a member of Major Dearborn's light infantry, described the encounter:

"[At] about 12 Oclock we were Alarm'd by the firing of two or three Musketts from the Enemies Scouts, upon which the

Riffle and Light Infantry Battalions were Ordered off to Scour the Woods. We forwarded down to our Picquet Guard

where we had no sooner got Sight of than we saw the Enemy surrounding them."

The American pickets quickly dispersed and fled Freeman's Farm in the face of the approaching enemy. As the British skirmishers pushed past the cabins and neared the southern wood line, however, they collided with the bulk of Morgan's light corps. British Lieutenant William Digby described what happened:

"A little after 12 our advanced guard picquets came up with Colonel Morgan and engaged, but from the great superiority of fire received

from him -- his numbers being much greater -- they were obliged to fall back, every officer being either killed or wounded except one."

The British skirmishers, outnumbered and outgunned, retreated under a deadly barrage of fire. Advance elements of Morgan's corps pursued them across the field and into the woods beyond. The pursuit abruptly ended when the Americans encountered British reinforcements. These soldiers, eager to fire on the Americans, did so without orders and before all of their comrades from the advance party had cleared their front. The result was more loss for the battered British skirmishers and an end to the American pursuit.

Morgan's corps, which was already disorganized by the charge, disintergrated in retreat. Men ran in all directions to escape the enemy. The sudden emergence of General Fraser's column added urgency to their flight. Appalled by the turn of events, Colonel Morgan struggled to reorganize his shattered corps. He used an uncommon military tool to do so, a turkey whistle. Colonel James Wilkinson appeared on the scene soon after the fight and observed Morgan's efforts to reform his riflemen:

"My ears were saluted by an uncommon noise, which I approached, and perceived Colonel Morgan attended by two men only,

who with a turkey call was collecting his dispersed troops. The moment I came up to him, he burst into tears, and exclaimed,

'I am ruined, by G-d! Major Morris ran on so rapidly with the front, that they were beaten before I could get up with the rear,

and my men are scattered God knows where.' I remarked to the Colonel that he had a long day before him to retrieve an

inauspicious beginning, and informed him where I had seen his field officers, which appeared to cheer him..."

One of the field officers that Colonel Wilkinson met prior to Morgan was Major Joseph Morris. Morris led the charge against the fleeing British pickets and gave Wilkinson a detailed account of the encounter:

"From him [Major Morris] I learnt that the corps was advancing by files in two lines, when they unexpectedly fell upon a picket

of the enemy, which they almost instantly forced, and pursuing the fugitives, their front had as unexpectedly fallen in with the

British line; that several officers and men had been made prisoners, and that to save himself, he had been obliged to push his

horse through the ranks of the enemy, and escaped by a circuitous route."

Major Wilkinson also encountered Lt. Col. Richard Butler, the rifle corps' second in command. Butler confirmed Morris's account:

I [Wilkinson] crossed the angle of the field, leapt the fence, and just before me on a ridge discovered Lieutenant-colonel Butler

with three men, all tree'd; from him I learnt that they had 'caught a Scotch prize,' that having forced the picket, they had closed

with the British line, had been instantly routed, and from the suddenness of the shock and the nature of the ground, were broken

and scattered in all directions."

_________________________________________________

Luckily for Colonel Morgan and his men, the enemy did not push across the field and a lull ensued instead. This allowed Morgan to reorganize his corps before reinforcements from both sides arrived to resume the fight.

To Be Continued.....

Some Observations:

Although I enjoy all of the quotes above, Major Wilkinson's accounts of Major Morris and Lt. Col. Butler are especially useful. From Morris we learn that Morgan's corps was, "advancing by files in two lines" and that they were very aggressive when they encountered the enemy advance force. In fact, Morris was so aggressive that his only course of escape when he hit the main British line, was to ride through them and then around.

For me, Major Wilkinson's mention of the three men, "all treed" with Lt. Col. Butler, confirms the notion that the riflemen at Saratoga actually climbed trees to get better shots at the enemy. This is confirmed by other sources as well.

