7th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line

The re-enacting organization called the Continental Line has an impromptu ten-foot rule, meaning, if your 18th century re-enacting appearance, clothing and equipment should pass minimum scrutiny. Facial hair would not pass a ten-foot nor ten-yard test. Personal experience at a President’s Day Parade in Old Alexandria, Virginia; a fellow re-enactor and I, both members of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Color Guard, decided we would march with our So

While there are suggestions as to the start of the Revolutionary War and the first battle, April 19, 1775 is recognized as the signature event for the conflict. General Thomas Gage under guidance he was given on April 14, 1775 (written January 27, 1775) from the British Secretary of State, William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth. Sent soldiers of the Crown Forces to disarm rebels and imprison leaders in Massachusetts.1 They were met with armed resistance at Lexington and Concord on

What was a mess? “Soldiers during the War for Independence usually had to carry their cooking equipment with them on the march. Through various types of cooking utensils were procured by the men, camp kettles were the only food preparation item issued in large numbers to the army. One kettle was the normal allotment for each mess squad; a single mess was comprised of the men assigned to one tent, the standard being six men in the Continental army, five in the British army.