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Overview
May 27th and 29th, 2000 Lewis, DE MAJOR/PAID Muster Master - Robert Giglio Phone: 410-465-7688 Email: ECWCaptain@aol.com Small camp, public drill & sword fighting demos, Dutch vs. English battle re-enactment (involving the 1609 Dutch Ship Half Moon), and parade. Participant dorm housing provided; No foodplan. Arrival can be Friday evening or early Saturday, but set-up must be by Noon Saturday. Early departure Monday (by 2 p.m.) Highly publicized Twenty-two years after it was discovered by Henry Hudson in 1609, the point of land separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Delaware Bay, now known as Cape Henlopen, was selected by the Dutch as an ideal site to establish a whaling station in 1631. A local tribe of the Lenni Lenape Indians as a result of a dispute massacred the thirty-two settlers over a Dutch coat of arms the Indians had stolen from the settlement. In 1682, the land which now comprises the State of Delaware was conveyed to William Penn by the English Courts at which time the embattled settlement was named Lewes (pronounced loo-is) in honor of the town in Sussex County, England. But the travail was not over yet. The town was visited by Captain Kidd and other pirates as late as 1698. And then during the War of 1812, a British frigate bombarded the town in 1813. One of the town buildings (Cannonball House Marine Museum) still proudly wears an embedded cannonball from the bombardment Lewes has always been essentially a seafaring town. Blessed with an excellent harbor, Lewes is home to a large fleet of charter fishing boats stationed on the canal along Pilottown Rd. It is likewise the base of the Delaware Bay & River Pilots Assoc., whose members guide cargo vessels to and from the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia. Lewes is also the site of the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies and is the southern terminus of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. The ECWSA has been contracted, along with our naval friends the 1609 replica Dutch ship Halve Maen (Half Moon), to celebrate the Dutch involvement at Lewes. Activities include public demos of pike, musket, and artillery drill demos & firings, sword fighting demos, a battle re-enactment, and a parade. This will be a highly publicized event. Site Facilities Sponsors are providing a unit stipend (age 15+) plus lodging for all up to 53 participants in a local dorm (Bidden Center at Cape Henlopen State Park.) In addition, since the ECWSA has worked with our friends the Half Moon previously, the captain will also allow lodging aboard ship for the weekend for any members interested. The town of Lewes has modern restaurants and bars/pubs for meals and reveling. On Saturday and Sunday the camp will be in a grassy area next to the ferry. On Monday the camp will be at the Lewes Historical Society Complex in the town proper. Due to space restrictions only a max of 3 pavilion tents (for shade) and 8 wedge tents (storage) is allowed. Muster Master will be in touch with unit commanders to discuss tentage, etc. Important: Each unit should have a period water container (keg); drinkable water will be provided. Anyone ECWSA soldiers that have a personal period drinking container is to bring it, if they need it while on-ship. Delaware River & Bay Authority police department during off-hours (i.e., at night) and when we are doing our demos/battle will provide security. Therefore, tentage will be secure. However, all personal weapons or equipment (swords, polearms, muskets, etc.) are to be taken with you each night. Orders of the Daye Each day will have 1-2 drill demos, depending on other activities. Sunday there will be a battle engagement involving the ship Half Moon vs. two cutters (ship's boats) with swivel guns and land based artillery, firing at each other on the bay. Afterwards, Dutch force land and battles with English militia. Dutch musketeers aboard Half Moon will be able to fire from various decks and repel boarders while pikemen man ship's cannon (under supervision). English musketeers aboard the two cutters will be able to fire on, and board, the ship. Another great time involving a period ship, fighting on-deck, as well as on land! Note: Swedish replica ship Kalmar Nyckel will also be at Lewes public tours for the weekend, but not involved in battle engagement beyond initial bombardment of land forces. The encampment of 'life in the 17th-century' will be open for public tour. Therefore, units will take turns posting sentinels (guards) throughout both days to control public tours of encampment (and guard equipment.) A 'Dueling Area' will be roped-off for public demos of period sword fighting (yes, we can also fence!) There will be no set times for this, just on going as time/heat permit. Since everything must be ready by no later than 11 a.m. on Saturday, Friday arrival is highly encouraged (and due to holiday weekend traffic going to the beaches); please plan accordingly. In addition, early arrival on Friday is recommended, as you can tour the various historic sites in Lewes. One such building is the Zwaanendael Museum, a museum about the ill-fated Dutch settlement of 1631, containing permanent and loaned exhibits dealing with the history of Lewes and Delaware, as well as Dutch gifts and exhibits (built in Dutch architecture.) For more information go to the museum's website: http://www.beach-net.com/Thingszwaanendael.html