So in closing (of this installment) we have some pretty good information about the start of the battle of Freeman's Farm. Details that we might want to incorporate into the actual reenactment of this battle......... hint, hint :)

Cheers

Mike Cecere 7th VA & Capt. of the Rifle Company at Oriskany

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#617

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Wed Aug 1, 2012 9:11 pm
Subject: Accounts of the Battle of Freeman Farm

umfspock87

Send Email

Dear List,

Below is an account of the battle of Freeman Farm, largely written ini the words of the participants. It picks up after Daniel Morgan's corps of riflemen and light infantry were scattered by General Burgoyne's center column.

Please forgive my emphasis on the role of the riflemen, when I wrote the piece they were the focus of my attention. I do not mean to diminish the role of the other troops involved nor do I offer the passage below as a complete look at the battle of Freeman's Farm. I just thought some folks out there, especially the riflemen who are attending this weekend, might find the role that Morgan's riflemen played in the Saratoga battles interesting. Some of these descriptions below also give us something to "shoot for" when we reenact the battles.

So here goes:

The Battle of Freeman's Farm: Fully Engaged

Thanks to a pause in the conflict, Colonel Morgan was able to reorganize his riflemen. They formed in the woods on the extreme right of the American line.14 A ravine protected their right flank. To their left, fresh American troops from the brigades of General Poor and General Learned extended the line westward. Major Dearborn’s light infantry formed on the left of the American line and were separated from the riflemen for the rest of the day.

The battle resumed around mid-afternoon when General Hamilton’s column emerged from the far woods and advanced upon the Americans. They took possession of a small ridge just beyond the Freeman house but were subjected to such a murderous fire from the Americans in the wood line that they were forced back. The effectiveness of the American fire was enhanced by the accuracy of Morgan’s riflemen, who took deadly aim at the British artillery. British artillery officer James Hadden reported the loss of 19 of his 22 men and all of his horses.15

Hadden’s position was not the only hot spot; the battle raged all along the line. British Lieutenant William Digby claimed that he had never seen anything like it:

"Such an explosion of fire I never had any idea of before, and the heavy artillery joining in concert like great peals of thunder, assisted by the echoes of the woods, almost deafened us with the noise." 16

British corporal Roger Lamb gave a similar account:

"The conflict was dreadful; for four hours a constant blaze of fire was kept up, and both armies seemed to be determined on death or victory…Men, and particularly officers, dropped every moment on each side. Several of the Americans placed themselves in high trees, and as often as they could distinguish a British officer’s uniform, took him off by deliberately aiming at his person."17

The effect of American marksmanship was also noted by Colonel James Wilkinson. He observed that Morgan’s rifle fire repeatedly drove the British from the Freeman house hill:

"The fire of our marksmen from this wood was too deadly to be withstood by the enemy in line, and when they gave way and broke, our men rushing from their cover, pursued them to the eminence, where having their flanks protected, they [the enemy] rallied and charging in turn drove us back into the wood, from whence a dreadful fire would again force them to fall back; and in this manner did the battle fluctuate, like waves of a stormy sea, with alternate advantage for four hours without one moment’s intermission. The British artillery fell into our possession at every charge, but we could neither turn the pieces upon the enemy, nor bring them off…The slaughter of this brigade of artillerists was remarkable, the captain and thirty-six men being killed or wounded out of forty-eight."18

Even General Burgoyne acknowledged the impact of the riflemen:

"The enemy had with their army great numbers of marksmen, armed with rifle-barrel pieces; these during an engagement,

hovered upon the flanks in small detachments, and were very expert in securing themselves, and in shifting their ground.

In this action many placed themselves in high trees in the rear of their own line, and there was seldom a minute's interval

of smoke, in any part of our line without officers being taken off by a single shot. It will naturally be supposed, that the

Indians would be of great use against this mode of fighting. The example of those that remained after the great desertion

proved the contrary, for not a man of them was to be brought within the sound of a rifle shot."

