Marin's Ambush

part of "Heritage Days On The Burgoyne Trail"

FORT ANNE, N.Y.
JULY 12TH & 13TH, 2003

Dear Rangers,

I know most of you missed coming to Fort Anne, as so many other events were going on. So here is my account of the weekend adventures.

We were there to reenact Marin's Ambush from 1758. The event was organized by Bob Bearor, and was held on the farm property of his cousin, just outside the town of Fort Anne. The location was really nice, as we were camped in a field surrounded by trees, near the top of a hill with fabulous views.

Bob had been expecting 500, as the returns indicated about that many people would be there. But by 9pm Friday night, a handful of us rangers, an unaffiliated man and his two sons, three sutlers, and a couple of French were the only people there. Of the rangers, Paul, Mac, Mad-Dog, Jim Hayes, Bob Neely, Ed Gagnon, Dave Shaw, and I were there. I felt bad for Bob Bearor, that so many people would have changed their minds and either gone somewhere else (e.g., the Battle of Bennington, which was just one of many events that weekend), or not gone anywhere at all. On the other hand, I was really proud that we Rangers follow through on our commitments!

Saturday morning, we were fed by the organizers and then we piled into the wagons and went in to town for the parade. It was a small parade, but I think most of the citizens of Fort Anne were in it, as few people were out on the streets. The announcer had not been told that so many regiments were not there, so he was reading from the list of French regiments when we went past the review stand.

Saturday itself was wonderfully relaxing. Aside from the parade, we did nothing but relax until the afternoon battle. I worked on projects, including a leather bag for Mac, made from leather and waxed linen thread given me by Mad-Dog. Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered on a slope nearby in order to watch the battle. Bob Bearor, microphone in hand, was preparing to narrate. The history of the battle is as follows:

Our version of the battle was this: We rangers congregated in the area of some huge wooden beams, meant to represent the ruins of old Fort Anne. Paul and Jim H. engaged in a target shooting contest and made a lot of noise. The man who was attached to us, with his two sons, portrayed Israel Putnam and in disgust he and two other Connecticut men walked off towards the woods. The Indians stormed out from the woodline and captured those three, and immediate a company of rangers started to pursue them. Paul organized a second company and we followed in an organized line at the same time the Fench came from the woodline. We engaged the French and Indians there, and were able to push them back hafter heavy fire, but we were not able to rescue Putnam and his men.

Bob Bearor was narrating the entire time and it was great for the audience. After the battle, we paraded in front of the audience and fired a group volley, which pleased the crowd very much. They booed the French and Indians, which please us very much. That was is—short and sweet, and a lot of fun.

That afternoon, it rained hard for a bit and I sat in my tent and had a nap. When it stopped, we made a run into town for beverages, detouring via an antique store in the town of Fort Anne. When we got back, we found that Jay and Ian Fielder had arrived. Apparently Jay was planning to get there that morning but his wagon had broken down. He was able to get Ian to come to the place on the road where he was stranded, and together they went to purchase the parts to repair the wagon. It took them all day to make the repairs, and then they left that wagon and the oxen somewhere safe and came together in Ian's conveyance. Just in time for dinner.

The evening meal consisted of pasties. Not quite normal pasties, which are baked, but fried pasties. Each person made their own from meat and veggies Mac had brought and chopped up, plus raw bread dough. Mad-Dog valiantly sat by a bake kettle full of oil, frying our pasties for us. It was really good!!

After dinner, we were treated to a nice fireworks display. I again felt bad that the organizers had put this together for what they thought would be a good crowd, but those of there certainly appreciated it. Cliff Bearor lit a nice bonfire, and got the idea to reenact the scene after Putnam was captured where an Indian was about to burn him at the stake but a French officer saved his life. You can see that below.

Israel Putnam (me with my hands tied behind my back) being rescued by a French office (Cliff Bearor, sword in hand) from the Indian (Gerry Cook) who was trying to burn me at the stake.

Sunday morning, as I was getting dressed, a VERY large spider (as in, the body alone was 1" long) came across the tent floor and into my bedroll. I screamed and someone out at the kitchen tent asked what was wrong. When I said a big spider was in my bag, they laughed! Well, fortunately, Mac came into my tent and was able to to confirm my assessment of this menace, wherein Mad-Dog came in, fished it out, and threw it into the grass somewhere. He told me he had had several such visitors in his tent. YUCK!!!

Our breakfast was a feast of a large blend of many eggs plus the meat, cheeses, and vegetables left over from the night before. That was quite tasty! Sunday's battle was much the same as Saturday's, and again the crowd really enjoyed it, as did we. All in all, a very nice, relaxing, weekend.