Hope Lodge

The Jagers were at Hope Lodge this weekend. I am so happy to see more people attending events and my unit is getting bigger. I miss reenacting. I miss the smells and sights and people. 

I'd talk about Hope Lodge if I wasn't so tired from work. But do check out their website! 

They'll tell you all about it.

Registration starts for spring semester tomorrow and I don't even have all of my residency stuff together because my life has been up in the air for the pass 3 months. I just wish that I will be happy soon.

Black Forest, Germany

It's 1784 and I'm drunk

Found from a reenacting friend! This picture is Jagers from 1784. Beautiful.

 Google translate worked pretty well! 

History

1631 first Hessian fighter units in the Thirty Years' War

1688 formation of a Jägertruppe (one company hunters on foot and on horseback ) , but it was finally the resolution

1758 Neustiftung

Dissolved in 1763 to huntsman (15 man)

1774-1784 set up again , then released

1786 reorganization as a Rifle Corps

1799 Rifle Battalion

1806 leave of absence

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Organization

1758 only 2 (about 200 men ) , then 6 companies (about 600 men )

1759 Hunters get 2 own artillery

Rifle Corps in 1786 with 1 Company

1787 4 companies

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Chefs

commanders

1758 Major W. Treusch Buttlar

1759 Lieutenant Colonel of Lindau (Last Colonel , 1761 fallen)

1761-1781 Major of Wintzigerode (Last Colonel )

Staff officers in 1760

Commander : Colonel von Lindau

Major knowledge of Bach

Staff officers in 1762

Commander : Major of Wintzigerode

Major of Linsing

Company commander in May 1762

Hunters on foot

1.Kompanie : Major of Linsing

2nd company : Captain Schenck

3.Kompanie : Captain of Wurmb

4.Kompanie : Captain of Bentheim

Hunters on horseback

1.Kompanie : Major of Wintzigerode

2nd company : Captain of steel

Company commander in the Revolutionary War

1.Kompanie : Ecadron or Cavalry, in use from April 1777

2nd company : Captain John Ewald

3.Kompanie : Major Ernst Karl of Prueschenck (Last Lieutenant Colonel ) , in use from April 1777

4.Kompanie : Captain August von Wrede, from August 1776 Colonel Karl Emil von Donop , from April 1777 Captain A. von Wrede, from May 1779 Captain of Rough, vacant from August , 1781, Captain John Henry 1783

5.Kompanie : Captain Frederick Henrich Lorey , from November 1780 Staff Captain Karl Moritz von Donop ( last captain ), from December 1777 in use

6.Kompanie : Major Philip of Wurmb , in use from December 1777

Hessians in Literature: Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving published the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1820. I was able to read it for free on my phone. This is one of the books that you can grab online with a ton of other pieces of old, classical literature. This is one of Irving's short stories. It's charming, descriptive, and short. Duh... after work tiredness, can't blame me.

I am personally not a fan of modern Sleepy Hollow spin offs. While Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow was a fun and creative movie, it by all means did not serve much homage to Irving. Sorry, I just can't help it as an English major. I wrote an entire paper basically explaining why the movie sucked.

The Hessian in Irving's work is a nameless trooper, who unfortunately had his head knocked off in an unknown Revolutionary War battle. While I don't want to give away Irving's story (it actually is very different from all of the movies, etc), his work revolves more around his character's personalities. Ichabod Crane certainly is a one of a kind major. I guess I can spoil a bit: Unreliable narrator. *Cough*

Irving's work mostly had me hooked because of his descriptions. I enjoyed his characters. They were pretty dimensional for their time period. What I liked the most was the descriptions of New York. Sleepy Hollow / Tarrytown was a half an hour drive south or so from where I lived. While I have never been there, I am familiar with the New York state landscapes and forests, mountains and rivers. Irving brought me back there, at least for a little while. 

Our headless friend was probably based off of German folklore about "The Wild Huntsman", a phantom who was sometimes missing his head.

Around 1776, the British occupied south of the Bronx river, and Americans situated themselves in Peekskill. Apparently, some Jagers were apart of some of the skirmishes. It was actually reported that a Jager's headless body was found after a battle and was buried in a grave by the Van Tassel family. Though, the body was found in White Plains, New York, which is 9 miles from Sleepy Hollow. Ironically enough, an American general, William Heath wrote about a defense on Halloween: 

"A shot from the American cannon at this place took off the head of a Hessian artillery-man. They also left one of the artillery horses dead on the field. What other loss they sustained was not known"

History is pretty cool.