As sunset approached, the British were in serious trouble. The 62^nd regiment was shattered, and the other regiments were barely holding on. Suddenly, drums were heard in the woods beyond the American right flank. German reinforcements, under General Riedesel, emerged from the forest and onto the field to relieve the British. The Germans slammed into the right flank of the startled Americans. British spirits revived, and they rallied one more time. George Pausch, a German artillery officer, noted:

"The firing from muskets was at once renewed, and assumed lively proportions, particularly the platoon fire from the left wing of Riedesel. Presently, the enemy’s fire, though very lively at one time, suddenly ceased. I advanced about sixty paces sending a few shells after the flying enemy, and firing from twelve to fifteen shots more into the woods into which they had retreated. Everything then became quiet; and about fifteen minutes afterwards darkness set in…. "19

Nightfall ended one of the fiercest battles of the Revolutionary War in Britain’s favor. The Americans retreated to their lines at Bemis Heights and prepared for a British assault in the morning. At Freeman’s Farm, scores of wounded from both sides endured a cold night among the dead on the battlefield. Many of the wounded were not cared for until morning. Lieutenant William Digby described the night:

"During the night we remained in our ranks, and tho we heard the groans of our wounded and dying at a small distance, yet could not assist them till morning, not knowing the position of the enemy, and expecting the action would be renewed at day break. Sleep was a stranger to us…

20^th. At day break we sent out parties to bring in our wounded, and lit fires as we were almost froze with cold, and our wounded who lived till the morning must have severely felt it." 20

The British victory at Freeman’s Farm came at a heavy cost; they suffered nearly double the 321 casualties reported by the Americans.21 Some of Burgoyne’s men questioned the value of the victory. Ensign Thomas Anburey noted that

"Notwithstanding the glory of the day remains on our side, I am fearful the real advantage resulting from this hard fought battle will rest on that of the Americans, our army being so weakened by this engagement as not to be of sufficient strength to venture forth and improve the victory, which may, in the end, put a stop to our intended expedition; the only apparent benefit gained is that we keep possession of the ground where the engagement began." 22

General Burgoyne expressed a similar opinion to Lord George Germain:

"It was soon found that no fruits, honour excepted, were attained by the preceding victory, the enemy working with redoubled ardour to strengthen their left, their right was already unattackable." 23

Despite their retreat from the field, the attitude in the American camp was far from defeatist. In fact, most American accounts bragged about punishing the enemy and attributed the retreat merely to darkness. Major Dearborn’s observation was typical:

"On this Day has Been fought one of the Greatest Battles that Ever was fought in America, & I Trust we have Convinced the British Butchers that the Cowardly yankees Can & when there is a Call for it, will, fight…The Enimy Brought almost their whole force against us, together with 8 pieces of Artilery. But we who had Something more at Stake than fighting for six Pence Pr Day kept our ground til Night Closed the scene, & then Both Parties Retire’d."24

Many of the British did indeed change their opinion of the Americans after the battle of Freeman Farm. Ensign Thomas Anburey’s comments were typical:

"The courage and obstinacy with which the Americans fought were the astonishment of everyone, and we now become fully convinced they are not that contemptible enemy we had hitherto imagined them, incapable of standing a regular engagement, and that they would only fight behind strong and powerful works."25

14 Hadden Journal, 164

15 Ibid.

16 Digby Journal, 237

17 Roger Lamb, An Original and Authentic Journal of Occurrences During the Late American War from Its Commencement to 1783, (Dublin: Wilkinson & Courtney, 1809), 159

Reprinted by Arno Press, 1968

18 Wilkinson, 241

19 George Pausch, Journal of Captain Pausch, Chief of the Hanau Artillery During the Burgoyne Campaign, Translated by William L. Stone, (Albany, NY: Joel Munsell’s Sons, 1886), 138

20 Digby, 274

21 Wilkinson, Appendix D

22 Anburey 176

23 “Burgoyne to Germaine, 10 October, 1777,” A State of the Expedition, Appendix, 88

24 Dearborn Journal, 106

25 Anburey, 175

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Although I really enjoy all of the references to the riflemen in many of the quotes and find them very instructive, I think the last two quotes are particularly important because the affirm just how hard (and well) the Americans fought at Freeman's Farm. For the first time in a very long time, an American army went "toe to toe" with the crown forces. One would be hard pressed to find another battle of equal intensity that lasted as long as this did. And although I think one has to acknowledge that the Crown forces were the victor, it wasn't by much and the cost of their victory exceeded their gains.

Cheers,

Mike Cecere 7th VA

Reply | Messages in this Topic (3)

#618

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Thu Aug 2, 2012 1:35 am
Subject: Battle of Bemis Heights Accounts

umfspock87

Send Email

Dear List,

Well, the car is packed and the trip north begins in just a few hours. I can't tell if what I am posting is going out in a readable form. It looks fine on my screen when I type it, but when I checked the Revlist posts the format of my post was kind of screwy with strange symbols.

