by Orcelia Birge Winn
Yesterday, I received in the mail a new book. I love new books. I particularly like new books signed by the author. It came from our friend Bicky-Bick. It was written by his mother who was born in 1922. It is a book of poems written over the course of seventy years. It is a family biography/history with all its joys and sorrows. There are poems about each of her children (four--two who have passed away), her granddaughter, siblings, their spouses and children, grandparents, parents. There are poems about nature (including the tornado that hit her hometown in 1989). New birth and grief. Happy times and sad. Nothing weird or obtuse, just life in general with its daily ups and downs. An easy read.
I don't normally like poetry, but this book is absolutely delightful!
There are only three hundred copies. Mine is #8 of 300 (and signed by the author, of course). This is the first book authored solely by Cele. She is the co-author of a local town history...Chronicles of Milton--Village Left Behind by Time. It is the story of Milton (part of Litchfield) Connecticut.
Email for information:
Battle of Townsend's Plantation
aka Apopka, Mt. Dora, Renninger's
The event is one of our favorite Civil War events. I think in part because the first re.enactment which we viewed was at the Plantation...in 1990, I believe. I don't think we have missed a year since then. We were bitten by the bug immediately and have become very addicted to it.
The Battle of Townsend's is not a true battle like Gettysburg or Cedar Creek. It is, however a representation of a skirmish or raid that may have been fought in Florida. Florida had somewhat in the range of 160 documented War Between the States events. There was only one true battle...Olustee or Great Pond in which approximately 11,000 soldiers participated in February 1864, about evenly divided. (The Confederates won this battle).
Of the other "events," most were raids and skirmishes. Florida did not have much of a population in the early 1860's. She did, however, become the third state to secede after having been a state for less than twenty years (1846). Of the approximate population of 140,000 only twelve thousand voted for secession...the rest of the population were women, children and slaves (or voted against secession).
Florida did have a great population of cattle. It was also a great place to produce salt (by evaporation) and grow sugar. The raids were primarily over these three articles. The Yankee ships could not blockade every single bay and cove. So, with the proper moonlight and some nerve, these items could be moved through the blockade.
The Confederates often wanted to get the cattle out to market and to other Southern States. The Federals on the ships lacked fresh meat. Many of these raids, therefore, were either to try to get the cattle out or for the sailors to get fresh meat.
Salt was a food preservative. We did not have refrigeration at that time. Salt was used to keep meats, fish and many vegetables. A good Union coup would be for the cavalry to attack a salt processing area (St. Andrews, for instance, in the panhandle) and dump the salt. It would take approximately three weeks of evaporating water over a fire to produce one hundred and fifty gallons of useable salt. A raid in a salt processing area would spoil all the work done to that time.
A third reason for many raids was sugar. We Americans seemed to always have had a sweet tooth. Our forebears were no different. By mid 1862, the Union forces held much of lower Louisiana which was a great sugar producing area. So, they could attack and destroy sugar mills and plantations in other parts of the South without taking anything away from themselves. David Levy (pronounced rhyming--LeeVee) Yulee (for which a county--Levy--and a town--Yulee--are named), a railroad builder/tycoon (Jacksonville to Cedar Key), was one of the first two Senators from Florida. He owned much property including a sugar mill in what is now Citrus County. The Federals burned it. Another famous sugar plantation that played a major part in the War was Gamble mansion in Ellenton. Benjamin Judah (Secretary of various cabinet posts in the Confederacy) escaped capture by using the mansion and its shipping coves and byways.
I digress once again. Back to our move into re.enacting. At our first Townsend's we signed up with a Northern unit. We soon discovered, however, that they met too far away. So, within a couple of months, we signed on with another unit and were off and running. I think the first Townsends's we did with the Kettle Korn was in 1996. The Townsends acknowledged to us this weekend that they thought we were the most senior vendors there (not age, but times we've been at their event).
Townsend's was originally held at a gorgeous setting...Townsend's Plantation. It was beautiful. Often a craft show was held at the same time. After several years, however, the re.enacting community outgrew this wonderful venue. We moved to Zellwood for one year where they held a corn festival. It was OK, but not quite right. The next year we moved to Renninger's Flea Market in Mt. Dora. This has met our needs for now. Two things, however. We are now starting to outgrow this place. And it does not have the beauty of the Plantation.
