Seasons Greetings everyone. In the very early morning hours of this day, I filmed a video as part of the Historic Soldiers Christmas Series that I began on December 8 of this year. In this second episode in the series, I am focusing on the American Revolutionary War. As all of you know, George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River Christmas evening into the morning of the 26th in complete darkness ... much like the darkness that I was surrounded by when I filmed the video. Many of us associate Christmas Time with snow and ice. How did Soldiers navigate through snow and ice during the Revolutionary Period? They used ice creepers. I have an example of an ice creeper to show you. The individual whom I purchased the hand-forged iron ice creeper from discovered a similar ice creeper at a Revolutionary War Campsite that was in use from 1779 to 1783. Although this blog entry pertains to the American Revolutionary War, it is likely that these ice creepers were in use during the Seven Years War and perhaps even King George's War. The following video and photographs will reveal this particular ice creeper from various angles.
The url for the above video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onAZgUkEk5Y Here is a screenshot from one of the test videos: Here I am still outside in 30-degree weather for this photo with the ice creeper: Some close-up views ...
You will note the oval shapes. Straps were used with these ice creepers, and the straps were laced inside of these holes.
You can also see the points on the bottom. These were necessary for treading on the ice.
The ice creepers were placed just beyond the heel and one ice creeper was used per shoe so someone walking through the snow or someone walking on the ice would use two ice creepers. Christmas was not widely celebrated in the Colonies. The celebration of Christmas was largely frowned upon and stores were kept open on December 25. This is why I thought to present an object that was in use during the winter seasons throughout the Revolutionary War as opposed to a specific Christmas-related item. I thank all of you for reading and I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas.
It is December 9, 2013, and today marks the two year anniversary of the announcement of the results of the disputed presidential election in the Democratic Republic Of The Congo. I still think about the crisis in the Congo quite often. I would like to see a resolution as soon as possible. I wanted to tell all of you out there that I have still not forgotten. I will continue to follow the story on the situation in the Congo and I hope to attend another demonstration soon.
Seasons Greetings to you! Today is December 8, 2013, and I am representing a Union Army Soldier. This is my first video and blog entry in a new series titled Historic Soldiers Christmas. In this episode, I am showcasing an issue of Harper's Weekly postdated January 3, 1863 so it was on the shelves in late 1862. The cover of this issue features a Union Army Camp with what is believed to be the very first appearance of Thomas Nast's Santa Claus. Today, there happened to be some heavy snow coming down, and it gave me an excellent idea. I was planning on beginning my Historic Soldiers Christmas series with this video last week and I am glad that I waited because this day's scenario was perfect. As a matter of fact, I wanted to make a video and blog entry for this specific issue last year since it was the 150th Anniversary of its publication, and I never got around to doing it. Once again, I am glad that I waited. This also ties in with the American Civil War Sesquicentennial Observance. Video: Url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GeCZG9dHuo Here is a screenshot from the video (no need for concern - the issue is in a protective sleeve): Photographs of this enormously historic issue ...
You will note that Santa is in Patriotic Attire here: I posted two of this area of the issue due to the lighting differences ...
The back page featuring advertisements, two of which are fitting for this blog entry: As previously stated, this is the first video and blog entry in my series titled Historic Soldiers Christmas. I hope to post a few more videos and blog entries this year and many more in subsequent years.
Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania once again held its annual early December World War II reenactment today. It fell on the exact day as the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack. The Battle For Schmidt was specifically reenacted. Video of the battle:
Url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63SG3Z8fdfE Photographs ...
I conducted an interview with some reenactors/living historians after the "Battle For Schmidt World War II Reenactment" held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 7, 2013. This segment includes a weapons demonstration, and even I got involved. As you will see, I certainly was not wearing my Saturday best in this video, hahahaha.
Url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yorlfko3P4
Major Thomas Leonard, a Veteran of King Philip's War (1675 - 1676), passed away on this day 300 years ago. November 24, 1713 to November 24, 2013 ... a full three centuries since Thomas Leonard passed on. He is certainly a little-known military Veteran from an extremely overlooked conflict. In honor of this day, I went into the archive and dug out a court document from the year 1698. Thomas signed it twice. The court case involved a guy named Jabez Pratt. His crime? A little bit of fornication prior to marriage. A very hard to find item from Colonial Massachusetts in the era referred to as the "Pilgrim Century". American documents from the 1600s are exceedingly difficult to locate.
