HOLIDAY GREETINGS! in the Old
Northwest Territories, from your Governor. We wish you all Happy and safe
Holidays this season. The time rushes so fast these days. Where is all the time
going? It seems as of yesterday that I penned the last letter to the quarterly.
How the times pass so rapidly. Yes, it is hard to believe that Hunting &
Trapping Seasons are upon us. With this in mind everyone should check to see if
your Hunting & Trapping Licenses are up to date. Remember to get permission
before entering one’s property. I think that I’ll do very little hunting this
year. I had a total knee replacement last past June and don’t want to mess
anything up. Oh yes, the knee is healing very well. The recovery time is slow
and requires much work on my part. I work out every day as per Doctor’s orders.
I want to get into the woods this winter and do some scouting.
The Executive Board has been extremely busy making plans for the 2005
Nat’l Gathering. It sounds as if to be an experience not to miss. It will be
held in the same place as the 2004 Gathering, at Fort Osage. So be sure to
pencil it your April schedule. Some other things that are happening are terms
are expiring for some offices and there have been some people that resigned
their positions. This makes interesting works among the ranks. I would ask that
everyone be patient while the changes are being made. But still remember that if
you have any questions, please by all means contact your State Representative or
me. I know that for one thing membership and renewals were late because of
transferal of records. Things should be resolved shortly.
I encourage those who have access to computers would check the Message
Board. There is much information to gain from them. I respond to some but mostly
read and lark in the shadows. I find that I learn a lot that is going on around
us. Sometimes you may get that long awaited answer or maybe find something that
would save money. Anyway you look at it, you come out with something useful.
Here Hunting Season has started. Many of us are getting geared up for
Deer Hunting again. Please remember that you are sharing the fields and wooded
areas with others. This means to practice safety first. We want everyone to
return home to their loved ones. Winter also means many chores to do while shut
in on those cold days. Time to repair your worn gear. Maybe make that new pair
of moccasins. What about those new leggings that you have been putting off
making? Or what about visiting some of your old Trail Partners. . It is also a
good time to get into the woods for a few scouts. Of course you could visit some
Trade Shows. That usually gets interest flowing. I have contacted the committee
for the Fremont, Ohio Trade Faire for a CoHT Display Table. I haven’t heard from
them yet but am sure that there will be room. For those who never attended this
Show you should consider going to it. It is a very good display of Trade Goods.
I’ll be looking for some of you to help out. If you know of some Trade Shows
that would be good to have a CoHT Display contact your State Representative or
me. We are always ready to help you make the arrangements.
If you have talked to some of your CoHT brothers and sisters lately, you
may have heard of some important matters being discussed lately. There is talk
about raising dues, the where abouts of the COHT Flags, members identification
when at events,etc. One important issue will come up at the National Gathering
held at Fort Osage, Missouri. And we will be voting on a Membership Director,
you can email your votes as well by December 15th to Dan, other wise mail in
your ballet. Well, I see that the fire’s burnin low and the tea is almost gone.
I reckon it’s time to turn in, mornin’s not far off. So I bid you good night and
have a safe and happy Holliday Season.
Keep a watchful eye on the trail.
YMHS,
John Covert
Great
Lakes Territorial Governor
"The Continental and his Longbow"... by C.B. Katsock, submitted by Blackie
The British regulars, the greatest soldiers in the 18th century European
world, resplendent in their red tunics, form into flawless lines to advance
across a grassy field towards the upstart rebel Americans. British drums are
beating out a rythmical tone while the baying of bagpipes send a eerie shrill
dancing across the meadows. As the British advance in line of battle, the
opposing regiment of Continentals reach into their quivers and each man
withdraws an arrow and places it along the handgrip of his longbow. Under the
watchful eye and command of the Continental officers, the archers respond as a
well oiled machine.
Upon the command, the men draw back their 80 pound pull bows and, at the
right moment, follow the command to fire. the bowmen answer the orders as one
and a hail of metal tipped, 30 inch arrows fly towards the British regulars. the
sky, which was once clear and bright, is now darkened by these ancient weapons
of war. the longbows' arrows drive deeply through the tightly packed lines of
British regulars like a farmer's scythe through a field of wheat. the redcoats
are almost at the very end of even British discipline, but the officers are
again able to reform the broken lines. british discipline is restored. just as
this happens, the Continental archers unleash another salvo upon the British
lines. the devastation is tremendous, the dead and wounded are littering the
entire field.
