War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

There are many amazing people connected with re-enacting and the War of 1812. The Interview Series will include talks with event organizers, re-enactors and suppliers. Our first interview is with David Brunelle. David is a re-enactor, organizer and now heads the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee as Project Director.

Interview with David Brunelle (Part Two)
Without hesitation Dave replied “Sergeant James Keating” otherwise known as “One Gun Keating”. James Keating was a sergeant in the Royal Artillery. He was skilful in the handling of a British field gun forcing the Americans to surrender Fort Shelby on the upper Mississippi in July, 1814. He later became Fort Adjutant at the military base in Penetanguishene. He was a prominent figure in the community and, as a promoter of public education, he has the James Keating Public Elementary School in Penetanguishene named after him. I wondered at this point if Dave Brunelle had a nickname. As a matter of fact he does, “1812”. Anyone who knows Dave in his local community knows him just as “1812”. Dave’s football jersey number is “1812”. When signing raffle tickets at his local curling league, instead of signing his name, he just signs “1812”. Perhaps being known as “1812” is less confusing for folks in the community as there is another Dave Brunelle in town. Our Dave told me that he is known at History Dave and the other Dave Brunelle is known as Basketball Dave (as he is coach for the local team). History Dave gets cheques in the mail frequently for basketball tournaments among other mail and phone calls for Basketball Dave. One time there was a full page article in the newspaper about a basketball summer camp in town with History Dave’s photo. History Dave is tall and athletic but not the correct Dave. To this day the two Dave’s have not met. The story is funny, but what is truly apparent is how serious Dave Brunelle, “1812”, “History Dave” takes his “hobby”. I hope you get to meet up with him in the field some day! He is a very, very interesting “Character”!

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

There are many amazing people connected with re-enacting and the War of 1812. The Interview Series will include talks with event organizers, re-enactors and suppliers. Our first interview is with David Brunelle. David is a re-enactor, organizer and now heads the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee as Project Director.

Interview with David Brunelle (Part One)
With the War of 1812 Bicentennial celebrations fast approaching and many special activities happening along the way, I wanted to continue my research on the War of 1812 and find out as much as I could about it. It’s not often you get to speak with “1812” personally! That’s just what I did a weeks ago, when I was treated to a conversation with Mr. David Brunelle, currently the Project Director of the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee. Dave is well versed in the War of 1812 as he has been involved in re-enacting for about 20 years now. He tells me it that it was his love of history and the military that initially intrigued him into this life of re-enacting. It has kept him going all these years. Dave was introduced into the “hobby” while he working as an interpreter at Discovery Harbour. Mr. Brunelle is currently with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Bulger’s Company. It is now a Not-For-Profit/Charity group promoting living history. As I spoke to Dave, I began to realize just how much knowledge and information he had to share with me. For those of you who have been on the field in battle or at an encampment with Dave, or visited a re-enactment and have seen him in full uniform, you will see just how serious and professional he is while “in character”. I started my interview with him asking the question “how true to authenticity are you while participating in re-enactments?” Dave said, “as true as possible for all aspects, from all the equipment to the training, drilling and knowledge. Some encampments are out-of-public-sight, so the “authenticity” issue can have some leeway, as is doesn’t play such a role in the effects of the visual observation by the public audiences”. (My “Ten Foot Rule” applies here, I guess!) In seeing Dave at several re-enactments I noticed that he usually wears a particular uniform. It led me to ask him what his favourite “character” was while portraying in living history re-enactments.
(To be continued)

War of 1812 Discovery Series (#7 - Continued)

by Judi McWilliams

Over the past few years the Festival Nomad and I have had wonderful experiences visiting War of 1812 Re-enactments around Ontario. We find these re-enactments amazing and extremely interesting! In this NEW War of 1812 Discovery Series, I want to share with you some of our experiences, while attempting to shed some light into the actual historic.

