British Encampment on Boston Common
Friday, August 15 – Sunday, August 17 - 2008 Boston Common, Boston MA
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The British Are Coming--Again!
Over 20 companies of 18th century British army re-enactors set up a replica of the original camp on Boston Common. The training field becomes a living history site where children and families can participate in the daily life of a British soldier. Activities and demonstrations are scheduled throughout the weekend which include drills, cooking, making clothes and shoes, repairing equipment, medicine tents, musket firings, a small skirmish with colonists, music and meet and greets with the re-enactor soliders.
Join a special tour of Dorchester Heights to see where ingenious
colonists accomplished one of the first major victories of the American
Revolution. Visit the campsite of the Red Coats who held Bostonians
in a vice-like grip during the Siege of Boston. They haven't been
here since 1776!
Camp Map:
The re-enactor regiments participating are His Majesty's 10th Regiment
of Foot; 1st Regiment of Foot Guards; 5th Regiment of Foot; 9th Regiment
of Foot; 21st Foot RNBF; and the 24th Regiment.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday - August 15 3:00 to 6:00
3:00 p.m. to - 6:00 p.m. British re-enactor soldiers set up camp on
Boston Common's Trayning Field along Charles Street. The public is
invited to watch the setting up of camp.
No scheduled demonstrations on Friday.
Chores typical of an 18th century British camp.
6:00 p.m. Camp activities end and camp is closed at 6:00.
Saturday - August 16, 9:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Chores typical of an 18th century British camp.
10:00 Drill and Musket firings
11:00 a.m. Color Ceremony with Boston, Massachusetts and British dignitaries
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Demonstrations throughout the day: mock tents,
bed making, shoemaking, a medical tent, cooking, clothing and uniforms,
music
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Drills and Musket firings
4:00 p.m. Skirmish with Colonial Minutemen
5:30 p.m. Music
6:00 p.m. Camp activities end. Camp is closed to the public.
7:00 p.m.Soldiers march through Boston streets to Union Oyster House.
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Children's activities throughout the day:
Children are encouraged to dress in typical colonial dress, experience
camp life and have their photo taken; or "borrow" 18th century
clothes for a photo.
Shopping throughout the day:
Sutlers, itinerant dry goods merchants who frequently accompanied
British camps, are on hand with their re-created typical 18th century
inventory of historic cloth, games, clothes, hats, accessories, and
household items for sale to the public.
18th Century costumed guides:
Freedom Trail Players regale visitor with stories of the American
Revolution and life in the camp - it's American history but not the
same old story!
Walk Into History Tours of the Freedom Trail
With 18th century costumed Freedom Trail Players as guides
11am 12noon 1pm 3:30pm (Tickets available at Information Tent at the
Encampment)
Sunday, August 17
9:00 a.m. Chores typical of an 18th century British camp.
10:00 a.m. Religious service
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Demonstrations throughout the day: mock tents,
bed making, shoemaking, a medical tent, cooking, clothing and uniforms,
12:00 p.m. Drills and Musket firing
2:00 p.m. Break camp. Public is invited to watch breaking of the camp.
Camp closed.
2:00 p.m. Dorchester Heights Tour (see below - ticket required)
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Children's activities throughout the day:
Children are encouraged to dress in typical colonial dress, experience
camp life and have their photo taken; or "borrow" 18th century
clothes for a photo.
Shopping throughout the day:
Suttlers, itinerant dry goods merchants who frequently accompanied
British camps, are on hand with their re-created typical 18th century
inventory of historic cloth, games, clothes, hats, accessories, and
household items for sale to the public.
18th Century costumed guides:
Freedom Trail Players regale visitor with stories of the American
Revolution and life in the camp - it's American history but not the
same old story!
Walk Into History Tours of the Freedom Trail
With 18th century costumed Freedom Trail Players as guides
11am 12noon 1pm 3:30pm (Tickets available at Information Tent at the
Encampment)
2:00 p.m. Trolley Tour (90 minutes) of Dorchester Heights.
DORCHESTER HEIGHTS TROLLEY TOUR
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston (April 19, 1775 - March 17, 1776) was the opening
phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen-and
then the Continental Army-surrounded the city of Boston to prevent
movement by the British Army garrisoned within. (including an encampment
on Boston Common) It was the longest single conflict of the War and
played an important role in the creation of the Continental Army and
promoting the unity of the Thirteen Colonies. It also served to shape
the attitudes and character of participants on both sides. The most
important single event of the siege was the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The British army, under General Howe, evacuated Boston on March 17,
1776 following the placement of cannon on Dorchester Heights which
were within range of the British ships anchored in Boston Harbor,
threatening their escape route.
Dorchester Heights and British Evacuation
Driving the British from Boston required months of grueling work for
the colonists in New York and Massachusetts Bay. In November of 1775,
Washington dispatched Bostonian Henry Knox to retrieve badly needed
cannon from Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Teamsters with 80 yoke of
oxen made the treacherous 300 mile journey, bringing 59 cannon for
the colonial army then encircling Boston. On the night of March 4,
1776, colonial militia and local volunteers stealthily fortified the
summit of Dorchester Heights. Wrapping their wagon wheels with straw
to deaden the sound, they moved the cannon to the hills overlooked
and within range of the British ships anchored in Boston . British
General Howe planned an attack, but a violent storm prevented his
soldiers from landing. Within a few days, Howe, his troops, and 1,000
colonial loyalists set sail for Nova Scotia, abandoning the city to
Washington's forces and its jubilant citizens. The Siege of Boston
was over.
Trolley pick up and drop off at the Common on Charles Street.
(schedule is subject to change)