The url of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaG_L4sHVGk
I transcribed it exactly as it was written:
Bristoll Memorandon that on the ffirst day of September 1698 in the tenth year of his majesties reign Jabez Prat of Taunton in said County came before me Thomas Leonard Esquire one of his Majesties Justices for said County and acknowledges himselfe Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King his heirs & Successor the ffull sum of ten pounds Lawfull money to be levyed on his Estate, Goods & chattels if default herein be made. The condition of this Recognizance is such that if the above bounden Jabez Prat do make his personal appearance at the next Session of the peace to hold at Bristoll on the second Tuesday in October next to then and there Answer before his Majesties Justices for himselfe and his wives committing ffornication before marriage, and abide and per= forme the sentence of the Court then this present Recognizance to be voyd and of no force, or else to remain in its ffull fforce strength and virtue. The said Jabez Prat was bound as above said Coram me Thomas Leonard Justice
Jabez Pratt above named confessed matter of fact Two Notes: 1.) Coram is Latin for "Before" or "In The Presence Of". 2.) The final sentence was written in another hand.
It is July 27, 2013, and today is the 60th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended the Korean War. In honor of the day, I visited several Monuments/Memorials dedicated to the Veterans of the Korean Conflict. The cities that were on my Korean War Memorial Tour were Oaklyn, Audubon, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township and Collingswood. I had a huge surprise in Haddon Township when an actual Combat Veteran of the War showed up!
While I was filming at the fourth Memorial, a car pulled up, and out stepped the Veteran! He saw me by the Memorial and stopped his car so he could talk to me! As you will see, he walked into the view of the camcorder and started talking about his time in the War! Totally unscripted, unplanned and impromptu! I was and still am blown away! Very, very, very incredible!
I was initially a bit bewildered because the man who pulled up in the car was wearing a Korea Veteran hat and a Korea Veteran shirt and he appeared to look under 80 and under 70. In my mind I thought that he looked way too young to be a Veteran of the Korean War. As it turns out, he is 84 years of age! Here is my documentary video for the 60th Anniversary:
Here is the url for the above video (in case it does not embed properly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBOn94Fi__E
Here are photographs of each town ...
Oaklyn:
Audubon:
Haddon Heights:
Haddon Township:
Here I am with Leo Tocco ... one of very few remaining Korean War Combat Veterans in the area:
Collingswood:
It was very important to observe this day and to remember the sacrifices and struggles of those involved in the Korean War ... the Service Personnel who returned home and the Service Personnel who did not return home. We must keep them all in our hearts and in our thoughts.
It is July 21, 2013, and the American Civil War Sesquicentennial continues. On this day, 150 years ago, Daniel McCook of the Fighting McCooks, passed away. He was wounded two days prior near Buffington Island, Ohio during Morgan's Raid involving Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. Daniel McCook had twelve children ... three daughters and nine sons. All nine sons signed up with the Union Army, and three of those sons died in combat. His brother and a number of his brother's sons were involved in the conflict as well.
It is very important for me to point out that Daniel McCook was 65 years of age when he was killed in combat ... certainly way above the average age of someone involved with the conflict. He was a Major and Paymaster and he was specifically given the role of Paymaster due to his age.
This blog entry is my personal tribute to Daniel McCook ... a man who gave his life for a cause that he believed in.
In this video, I am holding a Court Of Common Pleas document that dates to the year 1840 and was signed by Daniel McCook: Here is the url for the above video in case it does not embed properly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9fb2RP2So
Thank you Daniel McCook and thank you to all of you out there who are watching and reading.
When does life begin? Tonight, I have some personal history for all of you. On July 16, 1973, 40 years ago today, my Mother's water broke. That, typically, would not be a big deal. The problem was that the water broke six and a half months early during the first trimester. I was a threatened miscarriage. I was conceived in May. The water broke after only two and a half months in July. In his video, I discuss all of the medical details. In 1973, with the limited capabilities available, a baby could not survive that sort of scenario. For some reason, I did. This video reveals the truth.