Sights to See

Today, I feel like posting a piece of art.

This German double barrel flintlock rifle has a carved stock and gold inlaid barrels. It is marked "Gottfr Kreisler and Weigandt in Leipzig"

Tiger Balm & You!

Tiger balm. So cool, licked with menthol. Tiger balm.

My friend Heather! really wanted to know what tiger balm was because I mentioned using it due to work related pains. I didn't know what tiger balm was either, until I tore a back muscle by reaching for something. So lame. Heimerich bought tiger balm for me. Despite the foreign looking packaging, you can find this stuff in any drugstore-- CVS, Rite Aid, etc. Ask the pharmacists if you can't find it! 

This stuff does have a really cool history though. In 1870, there was a herbalist in Burma who developed tiger balm, but asked his 2 sons to complete the product while he was on his death bed.

These sons, the Aw brothers, promoted the finalized product. Tiger balm is named after one of the sons, Aw Boon Haw, whose name was tiger in Chinese. 

Now that you know... people have been using this stuff for ages! Use it for headaches, torn muscles, soreness, back, shoulders... anything you could probably think of, tiger balm will feel pretty good. 

To quote the ingredients on my jar:

menthol, camphor, demontholised mint oil, cajuput oil, clove bud oil, and cassia oil.

How to Chase Off Work Stress

Work can be terrible for some of us. Especially for some of us stuck in the dull retail world. I've developed some rituals to keep me sane after some odd hours of having no customers...

Do something fun on break

 Do something. Cigarette breaks still give you free time to think. Bring a game or read a good book-- do something that makes you look forward to break.

Bring lots of water

People may think to grab a coffee to chase off tiredness, but the afternoon slump can be fought off better if you keep hydrated. Coffee will just dehydrate you in the long run.

Chores

Keep chores spread out and share them if you live with someone. Keep the cleaning upkeep so it doesn't just pile up on you. Do the same with bills-- try paying some a few days ahead of time so the due dates won't sneak up. You don't need to come home after a long day and find that your internet or electric is out.

For Me?

Buy yourself something small and cheap on a daily basis, but don't over do it. Just keep this tip in handy for when you really need the extra motivation. Don't go crazy either. Sometimes I will buy an on sale Revlon lipstick from the Dollar General in the mall for 2.99.

More Bang for your time

Get comfortable ASAP when you get home... a no brainer. But this definitely let's you enjoy your max amount of time at home. For me, it's undressing, putting a heating pad on (tore a back muscle recently) and doing something fun. 

If you live somewhere temperate or warm, especially for the winter, go outside in the sun as much as possible. Go outside on breaks as well. On my off days, I always try to reserve a day to go to the beach with Heimerich for a few hours. 

Scent Chips are Good

See these guys? These are scent chips and they are a lot better than candles. I was more than excited when I splurged and got the Bath and Body works candles and they turned out not to release that much smell. And well, I've been talking about smells a lot because my apartment unfortunately smells like hallway sometimes. The candles didn't cut it. They smelled great if I sticked my nose right to them, but they didn't really help make the living room smell better. My condo is only maybe 500 something to 600 something sq ft. And the living room is pretty small. So I went back to the scent chips store near me and got a box (11.00 something odd dollars) of Pumpkin Spice. This stuff is more powerful and a lot more relaxing. Plus, you just make a one time buy for a burner. There's A LOT of flavors for Christmas, I'm really going to have a hard time picking my scents, haha! Seriously, try scent chips instead of candles. There's a lot more combinations than the example pictures about, and just think that you can mix smells too.

Bloody Hessian Lake

Back from when I resided in New York State, my Dad and I visited Bear Mountain State Park. 

It was so beautiful. The air was so crisp and the colors on the trees were like nothing else that I'd ever seen. Not to mention, this was a biiiiig lake. 

Of course, something so peaceful and beautiful has a somewhat chilling past. 

