The 20th Annual Meeting of the
Continental Line was held at the Sheridan Park Ridge Hotel, Saturday,
February 3, 2007. One of the items on the agenda was the
application of sponsored Applicant Members, to Full-Membership.
The First Rhode Island Regiment, Sponsored by 11th Pennsylvania
Regiment, Mid-Atlantic Division was accepted as a Full-Member of the
Continental Line by the General Membership. Justin Blocksom, SO,
of the 11th Pennsylvania Mid-Atlantic Division, introduced Byron
Childress as the Representative Member of the First Rhode Island
Regiment. Byron Childress spoke briefly and described the mission
and some of the activities of the First Rhode Island Regiment.
BATTLE
OF TRENTON - RE-ENACTMENT
December
30, 2006
First Rhode Islanders and Cadets at the 2006
Battle of Trenton Re-enactment.
Above are selected scenes
from the reenactment. More photos on Photo
Page.
(Click on thumb nails to
enlarge. click back button to return)
Photos
by: "Wavewalker"
First Rhode Islanders Visit Valley Forge
December 16-17, 2006 for, the Commemoration of the "Walk In"
of General George Washington's Army.
December 16-17, 2006
Revolutionary war reenactors from several East Coast units assembled at
Valley Forge National Historic Park for, a commemoration of the December
19, 1777 walk in of General Washington's Continental Army. Members
of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment of Foot, Re-enactors attended the event
to represent the black soldiers of the First Rhode Island Regiment who
spent the hard cold 1777-1778, Winter there and suffered the hardships
along with the other units of the Continental Army.
(Click on thumbnails to
enlarge, click back button to return)
First Rhode Island Regiment
Re-enactors
Perform Living History
At Valley Forge National Park
Valley Forge Arch
Re-enactors of the First
Rhode Island Regiment of foot (Light Infantry), performed informal,
Saturday afternoon, living history presentations at the Visitor Center
of Valley Forge National Park during the month of October and November,
2006. The reenactors appeared dressed in the different uniforms,
that were worn during different periods of the American Revolution by
the First Rhode Island Regiment, "The Black Regiment."
To learn about the history of the First Rhode Island Regiment, visit the
History Page
of this Web-site. The reenactors performed first person
impressions of some of the men who served in the war, such as Jack
"Tack" Sisson and others. Park visitors were able to get
a close up look at the weapons and equipment, much of the equipment was
home made, just as the soldiers of the period had to do. The
reenactors talked about camp life at Valley Forge, PA and Morristown,
NJ. Visitors learned of the hardships that the soldiers had to
endure and how they were able to overcome the many obstacles that they
had to face until the victory at Yorktown, VA in October, 1781.
1.
2.
1. Left to right- Algernon Ward,
Joseph Becton and Byron Childress
2. Left to right: Byron
Childress, Fredric L. Minus, Angel Blackstone and Algernon Ward
By; Byron W. Childress
Photos
by: "Wavewalker"
Special Event
"The
African American Experience in the Revolution"
Fredrick L. Minus
Special Presentation, on
February 24, 2007 at The Old Barracks, Trenton, New Jersey
(Click thumbnail to enlarge - click back
button to return)
FIRST RHODE
ISLAND REGIMENT OF FOOT RE-ENACTORS, SEE ACTION AT THE 225TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE VICTORY AT YORKTOWN
ENCAMPMENT & BATTLE - RE-ENACTMENT
Re-enactors of the First Rhode Island
Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry), traveled to Yorktown National
Battlefield Park, to take part in the 225th Annual Re-enactment of the
Battle of Yorktown, October 19 - 22, 2006. The battle of Yorktown
was the last major battle and the decisive American Victory of the
Revolution.
On September 28, 1781 General George
Washington and the Count de Rochambeau, moved their troops to within two
miles of the British defenses at Yorktown. French Admiral Count de
Grasse and his fleet had recently arrived at the Chesapeake and had
landed 3,000 additional French troops. The French forces now
numbered 8,800 and General Washington had about 9,500 Continentals and
militia The British forces under the command of General
Cornwallis, were trapped at Yorktown. The Americans and French set
up gun emplacements and pounded the British at almost point blank
range. Meanwhile American and French sappers were entrenching
their way towards two key points in the British defense lines.
These positions were designated Redoubts #9 and #10. The Light
infantry under command of the Marquis de Lafayette, were given the job
of storming the redoubts. Redoubt number 9 would be stormed by the
French and the American Light Infantry would attack redoubt number 10.
