The Best Hobby in the World

by Benjamin Fisher - Festival Nomad Correspondent

Day 1 Continued ...
Dear readers I am Benjamin Fisher. I am 12 years old and I am a War of 1812 British re-enactor from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Re – enacting is probably the best hobby in the world. Dave Cobbern, more commonly known as “rooster”, let me use his musket during the battle. I can’t believe they trusted me to carry a gun. I felt truly honoured, and new that I had to be serious, and respect what these men were allowing me to do. I listened and followed their orders specifically. Colin watched over me during the battle to make sure I knew all the drills and movements. But after the first musket volley I felt like I was actually in the war. There was so much smoke in my nose and fogging the air around me and even though I was not allowed to shoot because I was under age – I was there and “immersed in the experience”. When the battle was over, the day was pretty much over too. However, I had one more experience to the weekend left that day….sleeping in the historical re-enactors wedge tents. My mother agreed to stay with me overnight. It was amazing to see, hear, and live life of 1812.


"12 Year Old Soldier Benn"

(To Be Continued)

The Best Hobby in the World

by Benjamin Fisher - Festival Nomad Correspondent

Introduction...
Dear readers ... I am Benjamin Fisher. I am 12 years old and I am a War of 1812 British re-enactor from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Re – enacting is probably the best hobby in the world!
I discovered re-enacting when I was 6 or 7 years old . My mother is a curator at the Ermatinger Cleurge National Historic Site and they have an 1812 event every September. When I was 6, I only knew about voyageurs and Coureur Du Bois who are men and women who would tell stories about the life of a voyageur. But when I heard about 1812 re- enacting I wanted to learn more about it. I started learning drills from Mr. Kevin Brooks an 1812 re-enactor from Barrie, Ontario for 2 years while he attended events at the Ermatinger Site in Sault Ste. Marie. After the 2 years my mother and I decided we would go on a 6 hour trip with 2 of her co- workers to Wasaga Under Siege.
This event was the thing that totally got me hooked on re-enacting.
Before we left to go to Wasaga, I wrote a letter to the coordinator of the event Mr. David Brunelle about seeing if I could borrow a British uniform and assisting in the reenactments. When I got the “yes” from him at the event I was so happy I almost bowed down to him right then and there. His reply to me was very formal and properly addressed with permission from the regiment, with the closing comment: “God save the King”.

Day 1...
The next morning (opening day) of the event I was mustered up and ready for the day. About 2 hours into the day I was told that I was going to become the cannon’s powder monkey. The powder monkey was the most dangerous job in the War of 1812. If the powder monkey was shot then the cannon couldn’t fire, if the cannon couldn’t fire then there wouldn’t be as many casualties on the battle field. For this I had to wear a new set of clothes that pertained to the position, and also had to learn how to load, clean and carry the powder for the cannon. I even had to wear ear plugs in order to protect my ears from the blast of the cannon and the black powder shot.
Later that day I met up with my friend and mentor, Mr. Kevin Brooks. Kevin said that he came to be our regiments sergeant during the battle that night, and he would be there for the afternoon the next day.
During the Cannon demonstration with my new leaders / friends Colin and Andrew they let me light the cannon a few times which I held as one of the events highlights for me. The men were very good at training me, and providing me the safety precautions, and seriousness of the maneuvers. Then Colin asked Dave Brunelle if I would be allowed to enter the battle line with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Before the battle another member of the regiment.
(To Be Continued)

Characters of the War of 1812

by Judi McWilliams

ELIZABETH SIMCOE - WRITER!
Elizabeth Simcoe's diary is said to be written in least three versions. The first contained brief, almost daily entries often combined with rough sketches. The others expanded from the first version with more detail and smoother style, with some omissions. She sent the entries back to England at every opportunity. Elizabeth also wrote about her surroundings. Her descriptions are very graphic and her diaries are full of colourful vignettes, such as the Epiphany service in the Roman Catholic cathedral at Quebec or a walk through a still burning forest fire. She had, as she wrote, “the picturesque eye.” She was especially interested in flora and fauna, as well as the food and medicines prepared from them. Elizabeth’s approach to writing was anthropological or romanticized rather than personal even though she was fascinated by the native people. It was said that her marriage was a happy one; even her husband was a shadowy figure, mostly though she was not interested in people. She wrote more about her little son, Francis Gwillim, said to be his mother’s favorite. Over the years I found that I was drawn to nature which I too depicted in my watercolour paintings and poems over the years. I however, found that I saw the images in an “impressionistic way” rather then “realistic” (not abstract though). I found that I was drawn to vibrant colours, while Elizabeth only had monotone colours to work with.
With this said, I thought it would be a good time to let you know a little about John Graves Simcoe, “the husband”.
(To Be Continued)

Characters of the War of 1812

by Judi McWilliams

ELIZABETH SIMCOE - CANADIAN CHRONICLER!

As well as her diaries, it is said that Elizabeth Simcoe produced a large number of water-colours depicting Canadian scenes. They also exist in several versions, from rough sketches made on the spot to finished works which were sent regularly to friends in England. After her return to Wolford, it is said Elizabeth and her daughters made further copies of her Canadian views. While in Canada, she experimented with etching; in her first letter to England she ordered a set of engraving tools, because she had seen Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres*’s engravings and was “sure I can engrave to imitate them.” Apparently she etched only two small and not very successful plates, which were sent to England in 1794 and printed in Bristol and London. They say Elizabeth had two motives in her sketching in Canada. One was artistic; she was always looking for good views, and would travel long and arduous distances to find them. The other was documentary; she was intentionally making a pictorial record of what she saw. Quote from Elizabeth … “I took no sketch of a place I never wish to recollect,” she wrote at Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Most of the time, Elizabeth Simcoe was delighted in her Canadian experience. In her diaries and water-colours she has left a lively record of Canada in the 1790s, which is remarkable for its interest, detail, and accuracy.
(To Be Continued)