Under this onslaught the British cannot respond, for they are too far
from the enemy to fire their muskets or to make an effective attack with
bayonet. they cannot stand under this type of onslaught, the casualty rate is
too high even for the British regulars. They are forced to abandon the field.
Behind them they leave the dead and wounded, stuck to the ground by the arrows
which were the deadly handiwork of the Continental longbowmen. Bowmen who were
using the famous English longbow against the English....
Did I just read what I thought I read? This can't be right.
The history of the American Revolution conjures up certain images in our
minds. Those of tri-corner hats, rebel ragtag armies who sometimes stood and met
the awesome power of the British regulars, and those heroes of our past; giants
like George Washington, John Adams, Francis Marion, and Ben Franklin, just to
name a few.
A key part of this image is the one of the Continental soldier
shouldering his trusty musket, a.k.a. firelock. I wonder how many of you are
aware of the fact that except for an unfavorable vote in a committee in the
Continental Congress, this image may have been a totally differant one. It could
have been just as described.
With the opening of hostilities between Great Britain and her upstart
American Colonies, the members of the Continental Congress soon were faced with
a very real economic problem of how to properly arm the newly formed Continental
Army so that it could achieve its goal of a victory over the British, and how
and where to obtain the funds to pay for this.
In June 1775 when the Pennsylvania Assmebly adjourned for the summer, it
created a Committee of Safety to make recommendations on the defense of the
colony. The well respected John Dickinson was named to the Committee first, and
was presumably to be its chairman. But when the committee met on July 3rd,
Benjamin Franklin was elected its president instead.
The minutes of the Committee of Safety reflect the work done by Franklin.
He was busy day in and day out with discussions and proposals related to
weapons, weapons that an unready populous could make good use of against trained
soldiers and ships. At the second meeting held on July 4th, Franklin was given
instructions by the Committee to furnish a model of a pike for use by the
infantrymen. The Americans may have been brilliant marksmen with their
Pennsylvania long rifles and other ordnance but, as had been very recently
displayed at Bunker Hill, they could not match the trained and properly equipped
British with the bayonet. The British regular was the recognized master of the
bayonet and its deadly usage. Men who had no muskets or ammunition, and the
colonies were in dire need of both, might be able to stand against the British
regulars if they were armed with pikes or, as Franklin proposed, longbows.
The longbow? The British army was equipped with firelocks. The
Continental army also had to be so armed. There appeared to be no need for any
discussion. Or so it seemed.
Benjamin Franklin saw advantages to the longbow and presented them to
Congress and General Charles Lee, General Washington's second in command for
discussion. General Lee was informed via correspondence from Philadelphia on
February 11, 1775, to New York City, where he was in command, and actively
engaged in the construction of defensive works.
Dr. Franklin stated that the longbow was safer to use. There was never
any chance for a dangerous or warning misfire to occur. The average for the 18th
century musket was a misfire once every seven times. The longbow was silent,
could not misfire, and there was never any smoke to obscure a soldier's vision
or to betray a position to the enemy.
It was more efficient. When compared to the 11 pound musket, bayonet,
powder horn, shot case, and a supply of ammunition, it was a good deal lighter.
Rain that makes a musket useless has almost no effect on the longbow, save a
minor adjustment in the bowstring.
Ben Franklin stated in this correspondence that, "A man may shoot as
truly with a bow as with a common musket." In the hands of an expert, the
longbow was a good deal more deadly than the common poorly made 18th century
musket, whose ball was inaccurate at ranges of more than 50 yards.
An arrow shot from a longbow could penetrate armor and a one inch thick
oak plank at 200 yards; musket ball - in the unlikely event it even reached its
target - would be no more than a nuisance. As Franklin argued in its favor, "An
arrow stiking in any part of a man puts him hors de combat till it is
extracted." Franklin further argued that the longbow offered a psychological
advantage. "A flight of arrows seen coming down upon them, terrifies and
disturbs the enemies' attention to his business." As for the musket, many a
soldier continued to fight after receiving a wound with a musket ball. He
further stated that a man could, "Discharge four arrows in the time of charging
and discharging one bullet." Most firelocks in use were muskets. Though many
colonists used the rifle which was much more accurate, it took considerably
longer to load. He also referred to the English battles against the French
during the reign of Edward the Third when the English caused great confusion in
the French forces because of the damage done by arrows when men still wore
defensive armor. How much more might be done to soldiers now that armor was no
longer in use?