Transporting Black Powder Weapons: Those transporting, please use common sense; keep all firearms and powder them hidden from view. All units must have a lockable powder box for storage of powder and match. Musketeers: Due to drills and battle, bring 40 pre-rolled cartridges, plus a can of extra powder, and sufficient prime and slowmatch. This will allow for fast reloading during the muster, and especially for those on the ship and cutters. Remember that this is a 3-day muster that has been contracted for, so please plan accordingly. Muster ends 2 p.m. Monday, to allow everyone to break camp and head home early (thus missing Memorial Day traffic). Schedule Friday Evening - Units arrive/check-in to lodging at Biden Center. Saturday 0830 - Units arrive in kit & check-in at Harkins Park (Ferry Terminal) for camp set-up 1030 - Officer/NCO Meeting (all must be in kit by this time) 1100 - Camp opens to public tours; Stand to Arms: Drill Demo (30 mins.) 1130 - Lunch; Camp activities begin 1600 - Stand to Arms: Drill Demo (30 min.) 1800 - Camp closes to public tours. Sunday 0830 - Units arrive in kit at Harkins Park (ferry terminal) 0900 - Officer/NCO Council of War (battle walk-through) 1000 - Camp opens to public; Camp activities begin 1100 - Stand to Arms: Safety Inspection & Battle Training 1200 - Lunch 1300 - Dutch Forces Stand to Arms: Form-up & Embark on ship Half Moon 1345 - English forces Stand to Arms: Form-up for Battle & March to staging area 1400 - Land & Sea Battle Engagement (60 mins.) 1800 - Stand to Arms: Special VIP Drill Demo (30 mins.) 1930 - Camp closes to public. Monday 0830 - Units arrive in kit at Historic Center for camp set-up 0930 - Stand to Arms: March to Ceremony/Parade staging area (War of 1812 Park) 1000 - Memorial Day Ceremony; Form-up for parade 1030 - Parade (45 mins.) 1130 - Camp opens to public 1145 - Stand to Arms: Drill Demo (30 min.) 1315 - Stand to Arms: Drill Demo (30 min.) 1400 - Camp closes to public; Break camp DIRECTIONS The site is the town of Lewes, DE. For information about the town, overall directions, places to eat, etc., go to the website at: www.lewes.com Website for the Lewes Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (Ph: 302-645-8073) is at: http://www.leweschamber.com From Northern NJ/NY: (use a road map) Take your best route to the NJ Turnpike and across the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Proceed across bridge and take exit for Rte. 13 South. Follow Rte. 13 South and exit at Rte. 1 South (just before Smyrna, DE). Follow Rte. 1 South through Dover and then further south and into Lewes, DE. Look for signs to Cape May-Lewes Ferry. See 'Upon Arrival' below. From Northern MD/PA: (use a road map) Take your best route to I-95 in Delaware. Take exit 4 (Rte. 1 South). Follow Rte. 1 South to exit for Rte. 13 South. Follow Rte. 13 South through Dover and then further south and into Lewes, DE. Look for signs to Cape May-Lewes Ferry. See 'Upon Arrival' below. From MD/VA: (use a road map) Take your best route to Bay Bridge (Rte. 50/301 East/North to Maryland's Eastern Shore, near Annapolis, MD.) Proceed across the Bay Bridge on Rte. 50/301 East/North. At the Rte. 50-301 split, take the exit for Rte. 50 East (Ocean City, to 404 East Rehobeth; there should also be signs to Cape May-Lewes Ferry). Follow Rte. 50 East to Rte. 404 East (Denton/Rehobeth); meaning you must turn left at a light. Follow Rte. 404 East and signs for Cape May-Lewes Ferry into Delaware. Note (404 Business By-pass): At one point (about 30 miles from light) you turn left to continue on Rte. 404 East, rather than follow Business 404; then about 2 miles you turn right onto Rte. 404 East (Sussex Hwy.), and then 2 miles more you turn left at a light to continue on Rte. 404 East (towards Georgetown). Follow Rte. 404 East for approx. 14 miles to the Georgetown traffic circle. Follow the circle (you enter at 6 o'clock) three-quarters around to (9 o'clock) to continue on Rte. 404 East/9 East Interstate (look for sign for Cape May-Lewes Ferry.) Note: All of this may be confusing, so also use a road map. About 12 miles more, turn right to follow Interstate 9 East. Go about 1.5 miles to a light, and turn left to ferry (9 East). At 1st stop sign turn left onto 9 East. About 2 miles (at next stop sign) turn right and follow signs to Ferry. See 'Upon Arrival' below. To Bidden Center (Lodging): The Bidden Center is in the Cape Henlopen State Park, which is past the Ferry. From the Ferry, exit and turn left. Proceed into Cape Henlopen State Park, and follow signs (or ask guard) to Bidden Center. Bidden Center is a dorm-like building with a parking lot in front and a fenced-in area behind (you can't miss it.) When checking in at Bidden Center, tell them you are with the 'English Civil War Society of America'. Shuttles for re-enactor use will be provided to shuttle everyone to/from the Bidden Center each day at the beginning/end of our scheduled activities. Upon Arrival: If arriving Friday, see 'To Biden Center (Lodging)' above. If arriving Saturday, proceed to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal (look for signs). Encampment area is adjacent to the ferry terminal; go past first entrance to the terminal and turn into the next entrance for 'Public Parking', and park in lot and proceed to camp area. Please see the Muster Master upon arrival about camp set-up and sign-in. |
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