The American attack force was led by Colonel Alexander Hamilton.
In a very short time the Americans had overrun their objective followed
shortly by the French who took Redoubt Number nine. This action
sealed the fate of the British and on the morning of October 19, 1781,
the British showed the white flag and asked for surrender terms.
Re-enactors from the State of Rhode
Island recreated the march that General Washington's and Count de
Rochambeau's armies made from Rhode Island to Yorktown, VA.
Along the way they stopped and were joined by local re-enactors.
Members of the First Rhode Island Re-enactors in Trenton, NJ and
Philadelphia, PA, welcomed them as they passed through.
The reenactment at Yorktown was attended
by almost 2,800 reenactors from all over the U.S.A. and abroad.
The members of the First Rhode Island reenactors, were led by Sgt.
Joseph Becton from Philadelphia and Pvt. Fredric L. Minus, from Trenton,
NJ, both co-founders of the First Rhode Island Regiment, re-enactor
group. Other members of the regiment were, Pvt. Leon Brooks,
Pvt. Byron W. Childress, Pvt. Brian Denials, Pvt./Drum/Sgt/Maj. Gyasi
Mann & Pvt. Algernon Ward. We were also joined by Robert
Goldman of Providence, Rhode Island who performed an impression of a
Civilian Scout. The group arrived early Friday morning October 20, 2007
and went right to work setting up their camp site. and dinning area.
The First Rhode Island was brigaded with the other New England Light
Infantry units and spent the rest of the day organizing the camp and
procuring food, fire wood and water.
Saturday, October 21st, the regiment took
part in dismounted drill, forced marches and battle re-enactments,
including a night time battle as the British attempted to break out of
the siege. After hard fighting and several bayonet charges, the
British were beaten back to their original positions. Redoubts 9
and 10 were then stormed and captured the enemy was forced to show the
white flag of surrender. On Sunday, October 22nd, the formal
surrender was reenacted on the surrender field. The defeated
British and Hessian troops marched down the road to the surrender field,
where they grounded their weapons. As they marched past the
Continental, Militia and French Forces who lined both sides of the road,
the British musicians played the tune, "The World Turned Upside
Down".
The members of the First Rhode Island
Regiment along with all of the Regiments of the New England Brigade of
Light Infantry, were complemented on their behavior, bravery, appearance
and authenticity of impressions. This was the first time that the
First Rhode Islanders got to show off their new uniforms, which were
tailor made by Fredrick L. Minus. We are very lucky to have a man
with his dedication, skills and leadership qualities.
Huzzah!!!!!!!!! For the
Spirit of 1776
By: Byron W. Childress
First Rhode Island Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) Re-enactors
at Yorktown 2006
The Finest Light Infantry in the Continental Line
Above: From left to right, Pvt. Gyasi Mann,
Pvt. Leon Brooks, Pvt. Fredric L. Minus, Sgt. Joseph Becton, Pvt. Byron
W. Childress, Pvt. Algernon Ward and Pvt. Brian Daniels
First Rhode Island Regiment of Foot, stands the line awaiting the
British Surrender at Yorktown
Above; From right to left, Pvt. Byron W.
Childress, Pvt. Algernon Ward, Pvt. Gyasi Mann, Pvt. Brian Daniels, Pvt.
Leon Brooks and Pvt. Fredric L. Minus
Defeated British Troops, march past Continental Soldiers, who line
both sides of the road.
British and Hessian soldiers march to the surrender
field to the tune of "The World Turned Upside Down"
(click on thumbnails to enlarge, click back button to return to News
page)
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Camp scenes and assorted photos at Yorktown 2006
1. Dismounted Dragoon (Heavily armed cavalryman
capable of fighting on horseback or on foot)
2. Fredric L. Minus gets ready to cook
breakfast.
3. General George Washington congratulates
Continental Troops, as he rides forward to the field where the British
Will surrender.
4. Mounted Dragoons of the Continental Line
exercise their horses.
5. The combined Rhode Island Regiment and other
New Englanders await the order to form up for battle.
6. From left to right, Civilian Scout Ronald
Goldman, Pvt. Fredric L. Minus, Pvt. Byron W. Childress & Pvt.
Algernon
Ward discuss the coming battle.
7. Pvt. Byron W. Childress chops fire wood.
"hey!!! watch out for your foot"
Photos by: Algernon Ward & "Wavewalker"
See more photos of
Yorktown's 225th Anniversary now on the:
Photo
Page
