Rochambeau's March to Yorktown

Letter from algie~
Algernon Ward

From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 12:40 AM

 

Dear Friends,

    I had the privilege of being in the contingent of Trentonian reenactors who at the Trenton Battle Monument greeted and marched in escort to the Old Barracks with a group of reenactors who were recreating the French General Rochambeau's March from Newport Rhode Island to Yorktown Virginia where they joined the Continental Army in the final battle of the American Revolution.
 
 
Algie recreating a soldier of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment at the Trenton Battle Monument.
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

A Times photo illustrates the contingent of Continental reenactors as it crosses West State Street, led by the Old Barracks Fife and Drum Corps followed by Algernon Ward Jr., Sam Saperstein and Fred Minus portraying the 1st Rhode Island Regiment and David Holloway recreating a Bourbonnais Regular Soldier. 
The Continental Contingent paused to view the mural of the reading of The Declaration of Independence being read in Trenton painted by Muralist Illia Barger.  Historians believe that the Trenton reading may actually have been the first of the three and, thus, the first in the nation. Illia asked me to observe the figures of two modern Black men near the walls at the edges of the painting, looking in on the historic tableau. Illia also composed this photograph of the reenactors to appear as part of the mural.  
 
Gyasi Mann (2nd from rt), Fred Minus (5th from rt), Algernon Ward (2nd from lf) appear as African-American figures in the mural painted by Muralist Illia Barger (5th from lf) 

The image of Richard Patterson Director of the Old Barracks Museum also appears in the mural as the reader of The Declaration of Independence at the top of the stairs. Many staff members of the Old Barracks Museum also appear as figures in the mural. Illia pointed out how an element of the painting that she named "The Wind of Change" for freedom animated Nikki's dress and Paul's hair.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The African-American figures painted in the mural seen at right are as the young woman Rene a volunteer at the Old Barracks, the Drummer Boy is Kyle Allen, the Continental Militiaman in the winter shirt is Algernon Ward, the merchantman in the brown coat is Noah Lewis, the civilian workman in the green coat is Fred Minus and the 1st RI soldier in the white shirt and soft hat is Gyasi Mann. *Illia asked me to note the mural's vandal in the background window appears in jail.  
When the marchers reach the Old Barracks accompanied by a detail of NJ Boy Scouts, they are heartily greeted by the staff and offered a welcome gift of salt and bread. Sam Saperstein welcomes Dave Fagerberg in conversation on the Barracks parade grounds.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Captain Michael Fitzgerald and Private Fred Minus receive warm greetings by an admirer from Trenton at the Old Barracks. Michael Fitzgerald, a Sewickley, Pa., resident and film producer, began the march in June. Both Dave and Mike can be glimpsed in several cameo appearances in the History Channel series "The Revolution". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fife and drum ensemble from The Old Barracks Fife and Drum Corps served as the musical escort for America's March to Yorktown as it marched through Trenton to the Old Barracks Museum. Pictured at right are Director Steven Hudack, Fifers John Lane and Drew Weirzbowski and Drum Sgt. Maj. Gyasi Mann.
Gyasi Mann models the uniform of a Light Infantryman of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment on the steps of the officer's quarters of the Old Barracks.
 

 

 

 
A closer view of Gyasi Mann modeling the blue and white plumed helmet of the Light Infantryman of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
Al Ward and Gyasi Mann model the soft hat variation of the uniform for the soldiers of the Continental "Black Regiment" the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.

 

  
 
 
Al Ward and Gyasi Mann model the plumed helmet variation of the uniform for the soldiers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment most likely worn by the Light Infantrymen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Al Ward models the tri-cornered hat variation of the uniform for the soldiers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.
 
The Philadelphia Inquirer covered the story and has posted a great photo gallery of the Rochambeau's March into Trenton that can be viewed at the website below.
 

http://inquirer.philly.com/

 

Permission to publish text and photographs on the Afrolumens Project website has been given by Mr. Algernon Ward.  More photos from Algie:  The 6th USCT Meets the Rebels in Neshaminy Park | Memorial Day 2005

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Original material on this page copyright 2006 Friends of Midland and Afrolumens Project.
Submitted text and photos on this page courtesy of Algernon Ward, Trenton NJ. All rights reserved by Mr. Ward.
Permission to re-publish has been obtained from Sgt. Ward.
The url of this page is http://www.afrolumens.com/rising_free/Rochambeau.htm

This page was updated September 23, 2006.