Post by Matthew S. Schweitzer on Jun 2, 2007 22:22:15 GMT -5
Re-enactment of the Battle of the Olentangy June 9-10, 2007
From the website:
In May 1782, in response to public clamor for revenge for Indian attacks against white settlers, which were motivated in turn by attacks by whites against Indians (especially the massacre of Moravian-Christianized Delawares at Gnadenhutten), and so on back into the mists of time, Colonel William Crawford led a force of about 480 volunteers from western Pennsylvania in a punitive expedition that reached the vicinity of today’s Upper Sandusky, Ohio where it was defeated by a collection of Native American and British troops on June 4 and 5, 1782. The retreat turned into a minor rout and stragglers were hunted down and killed. Myths abound, but the expedition is well-documented and the route has been delineated on modern maps. Traces linger along its path, notably landholdings of survivors of the expedition. Crawford was a long-time friend of George Washington and a fellow-surveyor and land speculator. Indian territory was eyed greedily and expedition members evidently kept their eyes open for prime land.
The Crawford/Sandusky Expedition is paramount in the lore of Crawford County, Ohio. The expedition went forward--and backward--through the county, and a rear guard skirmish, “Battle of the Olentangy,” was fought just west of North Robinson. There, on June 6, 1782, the militia, retreating eastward through miles of tall prairie grass along their line of advance three days earlier, reached a rise of ground at the edge of a wood and took a stand. Three men were reported killed and eight wounded in the fighting, but discipline had further deteriorated and men continued to strike out in small groups, were hunted down, and killed. Eventually about three-fifths of the expedition returned home. Most of the losses occurred during the disorganized retreat. Crawford became separated from his force on June 5. He was captured and tortured to death.
We will reenact the Battle of the Olentangy on its 225th anniversary and on the original site, now wooded pastureland. We ask that participants in the reenactment make some effort to depict combatants of the original battle: Native Americans, Caldwell’s Company of Butler’s Rangers, some soldiers of the 8th Regiment of Foot, and Crawford’s Pennsylvania and Virginia militiamen. We seek a large number of volunteers to portray Native Americans. Any one willing to portray a Native American will receive material assistance from the NWD commander, Bob Cairns, who will supervise the equipage, training and field work of the native contingent.
Camps will be at the William and Hannah Crawford Schools in North Robinson. We expect a large public turnout and will schedule tactical and other demonstrations at the school, for which either a soldier’s normal uniform kit or his “battle” kit will be appropriate, at his own discretion. All transportation to and from the battle site will be by bus. There is no place to park at the battle site
www.brigade.org/barcal/2007/NWD/Olentangy-Crawford2007.html
From the website:
In May 1782, in response to public clamor for revenge for Indian attacks against white settlers, which were motivated in turn by attacks by whites against Indians (especially the massacre of Moravian-Christianized Delawares at Gnadenhutten), and so on back into the mists of time, Colonel William Crawford led a force of about 480 volunteers from western Pennsylvania in a punitive expedition that reached the vicinity of today’s Upper Sandusky, Ohio where it was defeated by a collection of Native American and British troops on June 4 and 5, 1782. The retreat turned into a minor rout and stragglers were hunted down and killed. Myths abound, but the expedition is well-documented and the route has been delineated on modern maps. Traces linger along its path, notably landholdings of survivors of the expedition. Crawford was a long-time friend of George Washington and a fellow-surveyor and land speculator. Indian territory was eyed greedily and expedition members evidently kept their eyes open for prime land.
The Crawford/Sandusky Expedition is paramount in the lore of Crawford County, Ohio. The expedition went forward--and backward--through the county, and a rear guard skirmish, “Battle of the Olentangy,” was fought just west of North Robinson. There, on June 6, 1782, the militia, retreating eastward through miles of tall prairie grass along their line of advance three days earlier, reached a rise of ground at the edge of a wood and took a stand. Three men were reported killed and eight wounded in the fighting, but discipline had further deteriorated and men continued to strike out in small groups, were hunted down, and killed. Eventually about three-fifths of the expedition returned home. Most of the losses occurred during the disorganized retreat. Crawford became separated from his force on June 5. He was captured and tortured to death.
We will reenact the Battle of the Olentangy on its 225th anniversary and on the original site, now wooded pastureland. We ask that participants in the reenactment make some effort to depict combatants of the original battle: Native Americans, Caldwell’s Company of Butler’s Rangers, some soldiers of the 8th Regiment of Foot, and Crawford’s Pennsylvania and Virginia militiamen. We seek a large number of volunteers to portray Native Americans. Any one willing to portray a Native American will receive material assistance from the NWD commander, Bob Cairns, who will supervise the equipage, training and field work of the native contingent.
Camps will be at the William and Hannah Crawford Schools in North Robinson. We expect a large public turnout and will schedule tactical and other demonstrations at the school, for which either a soldier’s normal uniform kit or his “battle” kit will be appropriate, at his own discretion. All transportation to and from the battle site will be by bus. There is no place to park at the battle site
www.brigade.org/barcal/2007/NWD/Olentangy-Crawford2007.html