Hessian Lake was originally named Highland Lake, with the side nickname as Bloody Lake. This huge lake sits on the bottom of Bear Mountain, and on October 6, 1777, 2000 Tories, English and Hessian troops left Stony Point, NY and marched towards Bear Mountain. This overall force was split into 2, and the other half with General Vaughn and Sir Henry Clinton took a very narrow pass. Stuck between the lake and the steep Hudson bank-- here, Hessians were met by a strong American outpost. As they were positioned in the front, the Hessians took one of the largest casualties. 250 men died and their bodies were let go into the lake. Accounts from witnesses recall that the lake turned a bloody red with the Hessian's blood for days after. 

Who knew that such a beautiful lake would have such a terrifying history, but at least the Hessians had a peaceful resting place for ages to come. Prepare for more chilling related posts as Halloween comes closer! I can't lie, Halloween is hands down, my favorite holiday.

Fall, Fall, Fall in Florida

Leaves, cold air, fires, etc. Up north is celebrating fall while Florida still continues it's thing. Fall for Florida is a wonderful thing. We don't have the changing of seasons, but the temps have went from the upper 90s to a comfortable low 82/84 degrees and it looks like it will be staying this way for a while. Most Floridians celebrate with the beach, sunsets and a good beer. 

Now that I have found myself a job (took me 3 months! Heimerich is still looking...) I decided to treat myself and my condo. Today I bought 3 candles from Bath and Body Works. 

Behold Nutmeg & Spice No. 1, Cranberry Woods and Sweet Cinnamon pumpkin. Right now you can get 3 mini candles for 10$. Yeah, Bath and Body works is kind of expensive, but you pay for the name. If anyone is looking to treat themselves with some good aroma therapy, these are worth the splurge. I decided to save the pumpkin one for Halloween-- this one smells the sweetest and most tempting of all 3. I decided to burn Cranberry Woods first! As a girl who was born and raised in New Jersey, I grew up very close to Double Trouble park. One of my favorite times of the year was to visit the cranberry harvest. Though the cranberry harvest didn't smell, all of the vivid colors made you imagine a smell. This candle is probably a spot on representation and brings me back to a crisp, fall day in the woods in New Jersey. Boy, do I miss it. If you want to treat yourself, go for this! 

A fine line with Campfollowers

Even Captain Ewald himself couldn't resist commenting on the Jagers. 

"...2 Anspach Regiments each of 600 men, and a Jager company of 116. The recruits for both companies consisted of a few adventurers and experienced Jagers, and they were generally fine looking men... The Anspach Jager Company, consisting of skilled forestry Jagers who were the handsomest young men one could imagine, also arrived here." 

Sometimes, history does point to Jager units sitting on an opposite end of a spectrum. Larger Hessian units were made of a hodge-podge of men, many of lower society. It is so difficult to find research that mentions women of the Jagers specifically. What's a girl to do? 

My search will be on going... as usual. 

There's always room for improving impressions historically speaking. 

I do believe that I miss everything about my Jager family.

Captured!

To modern day, there is a strip of land that once had makeshifts and huts overlooking the town. This place would be known as "The Hessian Camp". According to a journal written from a Johann Bense in a Brunswick unit, the Germans were tempted several times with chances of freedom. One option was to give 80 silver talers as a ransom. If he didn't have the money? Well, if a civilian decided to pay the money for him, that lucky or unlucky Hessian could expect to work for that person for 3 years. 

(A replica hut that probably looked like what they stayed in)

The second option was to join the American Army and get 8 talers as a thanks. After the end of the war, they were to be given 100 acres of land. 

Because the Hessians did not join the American Army, they were treated badly. There was not enough room and many men had to lay in the open, in any sort of weather. 

How much is really known about the camp in Reading? Not much. Modern photos reveal what is left today. 

Happy 4th

I spent my 4th of July in Cape Canaveral. It has been a wonderful break away from things, as well as some bad news for me. I got my associates degree in Maryland, and apparently Florida's transfer guidelines are more than what I have. 

I only completed 62 credits with two Ds, meanwhile Florida universities do not accept Ds and require 67 credits. I was not prepared to return to community college, especially after the age of 22. Today is a really picky and hard to deal with day for me. I am still glad to be moving to Florida, but this news is going to have me feeling down for a while.