Christmas 1812 Style... (Part Four)
We Canadians, along with our French and Scottish counterparts, focused on New Year's Day during the War. It was more common to refer to it as “Seasonal Festivities”. Especially in today’s society, it seems that people are becoming more and more frustrated with the “commercialism” of the “Seasonal Festivities”. Society's “stress level” seems to be high, with the enormous expectations, we put on ourselves to provide so much for our families and friends during the holidays! During the War of 1812 the people from Upper Canada, American soldier “newbie’s” and Protestants too looked, with disdain upon Christmas decorations and pomp. So much so, that during Christmas, church was poorly attended and there seemed to be a cold indifference to it all. However, as mentioned above, the French Canadians and Scottish did celebrate New Year’s. The Scots called “Hogmanay”. Growing up, every New Year's Eve, at midnight, my parents would stand outside their front door and loudly ring an old large school bell and bang on pots and pans. We thought they were “crazy”, not to mention that our neighbours might get upset! But, as I have now learned, my parents perhaps weren’t “crazy” as we thought! I have discovered that this tradition started during the 1812 period of time, as the folks were making all that noise to drive out the old year and ring in the new! In 1812, they would march along to a torch lit parade as well as enjoying large bonfires. As far back as the 16th Century, the New Year’s traditions continued further with the French Canadians starting the New Year off by giving a gift. Even though our modern “Santa Claus” was not part of North America until around 1822, these gifts were given by most ethnic groups with such items as rag/wooden dolls, wooden muskets/swords, clothing/food/blankets/fruit. I believe this is where my parents also got the tradition of putting large fresh orange/apple/walnuts in the bottom of our Christmas stockings each year. It reminds me of simpler times, when I was young and how a single gift kept us amazed and occupied for hours and days . No matter how modern and high-tech our society is today, it thrills me that young children still seem to gravitate towards the simple part of the “Seasonal Festivities”. With all the gifts and chaotic commotion, children still simply enjoy playing with the “box” the gift came in. According to my research, it wasn’t until approximately 1781 in Sorel, Quebec, that the German soldiers brought Christmas to Canada. Several regiments of German troops, at that time, would have likely carried the Christmas traditions on during the War of 1812. At the least, an officer in the King’s German Legion would decorate a lemon tree with lights and oranges as his Christmas tree. They say it wasn’t for another 50 years that the Christmas tree became a common item in English society.

War of 1812 Discovery Series (#7 - Continued)

by Judi McWilliams

Over the past few years the Festival Nomad and I have had wonderful experiences visiting War of 1812 Re-enactments around Ontario. We find these re-enactments amazing and extremely interesting! In this NEW War of 1812 Discovery Series, I want to share with you some of our experiences, while attempting to shed some light into the actual historic.

Christmas 1812 Style... (Part Three)
In Upper Canada, the 104th Regiment in Kingston had much more comfortable quarters and therefore enjoyed Christmas better than that of others. Some Officers were invited into the homes of local folks. An old tradition started at this time called “First Footing”. This tradition determined the fortunes of the families for the coming year by the first visitor on Christmas day. If a poor woman arrived at your door first it was considered a bad omen, while if a handsome man visited bringing salt or coal a good year was expected. Today, I believe we all enjoy our visitors no matter their arrival order, but as we go to elaborate efforts for our celebrations, I believe we are always relieved to see the last visitor “leave” so we can get some much needed rest! In 1814, they say that the most significant Christmas parties occurred in Ghent, Belgium, after the signing of the peace treaty ending the War of 1812. Apparently an American and British representative sat down to enjoy a beef dinner with plum pudding brought over especially from England. We are told the orchestra played “God Save the King” and “Yankee Doodle” while they made toasts and drank to the health of King George and President Madison. It seems difficult to obtain many recollections of the Christmas celebrations during the War. Christmas for some was recognized as an important religious event, where the Germans and English held a special church service, followed by a simple fine dinner with minimal decorations.
(To be continued)

War of 1812 Discovery Series (#7 - Continued)

by Judi McWilliams

Over the past few years the Festival Nomad and I have had wonderful experiences visiting War of 1812 Re-enactments around Ontario. We find these re-enactments amazing and extremely interesting! In this NEW War of 1812 Discovery Series, I want to share with you some of our experiences, while attempting to shed some light into the actual historic.

