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The English Civil War Society of America (ECWSA) was contracted, along with our naval friends the 1609 replica of Henry Hudson's Dutch ship Halve Maen (Half Moon), to celebrate the Dutch involvement at Lewes (pronounced Loo-is), Delaware, in the 17th century. This was a highly publicized event, with a large turnout on Sunday.
Background 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. Activities Activities over the three days included public demonstrations of pike, musket, and artillery drills and firing, sword fighting, a land and water battle engagement on Sunday, and a parade on Monday. While the weather over the entire three days was overcast and either drizzling or raining during scheduled activities, the ECWSA members still maintained high morale, and there was still a large public turnout. Of course the fact that we had contracted for indoor lodging with hot showers - a rare occurrence for re-enactors at events - was a major factor in keeping spirits up. The demonstrations of 17th century pike and musket drills, artillery firings, and sword fighting were well received by the spectators, who had never seen any living history re-enacting of the 17th century before. Even those we met at night in the restaurants and pubs in town were constantly asking about the Dutch, and "Are you Peter Stuyvesant?" Naturally as overall commander I replied "Yes", especially when people wanted to buy me a drink! Battle Engagement The major attraction, and most publicized, was the battle Sunday afternoon, involving the Half Moon and two cutters (ship's boats) armed with swivel guns. Excitement built up throughout the day as the public awaited the battle, which was staged on both land and water, a rare treat (for both the public and re-enactor!). The battle was staged next to the ferry terminal, in the water of the inlet and also on the large pier that was specially built for the event by the sponsor. Part of the ECWSA portrayed Dutch soldiers, who sailed into the bay to engage the English soldiers defending the area. The rest portrayed English colonists defending the area by using cutters laden with musketeers, to row out to the Half Moon, and to attempt to board and take her as a prize. The English had artillery support of a cannon and two mortars from the pier. The battle commenced when the Half Moon sailed into the inlet, a site that the spectators enjoyed (as well as the re-enactors). Since rarely does one get to sail into an inlet aboard a period ship, knowing that you will engage in battle both on the water and then on land. What a rush! Once the Half Moon got closer to the pier, her captain gave the order to turned portside, after which I gave the command to both the gun deck and the musketeers aboard to "Give Fire!" The deck guns below, as well as the swivel guns on the fore and aft decks, belched forth their shots, while the musketeers fired from atop her decks. [While the guns on the Half Moon were very loud, the spectators really loved it every time they fired.] The English raised the alarm and quickly manned their boats, while their artillery returned fire on the Half Moon. After about a ten minute exchange of fire between Dutch musketeers aboard the Half Moon and English musketeers in the two boats as they maneuvered ever closer to the ship, the English finally grappled and started to board. As the Dutch military commander, from my vantagepoint on the forecastle, I gave the command to "Stand to Arms" for the soldiers, while the sailors tended to their duties in getting the ship closer to the pier. The first boarding attempt was repulsed, with men fighting through the ratlines, without one Englishman setting foot on deck. However a renewed attack saw the English successfully board both on deck and through gun ports that the Dutch had not yet closed. Fighting raged both on deck between the Dutch and English using clubbed muskets and swords, as well as down below on the gun deck where English had slithered into the gun ports with swords at the ready. The Dutch pikemen that had been manning the guns were surprised, and the Master Gunner called up to me for reinforcements. I quickly grabbed a Corporal of Pike that was manning the swivel gun on the forecastle, drew swords and went below. We were greeted by a large and confused melee, amid the thick and acrid smoke from the brass deck guns. Eventually the English were repulsed, slithering back out the gun ports, with two killed outright. Of humorous afterthought was the unlucky Englishman that tried to pull the buxom Dutch woman, who was acting as powder server for the gun deck, by the leg through a gun port, thinking that she would make a nice prize (for later ravaging). However, he quickly learned that a wench armed with a swab rod was not to be messed with, as I saw him holding his head and hands as the English rowed away from the Half Moon. As the English retired to the pier the Half Moon maneuvered to dock, while the English artillery on the pier increased it's fire to cover the retreat of their friends. Eventually a broadside from the ship silenced the English gun, with the last survivor picked off by a Dutch sharpshooter. However, the English mortars did manage to place at least one round onto the deck of the ship [black pinky-balls were fired from the mortars, thus allowing spectators to see the shots, but these were safe/soft objects that could not cause harm to replica ship or crew]. The Dutch musketeers kept up their volleys on the English, who being reinforced regrouped into a full company of pike and musket at the landward end of the pier. The Half Moon docked quickly, landing a 'Forlorn Hope' of musketeers to meet the advancing English, while the rest of the Dutch disembarked. Eventually the Dutch muskets were driven back, but quickly regrouped with the rest of their force, now drawn up on the pier with the tricolor of the New Netherlands flying proudly. As commander of the Dutch forces I requested a parley with the English commander. I asked that the English surrender the area, as the Dutch had laid claim to it in 1631. He replied that as the earlier colony had disappeared, it was now English land. Since nothing could be resolved through diplomacy, then it would be resolved with arms. Both sides made ready and advanced. After volleys from both sides, and a series of close combat at push of pike, lasting about twenty minutes, the Dutch reformed for one final push. They advanced quickly at the English, but this time the musketeers were ordered to club muskets and enter the fray as well. In the midst of this melee I ordered the rear ranks of Dutch pike to draw swords and charge. This did the trick, as the English were beaten back to the end of the pier, both with pike and close combat with swords, and even some coming to grappling on the dock itself. As the Dutch took the mortars, the English commander asked for terms, which were granted. He came forward and surrendered his sword, and thereafter Lewes returned to the Dutch. While this battle never happened historically, it was staged to show what 17th century combat was like, and was met with warm applause, as well as nice coverage from the local papers. Thereafter all forces combined to give one final salute before marching off to the encampment area for a Q&A session with the interested spectators. It was very nice to hear such nice praise for the spectators as they remarked how "interesting the battle was", and "especially the close combat with pike, sword and even brawling." In the end, none of the participants were in the least bit injured, even given the fact that slick conditions on the pier did cause a few to slip and fall to bouts of laughter from spectators! Final Activities Both the Half Moon and the replica 17th century Swedish ship Kalmar Nyckel conducted tours throughout the entire weekend, being well received. On Monday the ECWSA took part in the Memorial Day parade through Lewes, ending at the Lewes Historical Society Complex, which contains historic buildings, one being a 17th century Swedish cabin. The ECWSA erected a small camp, performed a series of pike and musket drills and firings for the public, and by Noon (given the weather) we headed for home. Hopefully there will be a repeat of this event next year, as the ECWSA enjoyed the event (and indoor lodging!) even with the rain, as both a great time and one that allows the organization to educate the public about the 17th century colonial history of America. For More Information The Society regularly works with the replica of Captain Henry Hudson's 1609 ship Halve Maen (Half Moon), performing exciting landings and battle engagements as Dutch soldiers, upon land and water, for the education and entertainment of thousands of spectators. For photos of some last year's engagement at the Washington Navy Yard - 200th Anniversary (Washington, DC), go to the ECWSA website and click on the Early America link, at: http://www.ecwsa.org/colonialamerica.html For more information on historic Lewes (Delaware), and a nice quiet place to vacation, then go to their website at: http://www.lewes.com/history.html For more information on the replica 1609 Dutch ship Half Moon or the New Netherlands Society, go to the website: http://www.newnetherland.org/ship.htm |
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