Through Savage Eyes: Jumonville
May 19-21, 2000
Click on the thumbnails to see photos and descriptions from
Jumonville. Also, if you are interested, you might want to read about
why we went to Jumonville:
young George Washington's surprise attack on a few French soldiers led
by Ens. Coulon de Jumonville, which more or less launched the French and
Indian War.
Jumonville was, for me, the first event of the season. Despite the
impending weather reports for severe storm advisories and tornado
warnings across the state of Pennsylvania, several of us packed our gear
on Thursday evening and headed west on Friday. The Major, Sergeant
Stevens, Alec Asten, Eric Toriello and Yours Truly met at Friendly's in
Middletown, CT for some breakfast before the journey. From there we
proceeded to Brewster, NY to pick up Sarah Melcher, who had driven to
the Brewster train station to leave her car so she could ride up with
us. Having picked her up, we began what was to become a 10+ hour ride
to our destination. Jim and Kathy Hayes, who left earlier that morning,
would meet us there, as would George Herschman, Ed Radowitch and Bob
Stone.
The ride went by without much discomfort. Our three vehicles swapped
passengers along the way to break the monotony. As we traveled the
weather remained constant - overcast with a chance of rain at any
moment. On occasion it drizzled.
We pulled onto the site before dark, and before the thunderstorms. The
camp was on church property on top of a mountain with great view of the
lowland below. We pulled in to find Jim and Kathy Hayes already there.
George, Ed and Bob had also arrived, and had gone out to dinner. Maj,
Sarge and Sarah pitched their tents, while Eric , Alec and I set up a
lean-to under the trees. It wasn't long after we finished that the lightning
and thunder brought the rain. We decided to go to town for dinner and
stay dry. It was at about this point that Sarah disappeared, and we were
joined by Chauncey Goodrich, a fairly well kept and jolly chap - for a
ranger. We headed down the mountain and passed Ed, George and Bob, returning
from their dinner. After a brief chat they suggested we dine at The Stone
House restaurant down the road. We thanked them and went on our way.
A graduation party was going on at the time, so we sat where we'd be
comfortable - the bar. We must have looked like the beginning of a joke
- "So, five rangers and an Indian walk into a bar..." We certainly
turned some heads. Dinner was great. Afterwards, we returned to camp,
chatted a while and turned in. It rained hard all night.
We awoke Saturday morning in the midst of a low hanging cloud. Visibility
was twenty yards at best. As the rest of the camp stirred we noticed a
few other ranging groups, provincials, amongst them the New York Provincials,
most of whom came down from Ontario, and a fair number of redcoats, including
highlanders. On the French side, several regulars, marines, milice and
Indians assembled. Many of these people came into the event early Saturday
morning. Soon the numbers had grown to a substantial amount. I would say
the Brits had seventy people, and the French about the same. It appeared
to be a promising day. The weather even held up, and it was cool enough
to be comfortable in wool.
The British camp at Jumonville,
with two of my Rangers (Eric Toriello's back and
Alec Asten on the far right)
and our Indian.
The Saturday tactical took place down the mountain, in a densely wooded
area with rough terrain. We were joined by Captain Bill Sheetz and two
of his rangers of Rogers' Own out of Indiana, and five of Don Nelson's
scouts from the Ohio Ranging Company. Together we worked like
clockwork. Like in any good battle, the best laid plans disintegrate
into chaos upon the first encounter. This was no exception. I suppose
it was appropriate since we were skirmishing very close to Braddock's
Road. But, to our credit, our rangers worked well with whoever they
found ourselves around. Our units would get split up during the course
of the battle, but would always reform with other rangers and,
sometimes, with their original unit mates. The fighting was furious.
It was easy to see how unaccustomed regular forces were in the woods,
and the difficulties they had in adapting to the guerilla style of war
in the forest. The rangers and the light infantry swung back and forth
to cover our flanks as the British forces fought an uphill battle
against the French, who had gained the high ground. Several of us from
our unit, along with the other rangers pressed the French hard, leaving
them no room to maneuver. We even caught their rear by surprise after
we blazed through some really thick underbrush. We were on top of them
and firing before they saw us. An hour and a half later, after a parley
by the Major, we retired from the woods, breathing heavy and sweating.
The battle was over, and we would later learn from the British command
that the French, being surrounded with no recourse to escape, gave up
the high ground and capitulated. We spanked them hard, and in doing so,
earned a lot of respect and praise from other Brits who commended us on
how we handled ourselves. Many people were very impressed.
That night we cooked a beef stew which not nearly enough people partook
(is that a word?) in. Bill Sheetz and his rangers shared our fire and
the laughs we had. I'm sure many of you will hear tales around future
campfires of what a great peach drink Bob can make; and how Ed nearly
knifed Alec for mistakenly taking the piece of steak that he wanted; and
how typical it is for someone to fall unconscious into a fire at a Herschman
party and have no one help them get out; and how nothing, 
I repeat, NOTHING happened between Yours Truly and Gavin Watts' daughter
at the Battle of Bordentown, amongst other tall tales. Fun and enjoyment
had by all that evening. (Thanks to everyone once again for the huge cookie.
It was greatly appreciated). I turned in early. That night it rained again.
After breakfast on Sunday we formed up, minus Bob, George and Ed, for a
short skirmish in the woods around the camp. Once again the weather
held and stayed cool. The Brits deployed into the trees waiting for the
French attack. We volunteered for guarding the extreme right against a
flanking maneuver by the Indians. Instead, they charged the middle.
After the firing started, we rushed up from our positions and supported
the left flank. A couple of charges at our middle by the Indians and
Canadians were repelled by several great line volleys the Regulars are
known for. Shortly after, we swung to help press the right flank, which
was slowly pushing the French left towards the middle. In little time
the French commander found himself nearly encircled - again, whereupon
after a brief parley he surrendered - again. The weekend was a complete
victory for the Crown Forces. More praise from the units for a job well
done by the rangers in general, and our group specifically.
We packed up camp right afterward, and said good-bye to one another and
the new friends we met. George, Ed and Bob headed home and Jim and
Kathy continued on with their vacation. Chauncey disappeared and Sarah
returned just in time to leave. She, the Major, Sarge, Alec, Eric and
myself drove down to visit the Jumonville Glen, where Washington found
an unaware French camp and 'fired the shot that set the world on fire.'
We then drove down the road and visited Fort Necessity, which Washington
built to make a stand against a large French force that was pursuing him
and his men. The fort is incredibly small and built on a meadow
surrounded by high ground and faced on the left by a forest treeline.
It was no surprise that he surrendered, given his choice of terrain to
build his fort. As Sarah put it, the Father of our country "needed to
start somewhere." It was great to be able to visit more of the actual
sights of our Living History hobby today.
After a brief stop for ice cream, the Major went on to Pittsburgh, while
the rest of us turned east towards home. The trip back was quicker, and
the journey very well worth it. Next year's Jumonville event has
already been scheduled and I believe it's falling on the same weekend.
For those who didn't make it this year, I hope this update gives you a
glimpse of how enjoyable this event was, and how worthwhile next year's
event very well might be.
Yr most Humbl & Innocent Savage,
Jonas
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