Colonial Williamsburg has outdone themselves with special programming this past weekend, for a historic reenactment called "Under the Redcoat".  We got to spend the entire weekend in CW, participating in memorable events. My children were stopped by the Redcoats at one of the checkpoints and nearly arrested!   The looks on their faces were priceless. My husband says the looks on my face were priceless.  We got to meet the British soldier who wears a green coat.  Then we got to meet our favorite actor, as himself, for the first time.  While watching an incredibly riveting scene of the British officers scheming how to outmanuever General Lafayette, a squirrel made an impromptu appearance, literally dropping in and crashing leaves on Benedict Arnold.  Additionally I "befriended" one of the Redcoats and obtained "secret papers" of their schedule.  It's fun being a spy for the Continental Army!  Additionally, I got to speak my mind towards a few Redcoats!     

     "Under the Redcoat" is a yearly reenactment of the events of June 25-July 4, 1781, the final summer of the American Revolution. During this time, the Redcoats entered Williamsburg, putting the citizens under martial law. General Cornwallis and the turncoat, Benedict Arnold, were in town at this time. To reenact the event, British army reenactors from across the country arrive in Colonial Williamsburg. New to this year's event, Revolution City significantly tweaked it's schedule with new scenes to bring history alive about life "Under the Redcoats".

     A couple of weeks ago the official programming came out.  Guests entering the city needed to be prepared to sign an oath of allegiance to the king. (gulp)  When I relayed this information to my family, there were simultaneous exclamations of shock, excitement, disbelief, and denial. Knowing this is merely a reenactment, we were excited to play, yet mixed into our emotions was the struggle on how to remain faithful to our heroes, Generals Washington and Lafayette. Suddenly, pages we have read in history books and historical fiction and scenes played out on the screen, took on new meaning as we wrestled with how to accomdate being "Under the Redcoat," while retaining our loyalties to the patriotic cause.     

     A friend suggested that we act loyal to the British, while actually using my son's idea of being spies for Washington and Lafayette.  My son schemed that I should take him to Mount Vernon to get one of the invisible ink pens to sign the oath. I told him the Redcoats would not recognize that writing implement, likely forcing us to sign with quill and ink. Then my son planned on changing his name, or even writing his name extraordinarily small.  My husband absolutely refused to sign any oath.  He'd stand all day at the checkpoint first, standing on principles of liberty. (Remember he served in the USAF for 24 years. He was taught to do this if the enemy really did catch him.  This became real to him.  He also enjoys talking to people whereas I have a drive to conquer new events.)  I, myself, did not mind playing with the Redcoats, but if there was a scheduled event to attend, I was signing papers and going in as a spy. 

     After arriving in CW, we walked over to the encampment, where the Redcoats were setting up their tents. 

Actually camping in Market Square overnight, we watched them pitch the tents, dig fire pits

and start dinner.

Entire families were there, reenacting as well. 

     Unfortunately, we had to miss the previous events beginning "Under the Redcoat", while waiting for my husband to get off work so we could drive down to CW.  The usual schedule for Revolutionary City was slightly altered on Friday. Typically on Friday, the RC programs include Benedict Arnold taking the town in the summer 1781 and ends with Prelude to Victory, when Generals Washington and Lafayette arrive later. Because this timeframe of June 25-July 4, 1781 was being reenacted the entire weekend, RC ended with  Benedict Arnold arriving in town.  Then, according to the schedule, at 3pm the Provost Guard marched in to town to set up camp. They were still setting up camp by the time we arrived.

     Whereas the actual army was camped outside of town, the Provost Guard was a smaller group that arrived to restore order to the town. When one of the Redcoats told me this, I questioned the term "restore order."  Weren't the citizens orderly before the Redcoats arrived? For one the Redcoats required the citizens to sign an oath of allegiance to the king.  That was the next scene we missed on Friday afternoon, when the citizens of the town discoursed on the consequences of the arrival of the Redcoats. 

     We ate dinner at Chownings Tavern, and to our surprise we were joined by some Redcoats.  Even in 1781, some would have eaten in the encampment and others would have eaten in the tavern. Enjoying good food and entertainment, all the while, we kept a watchful eye on the Redcoats (seated at the table behind my son).

That night, all was well. Yet life would soon be very different, as we would see over the weekend.