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Fort Edward -- Thousands attend re-enactment of first Battle of Saratoga

By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer

First published: Sunday, October 13, 2002

Thousands of spectators braved early rain and mud Saturday to view 3,000 historical actors from around the world transform an upstate farm into a Revolutionary War village and stage the largest ever re-creation of the first Battle of Saratoga.

Visitors from around the world, including a major general of the British Army, stood on a sloped hill and watched hundreds of American "troops" try a frontal assault on a British column, only to be pushed back by British-led forces on foot and horseback.

The mock battle was organized to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga, which led to American independence. The social and military re-enactments continue today with a depiction of the decisive second Battle of Saratoga, fought Oct. 7, 1777.

"It's so authentic. They really take it seriously," said Todd Martin, 36, of Bath, Steuben County, who with his wife and children watched the British regiments march to war.

Indeed, everything but the battlefield and ammunition was real. The re-enactment was held on a 335-acre farm about 20 miles from the actual site because federal law does not allow combat to be re-created on national park land.

The farm, owned by Fort Edward Supervisor Merrilyn Pulver, was separated into British and American camps, a merchandising tent area and a large spectator's viewing hill overlooking a gigantic battlefield.

"I'm amazed," said modern-day Maj. Gen. Christopher Elliott, who serves in London with the Royal Regiment of Wales. He came with his wife for the ceremonies.

"It's been an extraordinary experience. I have never come across this before," Elliott said, surrounded by thousands of red-coated synthetic 18th-century British soldiers.

The event cost $2 per person. Judging from an end-of-the-day money count, approximately 5,000 people attended Saturday's event, not including the re-enactors, Pulver said. Organizers had initially anticipated that as many as 20,000 people would turn out.

"It was a really good showing considering the weather," Pulver said.

Before the battle, re-enactors recovered from a wet night by cooking bacon and other meat over fires built with wet wood. They informed passers-by about life during British Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne's Northern Campaign.

"I stayed in a soldier's tent with one blanket on top of some straw," said John Rees, 45, of Sloebury, Pa., portraying a common private in the British 40th Regiment. The history buff and writer said participating in re-enactments "helps you appreciate what they went through on a daily basis" during the Revolutionary War.

Rees has been a military re-enactor since 1984. He has participated in hundreds of battles, but none bigger than Saturday's. He brushed off Saturday morning's rain.

"Sometimes it rains. It's what the Army goes through. It's just life," Rees said.

He added that re-enactors do not have a destined fate in each battle. Soldiers follow events, and if their guns fail, they usually fall.

"If your musket misfires, you usually take a hit because you're not contributing anything to the unit," Rees said.

At 1:45 p.m., the rain had stopped and thousands watched the one-hour battle from about three football fields away. Musket and cannon fire rang out, spreading large plumes of smoke that smelled of gunpowder. Black powder was used with no shot.

Dave Bernier, who portrayed American Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, interpreted the military maneuvers by loudspeaker. He pointed out the resourceful, and later traitorous, American Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold.

"One thing about Arnold, you either loved him or hated him," Bernier said. "He took everything personally. But on the battlefield, he was a whirlwind."

So true, said Paul Hutchins, 36, who portrayed Arnold.

Asked how he became Arnold, Hutchins said: "Some say I look like him. I can ride a horse. And I can be a real pain in the butt sometimes."

Two other things, Hutchins said: "Actually I'm the same age Arnold was. I just had my right knee operated on, too," he said, alluding to the dangerous leg injury Arnold picked up while storming the Breymann Redoubt during the finale of the second battle.

Regarding Arnold's daring and successful charge through the rear of the redoubt, Hutchins said, "He was either really drunk or really whacked out." (Some historical accounts say Arnold began his attack on horseback only after taking a large shot of whiskey or rum.)

After the battle Saturday, the dead and wounded were carted off the field by doctors and women.

Spectators enjoyed the battle but also appreciated the day's other amusements like learning about the many German fighters and Native Americans who took part in the fighting.

Joe Labucki, 15, a 10th-grader from Manlius, Onondaga County, portrayed a Native American from the Mohawk Valley region who fought with the British.

He shaved his head except for the back, and wore moccasins, a headband and borrowed jewelry. He and some friends slept in a cone-shaped tepee Friday night.

"We had a couple of drips of rain, but other than that it was perfectly dry," he said. "I've only been doing Native for a couple of months. They recruited me because I like to run."

Others enjoyed food on the farm. One bakery on hand offered sausage rolls, wedges of cheese, bread and meat pies. Hot dogs could be found for $1.

Some, like Alan Robinson, 55, a retired school principal from Gloucestershire, England, used modern technology to capture the event.  He and his 12-year-old companion videotaped the battle.

Others made modern-day jokes. After Hutchins completed describing Arnold's heroism at Saratoga, his friend Rees joked, "Wait a couple of years -- he'll go with al-Qaida." 

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