The Burning of Kingston
Posted By Brian on October 2, 2009
| October 16, 2009 | to | October 18, 2009 |
On October 16, 1777, during the British campaign to control the North (Hudson) River & effectively split the New England Colonies/States from the South, a fleet of 23 ships & 2000 troops were sent North to rendezvous& support General Burgoyne’s push South from the Champlain Valley to Albany. After Gentleman Johnny’s defeat at Saratoga, the support fleet under General Vaughn stopped at Kingston, then capitol of New York, to punish this “nest of villains” & the badly outnumbered Militia had no choice but to flee as the British troops burned every building but one in the time allowed them.
Every two years The First Ulster Militia, in cooperation with the City of Kingston, commemorates this event with a major weekend reenactment. Begriming Friday evening with a Committee of Safety Meeting, traditionally held at a present day tavern in one of the original stone houses that was burned in the attack, the event moves to the landing of the British troops the next morning & the attack on the Historic Stockade District. Last year (2007) drew one of the largest collection of 18th century wooden boats of any in the Northeast & on Sunday we were able to recreate the per suit of the gunboat galley “Lady Washington” on the Rondout Creek by members of the British fleet with our new vessel, Pettiauger “Mercury”, portraying “Lady Washington”.
The next Burning of Kingston Reenactment is now official. It is planned to coincide with the Quadricentenial of Henry Hudson’s discovery & exploration of the Hudson in 1609. The Dates will be October 16, 17 & 18, 2009.
The Merganser and crew will be there taking part in the activities.
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