In anycase, below is the last installment that I have. It covers the events leading up to AND the actual engagement known as Bemis Heights (although ironically no fight actually occurred there). What always jumps out at me is the aggressiveness of the Americans, led by Arnold, Learned, Morgan, and Dearborn to push their initial repulse of Burgoyne into an crucial breach of his lines.

Again, I apologize for my rifleman focus and bias.

The passage picks up just after the Battle of Freeman's Farm.

Cheers,

Mike Cecere 7th VA

Although the Americans believed they had dealt Burgoyne a significant blow at Freeman's Farm, they realized that Burgoyne's army was still very dangerous and braced themselves for another attack. Fortunately for the Americans -- who were very low on ammunition -- it never materialized.

General Burgoyne planned to resume his advance on September 20^th, but he canceled the attack at the last minute to rest his troops. While they rested, Burgoyne received news that General Henry Clinton was leading a British detachment northward from New York to attack American posts in the New York Highlands. Although Clinton’s force was too small to fight its way to General Burgoyne, both generals hoped that Clinton’s movements would force General Gates to send some of his troops south and give Burgoyne a better chance to break through to Albany.

General Burgoyne decided to fortify his position and wait for Clinton’s advance to have the desired effect. Unfortunately for Burgoyne, few Americans left Bemis Heights. In fact, during the seventeen day standoff, the American army swelled to over 10,000 men.26

With time on his side, the ever cautious Gates waited behind his fortified lines. Burgoyne’s situation grew more desperate with each passing day as his supplies rapidly diminished. Colonel Morgan’s light corps added to Burgoyne’s discomfort by constantly harassing his lines and foraging parties.

The critical British supply situation finally forced General Burgoyne to act in early October. He decided to probe the American position with a large reconnaissance detachment. If the reconnaissance discovered a weakness in the American position, he would follow with an attack the next day. If no weakness was found, the army would retreat to Fort Ticonderoga.

Battle of Bemis Heights

General Burgoyne’s reconnaissance force numbered approximately 1,500 men and ten cannon.27 Much of the detachment was drawn from two redoubts on the right wing of the British line. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Balcarres commanded a large force of British light infantry in the redoubt built at Freeman’s Farm and named after Balcarres. To the right of this redoubt, past two fortified cabins that were manned by two companies of Canadian militia, was a redoubt defended by Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich Breymann and his Hessian Grenadiers. This redoubt anchored the right flank of Burgoyne’s line.

General Burgoyne believed that the most likely weak spot in the American defenses was their western flank, so he left small detachments in the Balcarres and Breymann redoubts and led his reconnaissance force southwestward.28 Burgoyne planned to offset the danger to his two weakened redoubts by keeping his reconnaissance force between the Americans and the redoubts. This meant that the Americans would have to go through Burgoyne’s reconnaissance force to reach the undermanned redoubts. If by chance Burgoyne’s reconnaissance detachment was forced to retreat, they would do so in the direction of the redoubts. This would allow Burgoyne to reinforce the positions and return them to full strength.

General Burgoyne led the reconnaissance detachment out of camp around noon on October 6^th and slowly advanced toward the American line. His skirmishers drove off American pickets less than a mile into their march. Burgoyne halted at a farm and posted his men in a long line while hay and grass was gathered for the horses. Burgoyne’s right flank, composed of light infantry troops, rested in a clearing at the base of a wooded hill. German troops, supported by artillery, held the center of the line. Burgoyne’s left was defended by British grenadiers and artillery.29

General Burgoyne tried to locate and observe the American fortifications at Bemis Heights, but the woods obscured his view. Ironically, as Burgoyne and his staff struggled to peer through the woods, they were observed by an American officer.

