The following is written by one of the participants, Bill Lochen, who posted this report on one of the Yahoo! egroups. [Used by permission.]

I heartily cheer the British organizers of the 250th Anniversary of Braddock's Defeat. George Reilly, Steve Patarcity as well as Roger Kirwin and the staff of Old Bedford Village put together a fine event for all of us to remember.

The anniversary battle took place down in a in a flood plane next to the village. The audience sat in bleachers and had a great, up close view of the battle.

The regulars marched about 1/2 of a mile through a newly cleared road in the woods. The terrain was uneven with pot holes, hidden boulders and sapling tree stumps cut at 6" off the ground as if by a fast moving woodsman.

I had prepared for my duties as Commander of the British Regulars under Braddock, by reading about the battle in the Osprey Campaign Series Monongahela 1754-55. The book has terrain details and it amazing how the site played right into the actual layout of the approach to the area of engagement.

At a bend, just before the "Monongahela" (a 50' wide creek 18" deep at points), the column stopped as the Virginia Calvary checked ahead. In my mind, I remembered a similar bend before the actual crossing. Once across we came upon a dried wash in the road, much like the actual terrain. The column stalled and people crossing the river had to wait a few seconds in the water for the column to move on.

As we approached the area of engagement, the public could hear us talking about attacking Fort Duquesne and how we would rout them with our cannons and superior numbers. It was eerily quite.

We snaked the column toward the middle of the area, when we saw the French moving into position in front of the lead units. I called the Grenadiers to the front and flanked them with following units. Suddenly the whole column started to form a line of battle. We held some companies in reserve, thinking that we would dispose of this threat easily. But as the black powder smoke hung in the air, I could no longer see the enemy. I understood how the real combatants must have felt.

Ben Newton as General Braddock was placed on our right flank so the audience could see him. He looked the part and was a commanding figure.

The Canadians and Indians started to move down our flanks and the soldiers, pushed tight to each other, fired at a hidden enemy. Col Halkett (Steve Nuckles) tried to keep the men composed on the Left Flank, but the confusion was unsettling. We started taking casualties (hard to get folks to do because they were enjoying the battle). Soldiers were starting to improvise being frightened and tried to flee the battle. It was great that this happened because I had to move the troops and deal with deserters. These little bits added a bit of realism for the audience.

The cannons came forward and fired a couple of times. The audience really liked the boom of the cannon in the close atmosphere.

At this point the hand to hand combatants came forward, sought out their partners and had a well choreographed, safe, fight. Bob Metz had selected 20 hand to hand combatants and they worked choreography for a couple of hours in the morning. As a stage combat veteran, I was very happy to observe the work they were presenting.

By now Braddock had been hit and was hauled off in a horse cart, many of the officers were down and soldiers were fleeing. George Washington (Brian Cunning) was trying to stop the rout at the river crossing. Having finished our duties, the field commanders took hits and died. The Canadians and Indians were upon us with a great amount of "whooping" and took their scalps and loot.

The audience gave lots of "oos and ahs" during the battle and applauded mightily at the end.

As the evening came I heard many veteran reenactors say what a fun and enjoyable battle it was and some even said that is was one of the best they had participated in.

The village was alive with drumming and songs as well as wonderful food being cooked and shared.

Dr. Stephen Brumwell gave a great lecture on the F&I War and Braddock's Defeat. He seemed quite impressed with the battle and our portrayals.

On Sunday we had several units dress in their regular unit presentation.

We also had an impromptu Drill Competition for a prize of Single Malt Scotch in a fine glass decanter. One of the Yeager Company of Rangers won the competition. (From Maine, I think. Someone correct my if I am wrong.)

The battle Sunday was fun and a little harried by the French push for the British Colors. The British prevailed though and the French surrendered.

Again, Thanks to Old Bedford Village staff and all who helped in planning this event.

Bill Lochen