Goodbye Stranger

On Sunday, Heimerich and I returned his gear to our unit commander. It was a good day spent in my home state. Before returning his gear, I took a picture because I'd love to have a portraiture necklace made as a souvenir for the happy 8 years of Revolutionary War reenacting I was in. There is a small running joke that the green ribbon in Heimerich's coat had become a "unit heirloom". It was something I gave to him 3 or 4 years ago, when he joined the hobby and it had made an appearance at every event. Heimerich took the ribbon off of his coat, but I'm not sure what he is going to make of it. 

On Wednesday, I'll be in Florida to start my apartment search.

Some Rev. War Oddity

I think because the WW2 reenacting scene is filled with younger people, there is generally more enthusiasm. A great deal of people who are young in the WW2 hobby sometimes put more effort into researching their impression, adding some extra "oomph", and actually "acting" while in the battlefield. This does include over dramatic deaths. 

Now that I recall, in all of my 8 years of reenacting, I haven't seen any one actually act. Its called reen-acting for a reason... right? At any of the battles. I've seen commanders leading their unit with balloons tied to their back, but I've never seen anyone yet to get really fun. I think if the young crowd came into Revolutionary War reenacting, there would be fake arms flying in the air, blood packs hidden under the sleeves of clothing, and some great screams. 

So you can imagine, that when I saw Heimerich screaming and hobbling over from at a great distance, I was 99% convinced that he had actually twisted his ankle or broke something out on the field. Sweat tickled my forehead. "Is that guy joking?" I looked to the spectator next to me and we both seemed to be dazed. It wasn't until a few moments, Heimerich got closer and I sighed. If it was a WW2 reenactment, I probably wouldn't have paid any mind to this at all! I was wondering why Heimerich and our Feldjager friend instantly got up though. (When you die, you're suppose to stay down. 

Reality, you know? At least until the battle is over and the dead rises.) Apparently a calvary rider had told them to get out of the way. No room for fun, right?

Mutiny for Ansbach-Bayreuth

Ansbach-Bayreuth Regiment

Troops Marching out of Ansbach

In 1777, on the 10th of March, the Ansbach and Bayreuth regiments had a bit of a spat. Fueled by alcohol and anger (homesickness, did not want to be in the army, conditions), a group of Ansbach Hessians disembarked the ship and refused to leave their spot. The Jager Corps were ordered to take a post on some heights and fire shots to intimidate the rebels. Fire was returned, and some rebels were wounded in their legs. This lasted for about two hours, and in the process the city was blocked off and drawbridges were raised. In his diary, Private Dohla says that because of this incident, there was a great antipathy between them and the Jagers, which even continued until after the war. 

Warning: Do Not Mix Hessians with Heat

Many new camp followers and soldiers alike didn't really understand why the "veteran" reenactors were telling them why they were so lucky. The Battle of Monmouth is infamous for hot weather, humidity and sun-- all which are a reenactor's worst friend. The heat during previous events have caused heat exhaustion, sickness, and even some of the horses to collapse during battle. Reenactors don't joke around when it is a hot Monmouth. Commanders tripple check that everyone has a full canteen, and extra bottles of water hidden away.

 So, you can bet that everyone was thankful and pleasantly surprised that the hottest temperature lingered around a still cool 80s with some wind and partly cloudiness. 

The Hessians, however, never faired well when it came to the hot weather. Though the Hessians were nearly afraid and both fascinated by many things on their journey to America, the oppressive heat was something that some soldiers could not over come. 

Not only does this one little factoid help us understand how unacclimated the Hessians were to the weather here. Many Hessian diaries make notes of some of the first deaths in America. Johann Döhla's diary briefly mentions soldiers dying during or after some of their first marches. Another diary of the Grenadier Battalion von Minnigerode mentioned that the Anspach regiments had said that they had displayed their inability to march. When the English and Hessians were evacuating Philadelphia, meny men were killed by sunstroke. Alongside the heat, the mosquitos in New Jersey had made some of the soldier's faces swell pass the point of recognition. On June 25th, nearly a third of Hessians had been overcome by the heat, and just lay by the roadside. There were many deserters that day.

Luckily reenactments are another story. The Hessians now have good ways.

Battle of Monmouth 2013

I came back from a wonderful weekend at the Battle of Monmouth. It was just as beautiful as I remembered it. The sunrises, hazy sunsets, and romantic glow. I have plenty of pictures, and new things that I learned so I can share later with everyone. My sore legs still need rest, and my eyes still have lines under them for at least the next day or two. I took plenty of pictures to use along side blog posts for the future, even when I move. Heimerich and I decided that when we moved and got stable jobs, one day we will save our money to make it to Monmouth by driving or flying. I knew I would have to make trips back up north to be with my Jager family. 