When reports of Burgoyne’s advance reached American headquarters, General Gates ordered Colonel Morgan to march his light corps towards Burgoyne and “begin the game.”30 Wilkinson recalled:

"I waited on the Colonel, whose corps was formed in front of our centre, and delivered the order;

he knew the ground, and inquired the position of the enemy; they were formed across a newly

cultivated field, their grenadiers with several pieces [of artillery] on the left, bordering on a wood

and a small ravine...their light infantry on the right, covered by a worm fence at the foot of the hill...

thickly covered with wood; their centre composed of British and German battalions. Colonel Morgan,

with his usual sagacity, proposed to make a circuit with his corps by our left, and under cover of the

wood to gain the height on the right of the enemy, and from thence commence his attack, so soon as

our fire should be opened against their left."

Colonel Morgan hurried to gain possession of a wooded hill overlooking Burgoyne’s right flank. As the light corps scrambled up the hill, they heard gunfire and learned that another American detachment, led by General Benedict Arnold, had engaged Burgoyne’s line.

Arnold had already distinguished himself in a number of engagements as one of the American army’s best military commanders. He led an expedition through the wilderness of Maine that nearly captured the fortress city of Quebec in 1775 and halted a British invasion from Canada on Lake Champlain in 1776.

A quarrel with General Gates on the morning of Burgoyne’s approach threatened to keep Arnold from the impending battle, but the impudent officer ignored orders to stay in camp and rushed to take charge of the American attack on Burgoyne’s force. Arnold led the Americans in a frontal assault against Burgoyne’s reconnaissance force, just as Colonel Morgan’s light corps crested the hill on Burgoyne’s right flank. Captain Thomas Posey of Virginia described what happened when Morgan’s light troops arrived on the scene:

"They [the enemy] had repulsed [General] Arnold twice before Morgan made his attack, which was on the right wing of [the] enemy – the [rifle] regiment had march’d under cover of a thick wood, and a ridge, which ridge the enemy were about to take possession of as Morgan gained the summit of it, the enemy being within good rifle shot, the regiment poured in a well directed fire which brought almost every officer on horseback to the ground."31

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Butler also noted the impact of the riflemen in the attack:

"I had the Honour to lead the Corps of Riflemen Against their Right wing Under Morgan, Who Commanded in Center of the Whole, our light troops About 1000, & Can say without Ostenation that we saved the day by our timely & vigourous Attack (I believe the Indian Hoop helped A little) as we broke the Right Wing of the Enemy took two 12 Pounders & one six and turned them on them." 32

Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson credited Morgan’s riflemen and Dearborn’s light infantry with routing Burgoyne’s right flank:

"True to his purpose, Morgan at this critical moment poured down like a torrent from the hill, and attacked the right of the enemy in front and flank. Dearborn at the moment, when the enemy’s light infantry were attempting to change front, [to face the riflemen] pressed forward with ardour and delivered a close fire; then lept the fence, shouted, charged and gallantly forced them in disorder." 33

The situation was no better for Burgoyne on his left flank where his grenadiers were decimated by General Poor’s men and forced to withdraw.

The collapse of Burgoyne’s flanks eventually caused the center of his line to give way. The Hessians, who had fought ferociously, scrambled to the rear to escape encirclement. Eight British cannon and scores of men were abandoned on the field. Lt. Colonel Wilkinson described the carnage:

"The ground which had been occupied by the British grenadiers presented a scene of complicated horror and exultation. In the square space of twelve or fifteen yards lay eighteen grenadiers in the agonies of death, and three officers propped up against stumps of trees, two of them mortally wounded, bleeding, and almost speechless."34

General Arnold pushed the American troops forward in pursuit of the routed British. Most of Burgoyne’s detachment, including 300 German grenadiers who were drawn from Breymann’s redoubt, retreated to the Balcarres redoubt. This bolstered the defenders there, but left Breymann’s redoubt (on the extreme right of the British line) undermanned and vulnerable. The two cabins between the redoubts were also undermanned because of the failure of many of the Canadians to return.

These vulnerable positions initially escaped the notice of General Arnold, who concentrated his effort on the Balcarres redoubt. British Corporal Roger Lamb recalled,

"General Arnold with a brigade of continental troops, pushed rapidly forward, for that part of the camp possessed by lord Balcarres, at the head of the British light infantry, and some of the line; here they were received by a heavy and well directed fire which moved down their ranks, and compelled them to retreat in disorder." 35

Five hundred yards northwest of this fight, Colonel Daniel Morgan and his light corps prepared to storm Breymann’s redoubt.

