Patriots Day

[August]

Yesterday the wife and I went to see the historical reenactment of the battle of Concord Bridge. It's the first time i've been there since the 200th anniversary in back 1975 when then President Ford came to speechify and get heckled by hippies.

For those who do not know the history it goes like this: In the early hours of April 19th 1775 a force of British troops departed Boston with the aim of confiscating arms and powder from the Colonists located 17 miles away in the town of Concord in a dawn raid. After routing a much smaller colonist force on the Lexington green ("Disperse Ye damned Rebels")the British then marched on to Concord where they began burning the town. Getting word that much stronger Colonist militia forces were approaching they began tearing up the north bridge over the Concord river in order to impede their progress.

They had only started when several Colonist units showed up, deployed into line and opened fire. After a few volleys the British began a retreat back to Boston being sniped at and attacked all along the way.

239 years later this is how it's commemorated:

First the British reenactors arrive and take possession of the bridge:



As the colonists arrive and begin deploying the British retreat back across the bridge and deploy into a firing line.


After several volleys from each side the British retreat and the colonists advance across the bridge.



Then in the spirit of conciliation with our British cousins both re-enactor units march together back onto the bridge and fire a volley salute to the the fallen.


The graves of the fallen British troops (Colonist dead were brought back to their respective towns for burial.



The Queen still remembers her fallen subjects. I'm told one of these has
been delivered to the grave site yearly since the centennial in 1875.


Monument on the "British side"


Detail of the Inscription


The monument on the "American side"


Detail of the inscription


Fife players (Fifers?) serenading the dead

[TarJak]

Looks like a great event.thanks for sharing the photos and your experience of it.

[Sailor Steve]

Way cool! Thanks for sharing.

[Jimbuna]

Very well presented and much appreciated

[AVGWarhawk]

History in action! Looked like a good day for the event and a nice commemorative.

I often wonder why the British believe the red coat was the best uniform to wear? Honestly, they can be seen coming a mile away.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

History in action! Looked like a good day for the event and a nice commemorative.

I often wonder why the British believe the red coat was the best uniform to wear? Honestly, they can be seen coming a mile away.

That is precisely what scared the crap out of the enemy...well up until the above

[Dread Knot]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Honestly, they can be seen coming a mile away.

You hit upon it right there. Visibility. Muskets were the most popular weapon on the 18th century battlefield, and due to their inaccuracy and reliability problems armies employed line formations in battle. Line formations allowed armies to overcome the inaccuracy and reliability problems of the musket. However, by using line formations large clouds of smoke were produced from the concentration of so many muskets, not to mention all the artillery on the battlefield. With so much smoke, leaders needed to quickly identify friend from foe as quickly as possible, and the best way to do that was to use distrinct elaborate uniforms. Of course, when the rifle came along all that began to change.

Another reason was cost and effectiveness. At the time, red dye was very cheap and readily available. In order to dye a coat with red dye the process is easier than other colors since other colors require more than one stage in the dying process. Red dye only requires one stage for dying coats and this makes the process less expensive.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I often wonder why the British believe the red coat was the best uniform to wear? Honestly, they can be seen coming a mile away.

It's simple, really. At the time battles were fought along strict lines. The opposing armies would find each other and then form up on an open field, firing and advancing by ranks until either the enemy broke and ran or they were close enough for a bayonet charge. There had already been many cases of "irregular" warfare, but until Braddock's Defeat at the Monongahela forming a regular line of battle had always worked. Despite the legendary stories of American snipers shooting from behind trees and rocks (which they did), the Continental Army did not prevail until they created a real army and started using Regular tactics, just like the British.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It's simple, really. At the time battles were fought along strict lines. The opposing armies would find each other and then form up on an open field, firing and advancing by ranks until either the enemy broke and ran or they were close enough for a bayonet charge. There had already been many cases of "irregular" warfare, but until Braddock's Defeat at the Monongahela forming a regular line of battle had always worked. Despite the legendary stories of American snipers shooting from behind trees and rocks (which they did), the Continental Army did not prevail until they created a real army and started using Regular tactics, just like the British.

Does not explain the red coats. They British were fighting in the wood against a force that knew the landscape and wore brown in color clothing. Generally the regular garb of the day. Red coat is not the best choice IMO.

[nikimcbee]

Great photos!
That's a nice walk from Concord to the bridge. I love the old colonial architecture. One of these days I'm going to remember this and fly out there for it.

Good thing you had nice weather for it.

I'll just throw these in from my last trip there.

British uniform from museum.


American POV of British side.



British artillery



Another view of the bridge.

[August]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Does not explain the red coats. They British were fighting in the wood against a force that knew the landscape and wore brown in color clothing. Generally the regular garb of the day. Red coat is not the best choice IMO.

Well they weren't wearing red coats so much as they were wearing uniform coats that happened to be colored red. It being the uniform of their national army means that it would have been almost impossible to change it even if tradition and training weren't factors.

Armies have gotten better over the years at adapting their uniforms to the local environment but they are no means perfect. Witness the US Army's ACU for example, but the problems and expenses involved with changing their uniform to something better still exists.

[nikimcbee]

@August
Did you shoot any video by chance?

[August]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

@August
Did you shoot any video by chance?

No as you can tell from the pictures I had a real lousy spot for that.

Although it's further away next year we plan to be on the colonist side which is a much better view then cross over during the intermission and pick out a (better) spot to film the parade. Why don't you getcherbutt over here next April and go with us?

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by August

Well they weren't wearing red coats so much as they were wearing uniform coats that happened to be colored red. It being the uniform of their national army means that it would have been almost impossible to change it even if tradition and training weren't factors.

Armies have gotten better over the years at adapting their uniforms to the local environment but they are no means perfect. Witness the US Army's ACU for example, but the problems and expenses involved with changing their uniform to something better still exists.

Coat, uniform, flare gun....at the end of the day the soldier became easy pick'ins while standing in the wood wearing the chosen outfit of the day.

[August]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Coat, uniform, flare gun....at the end of the day the soldier became easy pick'ins while standing in the wood wearing the chosen outfit of the day.

Maybe on that day but it took cannon to actually eject the British from Boston. After all sniping from the woods may give ones enemy a bloody nose when he sticks his neck out like they did at Concord but only going toe to toe can defeat them.

I think Baron von Struben contributed as much to our victory in the Revolution as anyone else except perhaps George Washington.