Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site Hosts Encampment to Commemorate "Battle of Pell's Point"

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Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site held its annual "Battle of Pell's Point Encampment" to commemorate the 229th anniversary of the Battle of Pelham fought on October 18, 1776. The site sponsored the three-day Revolutionary War encampment October 20-22. Photographs of the events held on Saturday, October 22 appear below.

The site conducted educational programs for school groups on Thursday and Friday, October 20-21. On Saturday, October 22, activities included the encampment conducted by re-enactors. It also included lectures on the Revolution in the museum, musket firings and militia drills, wreath laying ceremonies at the graves of Revolutionary Soldires including the so-called "sand pit" within which the remains of German troops who fought with the British are believed to be buried. Activities also included period music and dramatizations, Revolutionary War era crafts and cooking as well as historic children's games and toys.


The rains on Saturday morning lifted long enough for an enjoyable outing for the many who attended. Inside the Church building, there were demonstrations of 18th century medical tools and techniques used to treat soldiers wounded on the battlefield. Musicians played in the 18th century style while onlookers milled about the box pews of the 18th century Church building. The Church building, unfinished at the time, was used as a hospital by German troops after the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776.

Muskets boomed and belched white smoke in the rear of the old Church building while children watching in awe. Re-enactors of a British light infantry unit that fought at the Battle of Pell's Point drilled on the grounds. Re-enactors representing the Hessian (German) regiment that used the Church building as a hospital following the battle were not able to attend due to weather conditions.

The museum on the grounds of the site was in spectacular condition with its typically wonderful exhibits including Revolutionary War artifacts, a display of uniform styles of the era, several dioramas including one depicting the battle, one depicting the Church grounds at the time and another showing the village green in the 18th century. Pelham Memorial High School students involved in history projects concerning the battle wandered the grounds, notebooks in hand, questioning re-enactors and others.

As usual, David Osborn and Sharon Mills of the Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site did a magnificent job in coordinating the well-attended event.

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.