Morgan’s men had advanced very close to the redoubt and used a steep hill in their front to screen them from enemy fire.36 Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson described the scene:

"The Germans were encamped immediately behind the rail breast-work, and the ground in front of it declined in a very gentle slope for about 120 yards, when it sunk abruptly; our troops had formed a line under this declivity, and covered breast high were warmly engaged with the Germans." 37

Morgan was reinforced by General Ebenezer Learned’s brigade. Major James Wilkinson was also there, and he recommended that General Learned attack the two sparsely manned cabins between the redoubts:

"I had particularly examined the ground between the left of the Germans and the light infantry, occupied by the provincialists, from whence I had observed a slack fire; I therefore recommended to General Learned to incline to his right, and attack at that point: he did so with great gallantry; the provincialists abandoned their position and fled; the German flank was by this means uncovered." 38

Learned’s brigade was eventually joined by General Benedict Arnold, who moved to his left after being repulsed at the Balcarres redoubt. Arnold boldly – some say rashly -- led the attack against Breymann’s undermanned redoubt. Colonel Wilkinson recalled:

"[Arnold] dashed to the left through the fire of the two lines and escaped unhurt; he then turned the right of the enemy, as I was informed by that most excellent officer, Colonel Butler, and collecting 15 or 20 riflemen threw himself with this party into the rear of the enemy, just as they gave way, where his leg was broke, and his horse killed under him." 39

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Butler’s account of the assault was similar:

"Genl. Arnold was the first who Entered, one Major Morris with about 12 of the Rifle men followed him on the Rear of their Right Flank while I led up the rest of the Riflemen in front. I was the 3^rd officer in [the redoubt]." 40

As Morgan’s light corps swarmed over the walls and through the sally port and embrasures of the redoubt, General Arnold struck the German rear.

Whether by design or chance, the assault on Breymann’s redoubt was masterfully executed, and the Germans were quickly overwhelmed. General Burgoyne’s line was breeched, and only nightfall saved the British from further disaster.

Once again, the American army had punished the enemy, inflicting far more casualties than they had suffered. This decisive victory left General Burgoyne with only one choice, retreat. His march to Albany was over. It remained to be seen whether his retreat to Fort Ticonderoga would succeed.

26 Wilkinson, “A General Return of the Army of the United States, commanded by the Hon. Major-General Horatio Gates, 4 Oct. 1777,” Appendix E

27 Eric Schnitzer, “Battling for the Saratoga Landscape,” Cultural Landscape Report: Saratoga Battle, Saratoga National Park, Vol. 1 (Boston, MA: Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation), 44

28 Ibid.

29 Luzader, 52

30 Wilkinson, 268

31 Posey Biography

32 “Lt. Col. Richard Butler to Col. James Wilson, 22 January, 1778,”

Gratz Collection, Case 4, Box 11, Historical Society of Pennsylvania

33 Wilkinson, 268

34 Wilkinson, 270

35 Lamb, 164

36 Schnitzer, 50

37 Wilkinson, 272

38 Ibid.

39 Ibid., 272

40 “Lt. Col. Richard Butler to Col. James Wilson, 22 January, 1778,”

Gratz Collection, Case 4, Box 11, Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#619

From: bd25309@...
Date: Thu Aug 2, 2012 1:54 am
Subject: Re: Accounts of the Battle of Freeman Farm

bd21299

Send Email

Dear Mr. Cecere:

Pleased to meet you! I've read your emails on this and the RevList for some time, and always enjoy what you have to say.

I'm a frustrated rifleman in a way; I have all or nearly all of the clothing/accouterments, but my lock does not allow the addition of a flashguard. Instead I muster with the Tryon Co. Minute Men carrying a fowling piece.

I hope to meet you in person on Saturday, but am not sure I'll be able to make it. Two of my ancestors were actually at Oriskany, so I would hate to miss this one!

All the best,

Ken Nellis

On 08/01/12, umfspock87@... wrote:

Dear List,

So here goes:

The Battle of Freeman's Farm: Fully Engaged

Thanks to a pause in the conflict, ColonelMorgan was able toreorganize his riflemen. They formed in the woods on the extreme right of theAmerican line.14 A ravineprotected their right flank. To theirleft, fresh American troops from the brigades of General Poor and GeneralLearned extended theline westward. Major Dearborn’s light infantry formed on the left of the Americanline and were separated from the riflemen for the rest of the day.

