Duke of Gloucester Street

Colonial Williamsburg, Duke of Gloucester Street

Early American Farm

Before we left Yorktown Victory Center, we took a quick tour of the farm area. It was getting late, and the chickens had already made their way to the coop as we walked through the house, kitchen, and garden. Christian checked out the different games that they had set out in the home. Some of them are very familiar!

The house could have been for a family of 6-10 people; it was a single room downstairs, with a bed on one side and a table on the other. There was a ladder going up to a small loft, which likely held another bed (or two) (we didn't go up there).

The kids also got to take turns holding a yoke with two water buckets, which someone would have had to carry from the well multiple times a day.

They were heavy! I think Christian was surprised at how much they weighed. He also had to stand on his toes; his calves got a little workout!

From the well, we passed through the garden.

They liked the garden. Christian pointed out the kale right away (his favorite vegetable) (??).

As I was messing with the settings on the camera, they were already leaving the garden on the other side! I turned around and realized I was shut in on my side. Mike had to help me get out, and then I tracked the turkeys down. Christian was showing the girls the tobacco curing shed and crying out,"It smells so bad in there!" I didn't go in and check for myself. (Mike took this picture. My nose is, apparently, grateful.)

By this time, the sun was dropping below the trees, and as pink and purple streaks stained the sky, we headed to the car. It was time to leave, taking the stories of revolution with us. This really was an amazing time in the history of our country, and I'm so grateful that we have been able to learn even just a little about what it was like to live in, or be a soldier in, this area so long ago.

Public Humiliation? Not Quite...

Public shaming is apparently not a deterrent for these three.

They look entirely too pleased with themselves.

Insubordinate, Gambler, Plunderer...

Maybe they ought to be sent over to work with the washwomen.

Yorktown, 1781 (and 2012)

When I stop and think, really think, about the thirteen colonies that defied the greatest military power in the world at that time, and were victorious, I am overwhelmed.

Several years after the decisive victory at Yorktown, the Founding Fathers drew up the Constitution of the United States. The kids learned the Preamble last year, and sang it while General Washington held it out for them to see.

The Yorktown Encampment promised a great deal of excitement for us. Bearing a musket was just one of many thrills for the kids.

And not just the kids, either. Grandma wanted in on the musket action. As soon as she took up this weapon, the crowd cleared out.

And if you ask me, it looks like she's having a little too much fun with this gun.

The gentleman behind the fence finally had to take it away. She gave it up willingly enough. He was bigger than she, after all.

We were also able to witness the artillery crew fire a cannon. I took a video of that, and hopefully will be able to post it. It was loud.

We left the artillery area and made our way to the medical presentation. The young man there told us about some of the medicines and procedures they used back then for illnesses as well as wounds.

I just want to say, I'm very grateful for 21st century medicine. And pain-killers.

At one point, the "soldier" asked for a helper from those who were gathered around. Christian stood up to look at Mike and tell him to go up there, and the young man giving the presentation said,"All right! Come on over here!" Christian looked shocked, but he went over to the table with a grin on his face.

The young man told Christian that it was his (Christian's) job to be the surgeon. He (himself) had a musketball lodged in his person (his fist) and he needed Christian to get it out using the tools before him.

First Christian had to locate the ball, and then he had to try to grab onto it with the metal utensils.

He almost had it. Then it slipped out of the tong thingies.

Finally!

Then he told Christian he needed to do it again, but this time he couldn't use the tools.

Christian had to use his fingers!

He was laughing hysterically. I'm not sure, but I'm thinking medical school is not in his future.

He located the musketball quickly, and pulled it out fast too.

Young Revolutionary Soldier asked Christian which way was faster, and which way would he use next time. Christian replied that using his fingers was faster, but that he would use the surgical instruments next time.

Then the young man asked Christian if he had washed his hands before he operated on him. More laughing. Of course he had not washed his hands! So, even though the musketball was out, the soldier would likely die from an infection.

We had a good time at this presentation, and were thoroughly grossed out as well. The soldiers died more from illness and infection (like, in the mouth from a rotten tooth) than on the battlefield. In all seriousness, it is humbling and horrifying and sad to think about all that any of them went through, on either side.

We moved on from that area to look through the rest of the encampment. There was an officer's tent, with a uniform, writing materials, a map, dinner paraphernalia, a cot, and a desk. It really is hard to imagine life without all of the luxuries we take for granted. (Toilets?! Electricity?! Pens?! Toothpaste?!)

We gained insights into the Continental Army's days as we noted not only the obvious war-related objects, but also things like the games they may have played, and how they were cared for by women who washed laundry and cooked for them.

Games, laundry, cooking...some things don't change much over the years, do they? Stay tuned for a visit to the farm next...

Colonial Williamsburg, Cold and a Little Crunchy

Michaela had the map. And she looks like she had a mission, too.

I hadn't caught up with them yet, but they had decided from the beginning to head straight for the hot chocolate. 

It was colder than we anticipated! And I think it dropped ten degrees while we were walking down Duke of Gloucester Street. 

It was a great day to be in Colonial Williamsburg, though, because there were a large number of goode folke dressed in period clothing and willing to speak of their cause.

The kids thought it was fun to see the costumes, but they were very diligent in their pursuit of a warm beverage.

Along with our hot cocoa, we partook of some tasty baked goodies. We handed the kids their cookies, and also passed out Grandma and Grandpa's cookies. Grandma took a bite and cried out,"I saw Christian's chocolate chip cookie, and it looked so good that I picked one out, but I picked out the wrong kind! This is raisin! Blech!" She had already taken a bite. Grandpa said,"Well, I got raisin, too...," and he held up his cookie, still in the package. I could see that he had Grandma's chocolate chip cookie. I switched their cookies for them.

Grandma thought it was funny, but Grandpa was a little indignant that someone took a bite of his treat. (And didn't even like it.)

Once the dessert debacle was resolved, cookie-eating commenced again.

I must let you know, however, that Grandma was not completely satisfied. Her cookie was quite crunchy, more so than she would have liked it to be. She ate it anyway, because we know that "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit."

Little Eliana ate her giant cookie and held her lovely, warm hot chocolate and thawed out with the rest of us. 

After our treat, we made our way up the street so that the kids could put themselves in the stocks. 

Well, Eliana had a little help. I think they had a little too much fun with this. The idea of public humiliation was quite lost on them. 

In fact, they wanted me to continue to take pictures of them, but I had to stop because other people were waiting to stick their necks in the blocks. 

The temperature continued to drop, but that did not stop us from heading to the little market area.

Christian really wanted a gun, but alas, we had no way to get it home...our luggage would not accomodate a musket. 

And while Michaela admired the dresses, she understood that $80 is just too pricey for a new outfit (that she would outgrow in two months anyway!).

The kids were fun to watch, as they explored the market, and tried out the games that were set out.

We did end up buying a few things, which is a first for us (aside from hot chocolate and cookies). We are the proud owners of Shut the Box, a feather quill (is that redundant?), and some wooden dice. 

As the temperature was now lower than ever (not ever, ever, but since we arrived in Colonial Williamsburg), we headed back to the car. I took a picture of Michaela, and she informed me that was her cold face. 

I'll say. 

Everyone's hands were icy! We hurried down the street quickly, so that we could get back to our warm cottage!

The kids stayed busy with their new game 

and pen

for a good while. 

And Grandma and Grandpa caught up with us after a trip to one more store. She bought a couple of kinds of nuts, one of which was double chocolate dipped almonds. 

I believe it made up for the cookie.