Christmas 1812 Style... (Part Two)
There are some recordings of Christmas celebrations in the army during the War of 1812, but the festivities and decorations that we expect to see during our Christmas season did not take place during that time. For today’s Historic Sites and current re-enactment purposes (to avoid misrepresentation and the authenticity of the time) these sights might be decorated as a wintertime ball, representing the festive spirit and ways during the Christmas season and winter months. There are a few accounts of Christmas celebrations during the War of 1812. In the 1800’s soldiers were fortunate to be allowed “time off”, mid afternoon, to enjoy just a traditional Sunday, but in turn, had to forgo their time for dinner. 1806 brought better fortune to the soldiers, who received advanced pay, so that they could purchase three good meals for the different messes on Christmas day. They enjoyed religious tunes during Church, where the psalm singers and a drummer performed. With the abundance of food available to us today we seem to get “frazzled” with having to make choices, such as fresh turkey or pre-basted, home-make treats or store purchased boxes, wine or beer, canned cranberries whole or jellied, etc. etc. The food choices during the War of 1812 period were not very diverse. In 1807, the 40th Regiment chose to go to shore to purchase flour, raisins, fat and beer to enjoy their hearty feast. If the soldiers were in the field serving, their efforts were just that more challenging. In 1813, the 7th Royal Fusiliers recounted Christmas being successful by the contributions of every man. They contributed meat, wine and some money to purchase a couple of sheep for a meal, pies, puddings. this was all finished with a treat of fresh apples! They also enjoyed music provided by bandsmen playing tunes. They all danced to reels and jigs! In 1813, the 43rd Light Infantry recalled seeing a simple celebration at a corporal’s quarters with a poor woman and her child enjoying a small pudding by the warmth of a fire beside a tree.
(To be continued)

War of 1812 Discovery Series (#7)

by Judi McWilliams

Over the past few years the Festival Nomad and I have had wonderful experiences visiting War of 1812 Re-enactments around Ontario. We find these re-enactments amazing and extremely interesting! In this NEW War of 1812 Discovery Series, I want to share with you some of our experiences, while attempting to shed some light into the actual historic.

Christmas 1812 Style... (Part One)
As the snow falls in Ontario one week before Christmas, I am well aware how fortunate our community is to be miraculously by-passed by the over 100 cm of snow that literally caused a “State of Emergency” in many parts of Ontario! We have no accumulation of snow in Cobourg, even though the temperatures are averaging minus 10 degrees even before the chilly gusty winds are taken into consideration! I feel extremely fortunate to have a goose-down filled jacket and warm attire. Recently I volunteered at Lang Pioneer Village during their “Christmas by Candlelight”. This is a re-enactment of early 19th century Christmas in rural Ontario. From my research, it appeared to be difficult to function during the cold winter months and at Christmas, during this period of time, especially compared with the modern day conveniences we enjoy today! If we forget to gather a gift for our friends and family, we can just go “on-line” and purchase a “gift card”! A lot of us feel so stressed and rushed in today’s society, that I believe we forget to recognize the simple pleasures in life and perhaps the true meaning of Christmas. As I have been writing about the War of 1812 and the re-enactments of that period of time, I wondered what Christmas, during the period would be like. The hardships that we “think” we experience today, like crowded parking lots, long line-ups at convenient stores, options and choices galore, seem minimal compared to the hardships during the War! Did they even celebrate Christmas?

(To be continued)

War of 1812 Discovery Series (#6 - Continued)

by Judi McWilliams

Over the past few years the Festival Nomad and I have had wonderful experiences visiting War of 1812 Re-enactments around Ontario. We find these re-enactments amazing and extremely interesting! In this NEW War of 1812 Discovery Series, I want to share with you some of our experiences, while attempting to shed some light into the actual historic.

Beating of the War (Part Three)...
The terminology used in Drumming is complex. There are many stages in just preparing for drumming, each time you venture out. You need to “strap up your drum”. That is place the rim around your hip almost on your left side. You need to build up your muscles in your shoulders and back to be able to survive the day at a re-enactment (not to mention your sore feet)! You will need to learn how to hold the sticks correctly, learn how to let the sticks naturally rebound without being so stiff yourself. There are many terms used for drumming the sticks (as my sister said), such as double stroke roll, ruffs, flams, sextuplets, paradiddles. My sister, Carol, tells me that there is always the danger of your drum strap breaking and to quote her … “you end up hop, fling, drumming along. Loose a stick and get blisters double beating (hopefully you don’t get court marshalled when the flying stick hits the officer)”. There are specific names for the drills of sets of drumming such as Breakfast call, Reveille, Assembly, Drummer’s Call, Retreat and so many more. And don’t forget your “good posture”, a must for proper Military Etiquette. On a windy day, your posture might go right out to pasture! As my sister says … “just be sure you don't slip on the cow patty or horse poop”!