The battle resumed around mid-afternoonwhen General Hamilton’s column emerged from the far woods and advancedupon the Americans. They took possessionof a small ridge just beyond the Freeman house but were subjected to such amurderous fire from the Americans in the wood line that they were forcedback. The effectiveness of the Americanfire was enhanced by the accuracy of Morgan’s riflemen, who took deadly aim at the Britishartillery. British artillery officerJames Hadden reported theloss of 19 of his 22 men and all of his horses.15

Hadden’s position was not the only hot spot; the battleraged all along the line. BritishLieutenant William Digby claimed thathe had never seen anything like it:

"Such an explosion of fire I never had any idea of before, and the heavyartillery joining in concert like great peals of thunder, assisted by theechoes of the woods, almost deafened us with the noise." 16

British corporal RogerLamb gave a similaraccount:

"The conflict was dreadful; for four hours a constant blaze of fire waskept up, and both armies seemed to be determined on death or victory…Men, andparticularly officers, dropped every moment on each side. Several of the Americans placed themselves inhigh trees, and as often as they could distinguish a British officer’s uniform, took him off bydeliberately aiming at his person."17

The effect of American marksmanship wasalso noted by Colonel James Wilkinson. He observedthat Morgan’s rifle fire repeatedly drove the British from theFreeman house hill:

"The fire of our marksmen from this wood was too deadly to be withstoodby the enemy in line, and when they gave way and broke, our men rushing fromtheir cover, pursued them to the eminence, where having their flanks protected,they [theenemy] rallied and charging inturn drove us back into the wood, from whence a dreadful fire would again forcethem to fall back; and in this manner did the battle fluctuate, like waves of astormy sea, with alternate advantage for four hours without one moment’sintermission. The British artillery fellinto our possession at every charge, but we could neither turn the pieces uponthe enemy, nor bring them off…The slaughter of this brigade of artillerists wasremarkable, the captain and thirty-six men being killed or wounded out offorty-eight."18

Even General Burgoyne acknowledged the impact of the riflemen:

"The enemy had with their army great numbers of marksmen, armed with rifle-barrel pieces; these during an engagement,

hovered upon the flanks in small detachments, and were very expert in securing themselves, and in shifting their ground.

In this action many placed themselves in high trees in the rear of their own line, and there was seldom a minute's interval

of smoke, in any part of our line without officers being taken off by a single shot. It will naturally be supposed, that the

Indians would be of great use against this mode of fighting. The example of those that remained after the great desertion

proved the contrary, for not a man of them was to be brought within the sound of a rifle shot."

As sunset approached, the British were inserious trouble. The 62^ndregiment was shattered, and the other regiments were barely holding on. Suddenly, drums were heard in the woodsbeyond the American right flank. Germanreinforcements, under General Riedesel, emerged from the forest and onto the field torelieve the British. The Germans slammedinto the right flank of the startled Americans. British spirits revived, and they rallied one more time. George Pausch, a German artillery officer, noted:

"The firing from muskets was at once renewed, and assumed livelyproportions, particularly the platoon fire from the left wing of Riedesel. Presently, the enemy’s fire, thoughvery lively at one time, suddenly ceased. I advanced about sixty paces sending a few shells after the flyingenemy, and firing from twelve to fifteen shots more into the woods into whichthey had retreated. Everything thenbecame quiet; and about fifteen minutes afterwards darkness set in…. "19

Nightfall ended one of the fiercest battles of theRevolutionary War in Britain’sfavor. The Americans retreated to theirlines at Bemis Heights and prepared for a British assaultin the morning. At Freeman’s Farm, scoresof wounded from both sides endured a cold night among the dead on thebattlefield. Many of the wounded werenot cared for until morning. Lieutenant William Digby described thenight:

"During the night we remained in our ranks, and tho we heard the groansof our wounded and dying at a small distance, yet could not assist them tillmorning, not knowing the position of the enemy, and expecting the action wouldbe renewed at day break. Sleep was astranger to us…

20^th. At day break wesent out parties to bring in our wounded, and lit fires as we were almost frozewith cold, and our wounded who lived till the morningmust have severely felt it." 20

