The British Brigade's big event of the year was held at Sandy Hollow Park in West Chester, PA. This is a location familiar to the 35th as we have done some events there in years past. This also marked our first British Brigade event since the winding down of Coronavirus restrictions, and it was an exciting experience to once again be part of a huge recreated battle. We had our camp fly set up along the edge of the company street near the sutler Samson Historical. We were near our friends the 23rd Royal Welch, DeLancey's loyalists, and Hessian Jaegers. As a unit, we were brigaded into a heavy company, called Second Company, comprised of the grenadiers and the highlanders.
We were also very happy to have with us our new associate member, Jennifer B., who came down from New England to join us. Our stalwart men and women set up our camp and spent the weekend engaged with a steady stream of visitors throughout the weekend. Each day featured a large battle that had the British deployed to a far field to start. The enemy came upon us and we steadily drove them from this distant, vast area through the woods. Once we cleared the Doodles from the woods, we engaged them in an open, pitched battle in the fields under the eyes of thousands of visitors. Both Saturday and Sunday's scenarios played out similarly, although on Sunday we did something not often done at Rev War events--we formed square in the presence of cavalry!
Saturday evening was particularly special as well because we were treated to the sight of a SpaceX rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral, but was visible even in the Pennsylvanian skies. Some thought it was a comet, but this was not the case. Once the spectacle of the rocket faded into the cosmos, a fireworks display lit up the evening for a few minutes to everyone's delight.
Sunday we almost got away scot-free, but Mother Nature had a rainstorm brewing up west of the Appalachians. Within half an hour of our return from the field, we were taking down the camp but not fast enough to avoid the relatively-brief but intense downpour which soaked everyone and everything. For some, this may have been a blessing, especially if they had camped out on site and had not had a shower the whole weekend. Nevertheless, soggy as we were, our spirits were not dampened and Brandywine 2022 was a tremendous success! Photos to follow.
We were also very happy to have with us our new associate member, Jennifer B., who came down from New England to join us. Our stalwart men and women set up our camp and spent the weekend engaged with a steady stream of visitors throughout the weekend. Each day featured a large battle that had the British deployed to a far field to start. The enemy came upon us and we steadily drove them from this distant, vast area through the woods. Once we cleared the Doodles from the woods, we engaged them in an open, pitched battle in the fields under the eyes of thousands of visitors. Both Saturday and Sunday's scenarios played out similarly, although on Sunday we did something not often done at Rev War events--we formed square in the presence of cavalry!
Saturday evening was particularly special as well because we were treated to the sight of a SpaceX rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral, but was visible even in the Pennsylvanian skies. Some thought it was a comet, but this was not the case. Once the spectacle of the rocket faded into the cosmos, a fireworks display lit up the evening for a few minutes to everyone's delight.
Sunday we almost got away scot-free, but Mother Nature had a rainstorm brewing up west of the Appalachians. Within half an hour of our return from the field, we were taking down the camp but not fast enough to avoid the relatively-brief but intense downpour which soaked everyone and everything. For some, this may have been a blessing, especially if they had camped out on site and had not had a shower the whole weekend. Nevertheless, soggy as we were, our spirits were not dampened and Brandywine 2022 was a tremendous success! Photos to follow.