Visit from French Flat Stanley

Welcome:  This is the wonderful visit Mike and Diana Stevens had from a French visitor to their camp and living history home at two festivals.
Flat Stanley arrived the Wednesday before the event called Koh-Koh-Mah.  About an hour and a half drive from home we set up camp to live as 18th Century people did in 1759. 
Mr. Stevens is the British Battle General, and Mrs. Stevens is his wife.  They demonstrate and live as people from the past for historical festivals and events. 
Koh-Koh-Mah was an American Indian that lived in the area that befriended the settlers.  The weekend event is named after him.
We set up camp and the first thing happened was that Flat Stanley had to explore everything.

The first thing he did was check out the brass candle chandelier hanging in the tent.  He could not resist jumpin up and hanging on.

Here is Mrs. Stevens standing near some French troops.  The ones on the left of the picture are part of a Fife and Drum Corps.  The ones on the right are the guard troups for the French Marine Fife group.

Flat Stanley went in search of any small soldiers like himself.  The only one he found was sitting on a shelf waiting for a little child to claim him. 

Flat Stanley saw the troops heading to opening flag ceremony. 

Here come the British Americans.  They carry black powder guns to help defend the area.

Here is Mr. Stevens inspecting the Scottish troops.  He is on the left in front of the men.

Here comes the French Battle Commander at the head of the French Troops!

These are the French uniforms worn by the Artillary group

                                      The ones in blue breeches are French Marines.  Very fierce fighters.

In one of the trader's tents, Flat Stanley found a chair and some doll beds for sale.  A little bit big?

At the festivals there is usually a demonstration of they type of battle that was done in 1750s.
this is the stockade that was defended.

Colonel Stevens gives his commands from behind the stockade.  They are going to advance on the French Troops.

The little boy is Mr. Steven's grandson, Joey.  He is with the cannon commander, waiting to run back to the Colonel with a message.  He is 10 years old and this is his first reenactment event.  As you can see his clothes are a bit large for him, and his kilt is slipping down.  He will learn how to wear a wrapped kilt with practice.  He had fun.  Only children who are 16 and have taken a gun safety class can be on the battlefield with a musket and pretend to fire at the enemy.  Since Joey is only 10 he only has his small sword as protection as he is still learning how to protect himself  with that.

Oh, no.  A soldier has been hit by the French musket men.  The "dead soldier" is really Mrs. Stevens' daughter dressed up as a soldier.  It means her gun did not fire properly, and so she has to play dead until the end of the demonstration battle.

Here the men have put on their bayonets on the end of the guns, and are going to push the French off of the field.  The side that is still on the field is the "winner".  In this battle the French were pushed Northward, and eventually ended up in Canada.

Flat Stanley met a really big dog.  A Newfoundland dog.  He is rescue dog that helped to find and pull people out of lakes.  He weighs more than Mr. Stevens does!   Flat Stanley got a ride!  When the dog heard the drums and fifes he tried to hide under Mrs. Stevens' skirt.  He did not like the music!

This is a picture of the Fife and Drum Corps, commanded by a French soldier.  Music was very important during battle.  Commands could be given with the drums and fifes to move the men around the battle field.

I think Flat Stanley would like a uniform like the commander's with a pretty white wig.  What do you think?



The battle is over and the French and the British commanders have a meeting and the French General agrees to move out of the area and go "North".  This is what really happened in 1791 at this site.  A town grew up around it, and was named Lafayette in honor of a general from France who helped the Americans in the Revolutionary War in 1770's.

These two ladies are friends of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens.  Tricia is wearing the blue beaded necklace. The lady in the red bodice is Mrs. Stevens' daugher Julie.  Julie has changed from being a soldier into an old outfit of Mrs. Stevens and is ready for the after hours dance that will take place in the arena where the battle demonstration was held.  The French voyagers will hold a "paddle dance".  There will be other line dances and even a waltz.

Thank you for sending Flat Stanley to me to visit.  We will pack him up and send him back tomorrow.  Today is a Holiday in the USA, so there is no mail service.  We celebrate Columbus Day.  Columbus was one of the main finders of  America, and we get a day of vacation..paid.  Yeah.

Mike and Diana Stevens

Danville Indiana

2010