Clay Townsend, a Confederate soldier descendent, is the mover and shaker behind this event. He loves it. Each year his entire family come out to help, including his Dad and three (not so little any more) boys and wife.
On Friday, we had a very successful school day. Only a couple of schools came. We seldom see many public school children these days due to budget restraints, but we had one "Catholic" school and one "Christian." I do not know the names of these two schools, but they did contain the above words. Both were very interested and interesting. When asked, both adults and students said they had learned "a lot."
On Friday, we had a very successful school day. Only a couple of schools came. We seldom see many public school children these days due to budget restraints, but we had one "Catholic" school and one "Christian." I do not know the names of these two schools, but they did contain the above words. Both were very interested and interesting. When asked, both adults and students said they had learned "a lot."
It is a good place for cavalry. The artillery and infantry also make a great showing. There is a ball on Saturday night. The 97th Pennsylvania String Band play for those of us who like to kick up our heels with gallops, Virginia reels, patty-cake polka and waltzes. The also play before the battle both Saturday and Sunday. (Actually, this year they only played Sunday as Saturday's downpour changed many a plan.) Rick Moock, the bass player also does narration of the battle. For a mere bag of kettle korn, he gives me a rousing advertisement. Sure helps business.
The 97th also has a fife and drum corps. My favorite music. I have a deal with them...if they play Yankee Doodle for me, they get free corn. Yankee Doodle is Connecticut's state song. Again, because of the rain, I only got to hear them on Sunday. Tim on his snare, a bass drum, Jane and a gentlemen I cannot name (I really can't as I don't know it) played outside my tent. Several songs, but always YD. Sometimes there are ten or twelve playing, sometimes just a couple.
Church service. A game of rounders (baseball). Cooking over the fire. Medical scenario. Union/Confederate camps. Stirs my blood.
Ladies' Tea. Whenever I am asked to give a prize for the ladies' tea, I give two business cards...one each for a medium bag of kettle korn. Over the years, I have had only a couple that were not claimed. The tea is usually held Saturday morning. It is customary to bring ones own cup. Hot or iced tea (what a surprise!) and cookies are served. Usually someone does a lecture about something period...lo-tech/no-tech toys, fabrics, jewelry, styles). I seldom get to the teas as I need to be in my tent in case business is overwhelming (and sometimes, praise God, it is). Anyway, the first claimant of my prize at this event was a beautiful young lady about four years old. She was shy about it, but also very excited. I love redeeming these prizes, especially to the very young. She was dressed in period attire...a rose printed dress with her underpinnings showing underneath. The other was claimed later by a lady reenactor. Sometimes, little boys come with the card to make the claim. That always throws me just a bit. But boys like tea and cookies as well as girls.
Sunday was miserably COLD. But the die hards came out to see the battle anyway.
In addition to kettle korn, Steve makes folding wood tables in various sizes and rustic bird houses. We sell these at these events.
In the past three weeks, Steve has sold seventeen tables...an all time record for so soon in the season. Many are repeat customers. Thank you folks!
In addition to kettle korn, Steve makes folding wood tables in various sizes and rustic bird houses. We sell these at these events.
In the past three weeks, Steve has sold seventeen tables...an all time record for so soon in the season. Many are repeat customers. Thank you folks!
One of the special things that happen at these events is meeting new friends and greeting "old" ones (that means knowing them a long time...not their age). I saw two young people that I have not seen for several years. One is a young lady who recently had a baby (it was not that many years ago that, it seems, that she was just a little kid herself). The other was a lad who (as he tells me) I've known since he was five. Now, he is sixteen. He was a tiny little guy then; now, he is a forward on his high school basketball team, a safety on the football team and a left fielder for his baseball team. He is hoping to get a full ride for football. In my humble opinion, however, I think he should go for basketball as he is still growing at well over six foot. He "fights" with his Dad and the 14th Brooklyn "red pants." Good to see you again Mariah (Elmira) and Robert.
Historical re.enactments are often a great value for your money. And, the potential for learning true history is amazing. So much history seems to rewritten today. Entrance fees are usually $5 to $8 with discounts (or free) for boy or girl scouts in uniform and discounts for seniors and children (depending on the event). Most are more than just a battle as we live the time period...camping, cooking, dressing.
See Orlando Sentinel for picture
No comments:
Post a Comment