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Every year, in early October, before the anniversary of Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, Colonial Williamsburg hosts a gathering of re-enactors for a "Prelude to Victory" celebration. The centerpiece of the weekends activity is a re-enactment of Washington addressing the troops gathered in Williamsburg prior to laying siege to the British bottled up in Yorktown. It was in Williamsburg that Washington, Rochambeau, and Lafayette planned the siege, and it was here they assembled, prepared and inspired the troops who would participate in the last great battle of the American Revolution. The Prelude to Victory re-enactment was the main reason Robin and I scheduled our trip to Williamsburg and the East Coast during the first weeks of October. So we joined hundreds of other like-minded souls who journeyed to the land between the York and the James to help celebrate our nation's birth pangs. And from all over the eastern states they came. We saw license plates on vehicles in the re-enactor |
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area from Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania side by side with those from Maryland,
Virginia, and North
Carolina. There were men, women, and young children portraying regular army
troops and the "rag tag" militia along with ordinary citizens and camp followers galore.
Together they would make this one of the most thrilling moments of my life and
most certainly the high point of our trip to Williamsburg.
After our rained out attempt at visiting Jamestown (see Colonial Williamsburg Part 5 ) we drove back to Williamsburg, had a bit of lunch and continued our explorations. As we walked down the west side of Palace Street just past George Street we saw the re-enactors camped on |
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So, making sure I had both batteries fully charged lots of floppy discs for my camera,
Robin and I headed for Market Square. This large open field behind the courthouse that
serves as both a merchant's gathering place on market days and the parade ground for the
militia on drill days. It was here the troops would assemble and demonstrate
their combat skills for the crowd. They would be forming ranks, loading and firing their
weapons (cannons too, to the delight of the crowd), and passing in review before Generals
Washington, Rochambeau, Lafayette, and others. The martial display would culminate with
Washington's speech to the troops, a dipping of the colors as the troops left the field, and
a march down Duke of Gloucester Street back to the re-enactor's campground in front of the
Governor's Palace.
It is difficult for me to explain exactly how we felt as we shared in the "Prelude to Victory" re-enactment. As a spectator I was thrilled by the sound and fury, smoke and haze of the display. As a re-enactor I was more than a little awed by the discipline and co-ordination exhibited by the hundreds of men and women who put on such a wonderful show. A little |