I don't want to spoil the pictures, but I will at least share one more. 

Things to Pack to Monmouth (Part 1)

Heimerich and I will be going to the Battle of Monmouth. 

Usually I put packing things into categories... kind of like this: 

- Reenacting Clothes/Things

- Modern Clothes

-My make up, etc

While the Reenacting clothes part will be a completely dedicated post, this one I'll just briefly mention what I bring to for a reenactment weekend. Some number 1 items are drier sheets and baking soda... Drier sheets are to keep insects and mosquitos away, and the baking soda is meant to deter ants away from our tent. Instead of being smart and bringing items like bug spray relief, because Heimerich and i are in our 20s, a pack of beer or 2 will be a lot more useful in the long run. 

As for modern clothes, I'll bring 2 outfits. Depending on my mood when we visit the camp on the set up day, Friday, I will show up in normal clothes-- this is a lot better to wear when driving. A bathing suit is an awesome thing to bring because there is a shower!  I bring at least 3 bras because no one wants to sit around in disgusting summer worn clothes.

If planning on drinking massive quantities of beer, I will bring some snacks specifically for Heimerich and I to steer the "drunkshies" away. There will also be massive quantities of water.

As for my side of things, being very face conscience and girly, I like to hug the modern feminine side of things throughout the weekend. Simple things like not being able to live without some sort of chapstick. I will bring all of my over night face things, like Queen Juliep's Mint mask, something to put on my face to keep oil away until morning. Bobby pins are a plenty... my favorite hair brush... and a very good toner. My face will break out if I do not take care of it at an event. An easy way to avoid this is to use a toner, at least for me.

Food

If it is anything that the Feldjagers can and will always do 100% right, its making some banging' food! At larger events, we love to get together and eat. Isn't that what part of being a family is all about? One of the members who joined about the same time I did, Joe, is in charge of this year's cooking at our weekend at the Battle of Monmouth in NJ.

This is Joe, he is one of the nicest people I know!

Joe decided to make a beef and mixed vegetable stew/slow cook. The second dish is diced chicken with peppers. Why diced? Because of the number of people attending, dicing chicken will feed more than several not-diced chicken breast.

The third dish will be a vegetable heavy stew/soup, probably with a thinner broth. Joe says that the first dish and the third dish are "very period" (period meaning historically accurate/during the time frame).

Simple meat cuts and root veggies were both common and inexpensive food options of the time. Joe explained to me that the actual cooking process will be unique. He will be using 3 cooking pots, which are all essentially slow cookers. With camp fire cooking, there are 2 basic formats. Either using a fire or coals (wood burned to the point where it is coal). The biggest problem with using fire is that it tends to be very uneven. 

Coal is usually the best option, but in order to make natural coals, the fire needs to burn hot and fast, to build up the coals. The fire also needs to be started about 2 hours beforehand. Joe will probably use semi-period charcoal at the event.

Bonding

The last tail end of April has been really rough on me... that is a kind understatement. Recently, Heinerich and I had one of our worst "fall outs" to come. Dealing with the healing process has been really hard, but we're doing it together and still plan on moving to Florida to live together. We attended a fun WW2 event in PA 2 weeks ago (or so), and it drew us together again. It was a good kick off weekend to get things back on track, and no better way for a reenacting couple to heal together (hunny covering my back with an MG). Point being, never stop doing what you love, an age old saying, right? Never stop doing what you love and take advantage of your hobbies and talents and take extra advantage if you're a reenactor who finds another special reenactor. It was a wonderful weekend to remind ourselves why and how we fell in love and it is something that a couple should do together as much as possible. I hope to continue reenacting in Florida as much as possible to retain that kindle between Heinerich and I, but, I know we will always have our late night history talk sessions. 

I am getting my associates degree in about 23 days. I'll try to post something more Hessian Prince related next time, and soon! As for now, I will break to post some pictures of the WW2 reenactment for curious people. 

I have been wondering if I should start a WW2 blog alongside this one-- they could be sisters!

