Reenactors give history lesson at GHS

By Bobby Grady

» Staff Writer

Battle of Gloucester reenactors brought colonial America to Gloucester High School Monday and taught students about various aspects of colonial life as well as the battle to be reenacted later this month at Stage Fort Park.

As supplies dwindled for the British troops in Boston in 1775, Royal officials believed coastal towns, such as Gloucester, could act as supply hubs. Capt. John Linzee commanded the 14-gun sloop HMS Falcon along the coast, including waters off Cape Ann, where the Battle of Gloucester took place on Aug. 8, 1775.

Reenactors at the high school represented people from both the colonial and British sides and presented details about the battle, clothing and weaponry used at the time to groups of students in 30-minute presentations throughout the school day.

Michael Graves portrayed Linzee, who unsuccessfully attempted to capture two schooners in Gloucester Harbor and burn down the town during the Battle of Gloucester.

The battle began when Linzee saw the two schooners but was met with resistance from the Gloucester militia as his men attempted to take one of the vessels.

“He sent men to go and take the ship and when the militia responded (Linzee) turned his ship and made the decision to stop bombarding the town because it wasn’t working,” Graves said. “He made the decision then to send landing troops into the town to try and set it on fire.”

But instead of burning the town, the man in charge of setting Gloucester ablaze only blew himself up.

“(The Gloucester militia) was able to drive off the landing parties and about 20 to 30 of Linzee’s men were captured,” Graves said.

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Michael Graves, portraying Royal Navy Commander John Linzee, shows students an authentic colonial era sword while explaining the commander’s role in the Battle of Gloucester.

BOBBY GRADY/

Staff photo

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“He ended up losing both of the prize ships he was trying to capture.”

Portraying the local side of history was James Lee who spoke on the Gloucester militia, comprised mostly of common townspeople ready to take up arms at a moment’s notice.

Lee showed students what the typical militiaman carried, including a musket, cartridge box, powder horn, an edged weapon such as a sword or bayonet, and other nonlethal equipment such as water canteens and a knapsack.

“On the day of the Battle of Gloucester, they probably just grabbed their muskets, cartridge boxes, bayonets and swords and went down to the wharves to defend the town,” he said.

Other presentations included the role women played in the battle and how the townspeople reacted, and what clothing Royal navy sailors wore, which some students even got to try on.

The full reenactment is slated for June 20 and 21 at Stage Fort Park. For more information, visit battleofgloucester. com.

Staff Writer Bobby Grady may be contacted at 978-6752714 or bgrady@gloucestertimes. com.

James Lee, portraying a Gloucester militiaman, shows students the weaponry the town’s residents used to fend off the British. Lee said when done quickly, a solider could fire off three rounds a minute but generally speaking, most men could get off two rounds per minute.

BOBBY GRADY/ Staff photos

Ruth Hodges shows students a piece of old linen, a highly common material used in everything from clothing to bandages. She said the material was highly requested from households to be used as medical supplies during the Revolutionary War.