The Long Hunter's Journal
The newsletter for the Utah ALRA
Grant Davis, Lieutenant
James Chandler, Sergeant-at-arms
Rex Ward, Scribe
July 2004
Lieutenant's Message:
It was nice to get away to the Uinta camp and spend some quality time in the mountains. I believe an enjoyable time was had by those that attended. I want to thank Rex and Marsha Ward for their work they put into the Tooele parade and thanks also to those who participated. I was approached by a gentleman at work the other day to tell me that he had seen us in the parade and how great we looked. I am looking forward to Fort Bridger and the chance to see many of you.
August Meeting:
The August meeting will be a natural dying workshop and will be held Saturday, August 7, 2004. Please purchase any fabric that you might want to experiment dying and bring it with you to the meeting. This is meant to be a hands on work shop. We will prepare and experiment with a number of natural dyes to see what outcomes we achieve. The dye vats will be available for those who wish to leave fabric in the dye or return to dye other fabric. The Lieutenant claims to be no expert at natural dyes. Research is being done, but input from anyone with experience will be appreciated. It will be held at the Lieutenants home at 1083 N 300 E, Layton, Utah. A map is located below this paragraph. A Dutch oven brunch will be served at 10:00a.m. so come hungry. Men please invite your wives. This may be of interest to them even if they aren't interested in living history.
June Camp Report:
A good time was had by those in attendance at the June Uinta camp. Most arrived early Thursday afternoon. The Lieutenant had to hack his way through a foot thick aspen tree before he could complete his journey to camp. Those attending were Terry Pendley, Kirk Davis, John McCann, Steve Gish, James Chandler, and Grant Davis. Leon Roberts, Crystal Frazier and Jenny Frazier visited on Saturday. We enjoyed shooting both Friday and Saturday mornings. Crystal and Jenny Frazier got some great shooting lessons from Terry Pendley. Just give them a little time and they will be giving us a run for our money! Several of us took a jaunt through the woods on Friday. We were in search of a beaver pond seen on the map, but we were unable to locate it. Many fine meals were fixed around the fire including roast Cornish game hens, red beans & rice, and roast leg of lamb. -Grant
July 4th Report:
The Utah ALRA marched in the Tooele parade again on the 4th of July. Helping out were of course Rex & Marsha Ward along with Gregg Hansen and various family members, Scott Mendenhall and Wife, Mike and Emmaline (sp?) Mendenhall and kids (who were a big hit being pushed by dad in Gregg's 18th century wheel barrow), Maria and Crystal Frazier, Trent Isaacson, and Grant and Kimberly Davis. We fired about 20 shots and got some pretty vibrant cheers from our growing fan club! They lengthened the parade route this year which was good for spectators, but grueling for the participants. At least the weather was cooler this year than last year. -Grant
For Sale:
Jeff Gerke has decided to leave the reenacting hobby to devote more time to some of his other pursuits. He has his Isaac Haines .54 cal Lancaster built by John McCann up for sale. It was finished just a few months ago and has had about 15 rounds fired through it. It is an early Isaac Haines Lancaster in the John Bivins pattern, it has an exception curly maple stock, 38" swamped .54 caliber barrel (I believe it is a Getz), early two piece brass patch box, brass nose cap, all brass furniture, single trigger, large siler lock, and moderate engraving on the patch box. It also has carving behind the check piece, at the wrist, and on the fore stock. If you would like to see pictures of it, it is on the website under the member crafts section. He will sell it to someone here locally for $1,100 which is a real steal. Also included are a stainless steel cleaning rod with attachments, approx. 50 hand cast round balls, and a couple of flints. If you are interested contact Jeff at jgerke@azteca.com
From the Primary Sources:
While at the Uinta Camp I was wearing a silk scarf on my head during the hot afternoon hours. John McCann asked me if I had documentation for the wearing of a scarf on the head in place of hat and I had to say "ahhhhh....duh....NO!" From what I was able to find it seems that the head scarf would only be the replacement for a hat in special situations. Here are some of the references I found. -Grant
“America Rebels” Narratives of the Patriots. Edited, with an introduction, by Richard M. Dorson. 1953. Pantheon Books: New York
From the narrative of Thomas Andros (1759-1845) Andros escaped from the prison ship the Jersey and traveled through New York . Page 99. “I had lost my hat overboard, when in the old Jersey, and had thenceforward to cover my head with a handkerchief. I deemed it a calamity at the time, but as an act of Providence the mystery now began to be unfolded. Having no hat but a handkerchief about my head helped to deceive the dragoons, and cause them to think I was the cottager who owned that cornfield.”
Page 104: “ The fact was, as I soon found, this was a detachment of horse and foot going out on the Island for forage to be conveyed to the army at New York, and doubtless he supposed me to be some person, a wagoner perhaps, attached to it. And here again I found the great advantage of losing my hat. Having a handkerchief tied about my head helped on the deception.”
Page 106: “But what a blessed thing it was I had lost my hat. The old dirty handkerchief about my head saved me again. From this appearance, taking me to the master of the house nearby…”
From Drapers "King's Mountain and its Heroes":
Page 245: "Many of the men threw aside their hats, tying handkerchiefs around their heads, so as to be less retarded by limbs and bushes when dashing un the mountain"
From "Their Bering is Noble and Proud"
Page 81: Oliver Spencer describing Simon Girty in 1792 "and his silk handkerchief, while it supplied the place of a hat, hid an unsightly wound in his forehead"