Heinerich in the heat of battle

Me and my mosin nagant 

Though I surrendered because I got caught reenactment-tactically...

realistically and reenactment-tactically, I killed one man in a few seconds straight on and the other 4 would have been gone in Heinerich's mg fire behind me. Oh well, boys play dirty and we need to make the battle scenes last for the public. 

Hopefully something more Revolutionary War appropriate next time.

Jager Campfollowers

Although I'm leaving soon, it is so heart warming to see more campfollowers in the unit! This was at the Battle of Bound Brook this weekend. I was finished a Literature paper and attended a WW2 reenactment that was a bit closer for the afternoon. The WW2 event was a small, nice break, and I attended as a photographer for a few hours. It looks like I missed out on a ton of fun though!

My Prince

There's someone important who I've indirectly mentioned a bunch...

 but haven't introduced formally!

Heinerich has been my other half for 4 years. We very unexpectedly met at a WW2 reenactment. Heinerich and I started a very interesting relationship-- instead of dating, I moved in with him after visiting for maybe a straight week or 2. I had moved in and 4 years later, we are now planning on moving to Florida and getting our own apartment. 

Leaving the Northeast

It's always been some kind of goal of mine to create a historical blog like this one-- and keep it going somewhat strong for more than a year. But, as life is taking me, I'm not going to be living up in the Northeast by the start of August. I'll be leaving my Hessian Family to move to Florida and continue getting my Bachelors at UCF. Figuring out what I was going to do after community college was a long struggle for me, and the Uni in PA that I wanted to go to turned out to be so expensive.

Reasons why my prince and I are moving to Florida:

• Weather, beaches, flora 
• People are nicer
• It's cheaper and more affordable

There's a lot more reasons than that and the one that says "cheaper and more affordable" should be number one, in all honesty. Of course, moving means leaving this reenacting scene up here. I'm pretty positive there is no German related Revolutionary war reenacting scene in Florida, but I could be wrong. This blog was inspired by the actual reenactments I attended and I thought that much of the content would come from "after event/reenactment inspiration", but surprisingly, I've made this many posts without attending many events at all. Finishing school and general life chaos has kept me away from events-- including the one in NJ this weekend that I was really looking forward to.

The question is if I can continue this blog when I move to Florida. I guess I'll have to see!

A Favorite

The Hessian Feldjagers

Winter Woes

How many people can stand winter's ugliness after several months? I don't mean bleak scenery or the cold (although some people like me might find that ugly). I'm talking about winter's backlash of ugly on us! Dry skin, dry scalps, dry face, itchy shoulders and hard to reach spots. I'm spoiled-- for winter and sometimes spring break (this spring break is looking bizarre and unplanned), I visit Florida and roll around on the beach. We all know the amazing feel of exfoliating sand on skin, after a day or two, you'll be glowing! I find that the itchiness intensifies after I lay down for the night, because then my brain has nothing to do but think about how itchy my skin is. It sucks. Also, first world problems.

This gelatinous mess is a mixture of pure olive oil and sugar. Want to feel like you rolled around on a beach and got some smooth feeling, exfoliated skin? Mix some olive oil and sugar together, seriously. I never used a set amount of sugar or olive oil-- I've always eye balled it and mixed together however much I needed to make the mixture. I suggest using a little bit less olive oil than sugar, but the sugar should be completely mixed and mashed together with a spoon. I've used this in a bath and soaked in the olive oil water. Baby, was I slick and feeling better afterwards. If you have one of those sponge on a stick things if you need to reach that impossible spot that I mentioned before. After a few sighs of complaints, I get my other half to do it for me. Go on and beat winter's wrath! 

Haughty Princes: Margrave of Anspach

After reading parts of "The Hessians" by Lowell, I've grown attached to learning about one of the Margrave of Anspach, who seems to take the cake as the most feared rulers. He looked over the territories of Anspach and Bayreuth. 

What did this prince do when he ran out of booze? Death penalty to criminals. Charles Alexander didn't mess around. When hearing that his dogs had not been fed, he rode to the house of the man who was sent in charge of his dogs, and shot him. An inn-keeper who complained about a little theft?  The thief was hanged on the inn-keeper's door. After a servant girl helped a soldier desert, even she was hanged.

Charles Alexander wasn't someone I'd want to come across of in one of his unexpected bad moods either. After a sentinel guard was asked for his musket, and when he gave it up to the Margrave, he was sent to drag through a pond at a pair of husssars' horses tails. It is safe to say that the man died.

