On this day September 17, 1787

By Scott Bartlett:

Yore Performers

Did you know? On this day, September 17, 1787 - forty-two of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting. Only one item of business occupied the agenda that day, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America.

Eight myths about the Constitution

Only 5 men signed both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. One of them was Benjamin Franklin. (National Archives Identifier 532849)

Constitution Day is September 17. We’ve got events, programs, and activities at National Archives locations across the United States.

Read the article:  

http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=12851

The Star-Spangled Banner

From Scott Bartlett of Yore Performers:

Did you know? On this day, September 14, 1814 - Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner," a poem originally known as "Defense of Fort McHenry," after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, MD, during the War of 1812. The song became the official U.S. national anthem on March 3, 1931.

Scott Bartlett Another interesting fact is that his grandson was a newspaper editor, who was arrested because his paper published anti-Lincoln articles about Lincoln's unconstitutional actions during the beginning of the Civil War. He was wished away and imprisoned at Fort McHenry on the same anniversary that his grandfather saw the attack on Fort McHenry and was inspired to write what would later become the Star-Spangled Banner. His grandson wrote a book about his unlawful imprisonment (because their was no warrant for his arrest, he never stood trial, and was later just released after months of imprisonment) and mentioned the irony of his initial arrest on that day and his prison.

The Phoenix Rising School Civil War Event:

We went to The Phoenix Rising School Living History presentation of their Civil War Event, Saturday.  Dozens of people were dressed in 1800's attire.  Parents and children alike were mesmerized by the performances and museum pieces that brought American history to life in Rainier, WA. 

The event will continue tomorrow, so check it out!  You don't want to miss it!

  

 Bagpipe Band:

The calm before the reenactment:

 (Above:  Scott Bartlett in center of picture.)

 This lady told us about all of the clothing a lady in the 1800's was required to wear, starting with her socks & split pantaloons.  In the last pictures, you will see her help dress Abby in the clothing of the Civil War era.  It took a few minutes to dress her.  Now I know why the ladies in Downton Abbey needed a ladies maid!

Olympia Bagpipe Band:

The reenactment: 

 Soldier encampment:

Good Union soldiers - line up to shoot:

The Confederate soldiers line up behind the fence in the coral:

READY, AIM...... FIRE!!!!

Attending to the wounded: 

Man down!

Confederate soldiers move out to follow the Union soldiers: 

Sneak peak in a confederate tent:

A tent held up with forked branches found on site:

Ammunition boxes & rifle:

Another Confederate campsite:

Flags flying in the wind:

Arsenal table:

"Dressing up" in Civil War era clothing was more involved than Abby realized.  First she had to put on socks, pantaloons, a chamese, corset, then a hoop skirt and several petticoats, followed by a long blouse, skirt, jacket and hat.  A blouse was considered an "under garment."  Dressing the way we do today would have gotten us arrested in the 1900's

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 Below:  Abby is almost finished being dressed.  She still needs a coat & hat.  Oh, my!