The British victory at Freeman’s Farm cameat a heavy cost; they suffered nearly double the 321 casualties reported by theAmericans.21 Some of Burgoyne’s men questioned the value of the victory. Ensign Thomas Anburey noted that

"Notwithstanding the glory of the day remains on our side, I am fearfulthe real advantage resulting from this hard fought battle will rest on that ofthe Americans, our army being so weakened by this engagement as not to be ofsufficient strength to venture forth and improve the victory, which may, in theend, put a stop to our intended expedition; the only apparent benefit gained isthat we keep possession of the ground where the engagement began." 22

General Burgoyne expressed a similar opinion to Lord George Germain:

"It was soon found that no fruits, honour excepted, were attained by thepreceding victory, the enemy working with redoubled ardour to strengthen their left, their right was alreadyunattackable." 23

Despite their retreat from the field, theattitude in the American camp was far from defeatist. In fact, most American accounts bragged aboutpunishing the enemy and attributed the retreat merely to darkness. Major Dearborn’s observation was typical:

"On this Day has Been fought one of the Greatest Battles that Ever wasfought in America, & I Trust we have Convinced the British Butchers thatthe Cowardly yankees Can & when there is a Call for it, will, fight…TheEnimy Brought almost their whole force against us, together with 8 pieces ofArtilery. But we who had Something moreat Stake than fighting for six Pence Pr Day kept our ground til Night Closedthe scene, & then Both Parties Retire’d."24

Many of the British didindeed change their opinion of the Americans after the battle of FreemanFarm. Ensign Thomas Anburey’s comments weretypical:

"The courage and obstinacy with which the Americans fought were theastonishment of everyone, and we now become fully convinced they are not thatcontemptible enemy we had hitherto imagined them, incapable of standing aregular engagement, and that they would only fight behind strong and powerfulworks."25

14 Hadden Journal, 164

15 Ibid.

16 Digby Journal, 237

17 Roger Lamb, An Original and Authentic Journal of Occurrences During the LateAmerican War from Its Commencement to 1783, (Dublin: Wilkinson & Courtney, 1809), 159

Reprinted by ArnoPress, 1968

18 Wilkinson, 241

19 GeorgePausch, Journal of CaptainPausch, Chief of the HanauArtillery During the Burgoyne Campaign, Translated by William L. Stone,(Albany, NY: Joel Munsell’s Sons, 1886), 138

20 Digby, 274

21 Wilkinson, Appendix D

22 Anburey 176

23 “Burgoyne to Germaine, 10 October, 1777,” A Stateof the Expedition, Appendix, 88

24 Dearborn Journal, 106

25 Anburey, 175

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cheers,

Mike Cecere 7th VA

Reply | Messages in this Topic (3)

#620

From: umfspock87@...
Date: Thu Aug 2, 2012 2:05 am
Subject: Re: Accounts of the Battle of Freeman Farm

umfspock87

Send Email

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the note. I sometimes wonder if anyone actually reads my posts. I have a tendency to be wordy. On the otherhand, I try to avoid all of the argumentative topics.

I too hope you can make it and will keep an eye out for you. I'm commanding the rifle company and we are attached to the 4th Regiment.

I'm sorry to hear about your flashguard situation, but don't let that stop you from falling out as a rifleman with your fowling piece. I know that sounds odd, but my unit, the 7th VA, allows multiple impressions and we have a couple of guys with muskets who will be dressed as riflemen. In fact, there is evidence that Colonel Morgan had a little trouble rounding up enough rifles for his rifle corps...(although I suspect he was able to).

I guess what I am saying is that fighting as a riflemen (even with a fowler or musket) is more important to me than having an actual rifle. There will be plenty of other riflemen around with rifles so very few people would even notice if a few of the "riflemen" aren't actually carrying rifles. Of course, if you bring along a bayonet it might be more noticable so I would leave that aside.

In anycase, I'm pretty stoked, as always, about anything associated with Saratoga and I welcome the chance to visit Oriskany again. Hope you are able to make it.

All the Best,

Mike Cecere

-----Original Message-----
From: bd25309 <bd25309@...>
To: Revrifles <Revrifles@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 1, 2012 9:54 pm
Subject: Re: [Revrifles] Accounts of the Battle of Freeman Farm