thedrifter
08-23-09, 07:48 AM
Re-enactors stand their ground in historical battle
August 23, 2009
By Michelle L. Quinn , Post-Tribune correspondent
HIGHLAND -- Watching the soldiers of Dean's Company Continental Marines huddled in a tight group, it appeared they had ancient warfare formations down pat.
Ask any one of the re-enactors participating in it, as they were Saturday afternoon at Main Square, and they will tell you they would never have survived battle during the Revolutionary War.
That's why they practice as much as they can before they perform.
Tight formations were critical to winning in battle back then, said Randy Hamper, an officer for Dean's Company, which is spread over Indiana and Illinois.
Back then, muskets were accurate to only 50 yards and the bullets didn't come out straight, so the closer the men were to each other, the better chance they had to amass their firepower toward the enemy.
"Most of us do between four and eight re-enactments a year, so we do the best we can in illustrating the tactics of the time," said Hamper, of Bloomington, who's been doing re-enactments for 20 years. "It takes years of practice."
Hamper cherishes the bonds he has made with the other history fans over the years and has made many of his closest friends there, as has Beth Egan, of Chicago Heights, Ill. Now, Egan, one of the last original Sandridge Girl Scouts participating in the re-enactment, is bringing in a new group to carry on the tradition.
Egan brought Scouts Rose Richard and Rebecca Nelson, both 14; Becca Hooks, 15; and Ella Nelson, 17 to their first campout with the Sandridge Group.
"I'm in love with history," Rose said. "We've been having such a great time."
Ellie
August 23, 2009
By Michelle L. Quinn , Post-Tribune correspondent
HIGHLAND -- Watching the soldiers of Dean's Company Continental Marines huddled in a tight group, it appeared they had ancient warfare formations down pat.
Ask any one of the re-enactors participating in it, as they were Saturday afternoon at Main Square, and they will tell you they would never have survived battle during the Revolutionary War.
That's why they practice as much as they can before they perform.
Tight formations were critical to winning in battle back then, said Randy Hamper, an officer for Dean's Company, which is spread over Indiana and Illinois.
Back then, muskets were accurate to only 50 yards and the bullets didn't come out straight, so the closer the men were to each other, the better chance they had to amass their firepower toward the enemy.
"Most of us do between four and eight re-enactments a year, so we do the best we can in illustrating the tactics of the time," said Hamper, of Bloomington, who's been doing re-enactments for 20 years. "It takes years of practice."
Hamper cherishes the bonds he has made with the other history fans over the years and has made many of his closest friends there, as has Beth Egan, of Chicago Heights, Ill. Now, Egan, one of the last original Sandridge Girl Scouts participating in the re-enactment, is bringing in a new group to carry on the tradition.
Egan brought Scouts Rose Richard and Rebecca Nelson, both 14; Becca Hooks, 15; and Ella Nelson, 17 to their first campout with the Sandridge Group.
"I'm in love with history," Rose said. "We've been having such a great time."
Ellie