The histories of these princes gave me a better idea of the control they had of their territories, and how the treatment of their people rested in their hands. As the saying goes, it's good to be the King. 

The Hessians

It's about high time I write about this. In the time of the Revolutionary War, the German (Hessian) Jagers were hired through their rulers (princes) to the British Empire. They were called Hessians because about 12,000 out of 30,000 of the men were from Hesse-Kassel. The Jagers were swift on their feet, smart and cunning. Their name literally meant "hunter", or in military terms, "rifleman". These were dignified men, who were prime marksmen and woodsmen, all reliable and independent. Their prim uniforms are almost regal in a sense. Almost princely. The Germans were honest, and often gained the respect from their opponents, and also quoted from Lowell's "The Hessians", many of them stayed in America in the end. 

The blog name is revolved around the historical reenacting group, my friends and family, who have kept me great company and have watched me grown for the pass several years. I consider the unit commander to be like a father to me.

T... The Ca-Caraco?

The name still sounds weird to me. Tonight, I found out what a caraco is! Apparently these beautiful things came about France in the 1760s. It was an informal jacket and identified working class. Someone of my class in Germany would probably have these in linen or cotton. The English would wear it closed in the front, but the Germans followed the French, and wore it open with a stomacher and stays. I think I would really enjoy myself a new piece of 18th Century wear... my shortgowns all show my elbows and are kind of short.

Benefits of Raw Honey

I will preach about raw honey until I'm old and gray. No, I'm not talking about the food store kind of honey that has some added sugars and stuff in it. Where I currently live, there are a few bee farms that are just devoted to the real deal. Nothing else added but the good stuff. If you do a simple, online search about raw honey, you'll find plenty of sites that claim beautiful, vintage Hollywood stars used honey to give themselves a glowing complexion-- its all true!

Honey can help with: Blemishes and scars, sunburns, exfoliation, and aging.

Honey is antiseptic, healing, anti bacteria and inflammatory. It helps fight wrinkles, reduces scar inflammation. The use of honey on skin goes all the way back to Cleopatria, who used milk and honey baths. Though it is recorded that Nero's wife, Poppaea first began the milk baths.

Milk baths are starting to make a come back in some modern skin shops. The Body Shop has a powder form of milk baths for sale online. It has been way too long without getting a honey facial, I'm over due for one!

Improving Impressions

I'm all about having an in depth character while reenacting, but, Revolutionary War doesn't really have the room to have that. I find that it's too hard to find information, or that I find too much of the wrong information. I have found plenty of sources about colonial/doodle/loyalist women. A great deal of these women were whores, some loners, and were a sore sight of the army. I recall even reading that these groups of campfollowers were told not to follow the army into the towns they went through. Many civilians who saw the campfollowers go into the town were repulsed.

According to the very little resources I've seen, the Hessian women had a bit more moral, and unattached women were not allowed (for the most part?). Surely, they must of had a much better life than the doodle and loyalist women, but I just find it hard to believe that all of them sat around camp and looked pretty. For a while, I grew out of the Rev. War reenacting scene. I went to see my reenacting family and get in on some awesome historical conversations. I've been attached to WW2 in recent years, as this allows me to put together a huge and colorful impression-- and still be a woman.

This kind of encouragement has sent me on a quest to find out how to make our Jager camp more diverse for the women. There must be a way, I know there is. Any different German lifestyles? Traditions. There must be things that I am missing that can allow us to expand on. I've never been into the idea of sitting around a camp and doing things that are like chores. I don't go to a reenactment to just wash dishes-- which I don't mind-- but I've seen some ladies who do just that and carry water all weekend.

I wouldn't mind doing something period, productive, and something that I actually find interesting other than "Hi, I'm a campfollower, have a husband and some kids." What could have women done... my mind is sticking with cooking and mending. Some women even aided in some medical business, even though the level of medical assistance was pretty primitive. I've always wanted to learn how to mend period clothes, or work on something, or add onto an outfit.

I've been meaning to bring more articles of my outfits to lay out, this way people can get a hands on experience in feeling the clothes, seeing how it goes on, etc.

Now that there's more ladies in the unit, one thing that I definitely see in the future is a group cooking adventure.