We had a great event in some respects; however, the weather did not cooperate at all. On Friday evening we had our first End of Campaign Season dinner at the Historic Tavern in Camden, SC which was attended by 19 Fusiliers and five family members. It was the perfect venue—good food, some singing, toasts and presentations – a fun time for all with plenty of comradery. We will be incorporating this End of Season Dinner into our Camden event next year as well.
A few presentations were made at dinner. 23rd Foot red T-shirts were presented to new privates, musicians and old privates and NCOs who returned to the regiment after their long hiatus. Tim Brieaddy made the shirts and once again donated them to the company. Joe Siegel, Gabe Everman, and Graeme Barclay, Ben Beers, Nolin Jones, Eric Bothur, Denis Messier, Mike Lung and Bob Clarke each received their shirts. When a recruit gets promoted to Private he’ll receive a shirt.
The second Pride Award was presented to Denis Messier. This award recognizes individuals who have shown a commitment to the regiment by setting high standards for appearance, soldiery interpretation and exemplary commitment to the betterment of the company and its members. Since joining the 23rd last year he has shown us that he is “all-in; fully invested in the 23rd RWFiA.” He assembled his full kit in record time; hand-made uniforms for his two boys complete with bearskins and cartridge boxes; attended his first event at Camden in 2022 and every event in 2023 save one; made garrison caps for several fusiliers; and, volunteered to take photos of himself in full kit as part of our overall submission to the Battle Road Committee for acceptance for the 250th Anniversary Lexington-Concord event in A well-deserved award. Your company commander also received a token of appreciation from the troops which I humbly accepted—thank you!
Later that evening and Saturday morning were dominated by steady rainfall. Everyone and their equipment were pretty wet by the time the battle rolled around on Saturday afternoon; but, the rain let up and we did engage the Americans for a reenactment of the Battle of Stono Ferry. The battle was fought on June 20, 1779, near Charleston, SC. The rear guard from a British expedition retreating from an aborted attempt to take Charleston held off an assault by militia forces under American General Benjamin Lincoln. The British forces withdrew to Stono Ferry and waited for ships to transport them back to Savannah. At Stono Ferry they erected a “blocking position” of two redoubts, and a large moat to slow down the Continental army so that the British could withdraw. Inside the redoubts were mainly Provincials and the Royal North Carolina Regiment. Outside the redoubts, but behind the abatis and moat, were the 71st Highlanders, artillery, and Hessians. The 23rd was positioned in the Redoubt with the Royal NC Regiment and a six-pound gun. Hessians to our left and the 7th Regiment with Light Infantry (portraying the 71st) to our right outside the redoubt.
The Continentals arrived in column, but quickly (not really) deployed into line and were immediately engaged by the light infantry and 7th on our right. The Continental militia on our left successfully outflanked the Hessians and drove them back into our redoubt. All the while, our right flank withdrew back to a line on our right while we in the redoubt heaped a merciless fire upon the Continental line with musket and cannon fire causing them to make an “orderly retreat” (as “orderly” as the Continentals can ever make it). We then sallied forth from our redoubt (leaving the Hessians to it) and formed a line with the 7th and Lights, fired volleys and advanced quickly in pursuit of the fleeing Continentals. The Continental cavalry covered the retreat and charged our position. British forces fixed bayonets, front rank kneeling and rear rank firing, and repulsed two cavalry charges. Battle over, another British VICTORY!
Due to the unpredictability of weather forecasting for this event and the fact that another evening and morning of solid rain was certain before it was “predicted” to clear-up by noon Sunday, the consensus of the group (the misery level for our campers was pretty high) was to cut our losses and head home on Saturday evening. The 23rd folded up camp and dispersed.
Overall, even with the withdrawal on Saturday, we can claim a successful event. We had a great end of season dinner and program Friday night followed by a successful fielding and battle on Saturday. All were in high spirits throughout despite the continuous rain and drizzle.
It was the largest single turnout of the Company to date – 21 signed up and 19 (counting our Regimental Drum Major) came. Thanks to everyone who attended and especially to our new Fusiliers Greg Brunson and Monty Dixon who were not dissuaded (I hope) by the rain.
YouTube video of our event: Southern Campaign 1780: 244th Anniversary Battle of Stono Ferry Reenactment. We appear from half way through to the end.
