Notes from the

3rd Annual, Pre-1840 Texas

Pilgrim's Camp & Swap Meet

January 24, 2004 at Dancy Farm

It was fun overall... the weather cooperated fine on Friday until sundown and after midnight Sunday morning. We had several new people show up, one who had a homemade tent... he got a lot of comments on his efforts (it was a 6x4x4high bell-back wedge with a freestanding frame) mostly "good work" or "let me know how that works out". He's realized he needs a bigger tent when the wife & family come along... next time. The only weather casualty happened when Randy & Kay Donahoo's awning collapsed on one end, and knocked the table down, breaking a bowl. Other than that, all camps stayed up despite the soft ground and gusty winds Saturday evening. There were several day-trippers who just came out on Saturday. We had 30 registrations. (There weren't nearly that many camps; the door prize thing helped a lot. Congratulations to the winners.)

Clarice Shanks did a dyeing workshop, and the women said it was great. Clarice, are your fingers back to flesh-tone yet?
John Tyler's drill presentation was excellent (we even did a couple of wheels, with all 22 men). Here are links to the Drill Network's "Scott's Tactics for Infantry" and "Scott's Abstract" (for Militia) pages. Stuff the avaerage male citizen knew and practiced. We should know it too.
John Baker's clothing presentation (men's) was great, lots of info (first-hand accounts) on how shabby the Texians looked (and that the clothing of choice for heavy-duty wear was not woven, but shot... buckskins). He tried to cover a lot in a short time.
John Potter presented on presentation, with an emphasis on "in the classroom". The federal rules on weapons in the classroom: Gun Free School Act of 1994 (deals with students with weapons)... Here is the "guidance" document John mentioned, check out sections 17 and 19 for definitions (and exceptions) of "weapons". I would strongly suggest checking with the school district in question for their rules on non-students carrying weapons for educational purposes and find out what their permission formats are. John also covered some of the ways reenacting fits in with the TAKS objectives for 4th and 7th grade Texas History and other subjects: science, math, grammar...
George Rollow's presentation was on weapon safety... how we all are responsible for keeping ourselves, our fellow reenactors, and our public safe... because we know how. People told me I did good.
Charlie Yates presented a few books from our Reading List, and a reading plan in 3 quick notes:
1. Read at least 2 new books a year, just to keep up.
2. Read 2 pages a night at bedtime (more is better, but at least 2 pages).
3. Don't forget period literature as a source of info on attitudes and thinking (example: Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe gives insight into some Texians' mindset).  

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