Cantigny Statue

In the previous post we saw the statue of the World War I Doughboy at Cantigny Park, just outside the Visitor's Center. But my favorite on the property is the statue seen here, reaching for victory. It is in a peaceful garden south of the First Division Museum, so it takes some effort to locate it. The grace and beauty of it is the reward for the search.

Cantigny Park

Cantigny Park in Winfield is a fine place to visit, featuring acres of greenery and trees, flowers, picnic tables, and open grass fields. In addition, the former home of Col. Robert McCormick, longtime publisher of the Chicago Tribune, is open for viewing, and Col. McCormick's beloved First Division is represented in a powerful museum.

Here we see a statue with a World War I doughboy, followed by a seed pod on a tree.

Craftsmen at Play

Among the many campsites at Cantigny, people were cooking, selling extra costumes, talking to guests about fires and tents and music and weaponry. Perhaps the most visually interesting was the camper who was hand carving and chiseling the wood structure of a Revolutionary War-era firearm. In a large vise, the future combatant in another re-enactment waited quietly between work sessions. The concentration on the face of the craftsman is obvious.

Along the road through the campsite was a sign that can certainly be taken two ways. As we saw in the previous post, there were families with children in the camp. But certainly it can be said that all of us, campers and spectators alike, were at play. This is in no way a negative; in fact, it is a compliment to the creativity and ingenuity of the campers. I thank them for being so gracious to me on my photo tour.

Next post takes us to the heart of the State of Illinois.

Camp Faces

Walking through the camp, back and forth several times, I saw lots of faces. Many of them have already been depicted here in battle, on the march, preparing dinner. But the ages ran the gamut and we look here at young and old.

Clearly, Benjamin Franklin was looking wonderful for his advanced age. At the other end of the age spectrum, this young lad took a break from his formation marching, complete with mock wooden rifle, as he tagged along with his dad. Lots of family fun at the Revolutionary War encampment.

A final pair of photos from camp in the next post.

Turkey Dinner

Early on during my visit to the camp, I noticed two large turkeys, ready for cooking. I wondered at that time how much they weighed and how long they would have to be turned over the open fire to be cooked.

Later I came by when they were on the spit, and I asked. I found out that 16 pound turkeys will feed several people (especially when there are two of them), and they will take over eight hours to cook. An interesting fact and a pair of photos that I like.

More from the camp in the next post.

Revolutionary War Encampment

Before the time of the skirmish, I spent more than two hours traipsing through the on-site encampment, complete with families, artisans, soldiers . . . and a rummage sale. Here we see a musician playing instruments of the time period and we see the officer in charge of the loyalist troops as he saluted the squadrons reporting for duty.

Had I decided to become a new recruit, I would not have wondered where to find appropriate clothing and equipment, as several of the campers had contributed items to a rummage sale of items that could be used by a re-enactor, either in battle or out of battle. Having a friend to point out things and discuss the events of the morning made it easy and accessible for me, but truly, no one needs a guide to enjoy the encampment at least as much as the battle. Just locate the encampment on Cantigny's website, show up, open your eyes and ears and you will learn lots. And you will have a great time!

More camp shots in the next post.

Battlefield Casualty

A flow back and forth, a volley, and suddenly casualties mount. The Coldstream Guard I was following is injured. The volley continues and the woman assisting the artillery runs for cover. In a few sudden moments, the skirmish is over.

But as exciting and interesting as the battles are at the Re-enactment, the action covers barely 30 minutes. The rest of the day, however, is as historically interesting and as valuable as the skirmish. The public is invited to visit the encampment, which is where we will go in the coming posts.

Fire When Ready

The skirmish was underway with plenty to see. Both the loyalists (seen here from behind in both photos . . . not just the red-coated Coldstream Guard) and the colonials staked out ground at both ends of the parade field and entered the ground in waves at staggered times. We saw the artillery fire from both sides with of course the loudest noise, and we saw volleys of shots fired from muskets and rifles with the lines of combatants facing each other. We found that the entire line would not fire at the same time, as that would leave that side with no weapons at the ready, so one section would fire while another was reloading.

On a bright sunny day, the sights and sounds were thrilling. More photos in the next post.

Off to the Skirmish

Following our look at the Brigade of Guards on patrol and in formation for firing, all personnel reported to the large parade field at the center of Cantigny Park's main grounds. It was interesting to see Revolutionary War Redcoats parading between 21st-century automobiles in the parking lot.

Among the loyalist brigades was a French group, including the standard-bearer seen here. Time for battle approached; see some of the action in the next post.

Revolutionary War in Wheaton

Over the years I had read about re-enactments, events where a wide range of people gathered together to re-enact battles and skirmishes from historical war periods. Many times I thought I should attend one, but until recently I never had done so. When a friend from Church turned out to be a Coldstream Guard in a Brigade of Guards at an event in the area, I grabbed the camera and went to Cantigny Park in Wheaton.

Rather than trying to re-create a specific battle in history, the group re-created the style and effect of the skirmishes and battles of the times. While the Brigade of Guards seen here is clearly a "red coat" group, many colors of uniform were represented and many details of the battle strategies. It was a day of history and of pageantry and of action. Noise, lots of noise, when the cannon fired. An interesting event that I will attend again.

Here we see the guards on patrol and prepared to fire. More views of the battle at Cantigny in the next post.