Longbows had a long history of use with the English. It was used with
great effect on the French at Crecy. Agincourt and elsewhere. The longbow is as
much a part of English history as the Pennsylvania long Rifle is a part of our
American heritage. You must remember that the colonists still considered
themselves as only transplanted Englishmen with the same history and heritage,
i.e., the longbow.
The other parts of Franklin's argument were economic in nature. Materials
for bows and arrows were readily available. Bowyers and arrow fletchers could be
trained in a matter of weeks to produce these war weapons. Arrows shot were
recoverable and could be reused. Materials for firelocks were harder to obtain.
Mining and refining of metal ores was a very costly and lengthy process. It took
years to train gunsmiths and manufacturing was slow. Firelocks would mostly have
to be imported and this would put further strain on the Continental Treasury.
Saltpeter, used to make gunpowder, was hard to come by and the army
consumed it faster than it could be manufactured. Lead also was a problem. It
had to be mined, then melted, and cast into bullets: a time-consuming process
that would have occupied many a household, households already strained with the
daily survival tasks of the 18th century.
Dr. Franklin's final assessment of the problem? "Replace the firelocks
with longbows."
Convinced by Dr. Franklin's argument? A committee of the Continental
Congress was not. Nor was General Charles Lee. There is no record of any
Continental regiment giving up its firelocks for a weapon out of English
history, despite the status of the individual making the argument in favor of
the longbow.
The feeling that a modern army must possess modern weapons won over
Franklin's proposals. The longbow remianed a part of history and was never to be
used by the American army as envisioned by Benjamin Franklin.
How would our perception, and the perception of others, be different if
the American Revolution had indeed included the longbow and arrows instead of
only muskets, rifles and powder horns? How would the use of longbows have
affected the strategy and tactics used by General Washington in his and the
nation's pursuit of independence?
Reference: "Traditional Bowhunter" Jun/Jul 2000
http://www.tradbow.com
The Kentucky Woodsman Weekend 2004
Shooting a three-way tie. All scored 50 with 5 10 X's. In front and far right shooting is Jerry Newman from Bellefontaine. Next to him shooting is Jeff Pell from Sycamore. And far left preparing to shoot is Rob Park an Ohio CoHT member and the winner of a years free membership to the NMLRA. I have no idea who the person is leaning on his rifle.
The time had arrived for the 5th Annual Kentucky Woodsman Weekend held at
Fort Boonesborough. What a spectacular weekend it was. The weather was perfect
60 degrees during the day and in the 30’s at night. It had rained earlier in the
week but was clear for the event.
Friday afternoon our band of Upper Ohio Boys arrived. There were six of
us; Rob Park, Jeff Pell, Hal Stried, Joe Cramer, Jerry Newman, and myself. We
met up with Bill Farmer and he pointed us to our cabin. Opening the door we
found all the accommodations needed, a roof over our head. A BIG THANKS go to
Bill.
After a good night’s sleep (the lads said that I didn’t even snore) and a
good breakfast of bacon, eggs, journey cakes, fried apples, coffee, and tea, we
headed for the presentations.
Bill Farmer welcomed us all and introduced us to John Curry. This year
was different from the other years, we done basically hands on classes. Saturday
morning was a classroom presentation. Saturday afternoon was the traditional
shooting match. With all the rain earlier in the week, the range consisted of
ankle-deep water. It didn’t seem to bother some. The shooting went on as usual.
There were 20 some shooters and they all were shooting well. Three fellows tied
with a score of 50 – 5X’s. The shot-off commenced with Jerry Newman, Jeff Pell,
and Rob Park (all of Ohio). Rob was the winner and received a year membership
with the NMLRA. Good shootin’ Rob.
After arriving back at the Fort we made preparations for the evening meal
of a hearty meat and vegetable stew with bread and lots of butter. Very tasty!!
We retired for the night of visiting with old friends and some fine
drink. Sunday we woke to another fine day and again the lads said that I did not
snore. Two nights of not snoring, something must be wrong. Another hearty
breakfast finished.
We met at the front gate for the morning scout led by Capt. Curry. We
were taught to travel silently through the woods and shared ideas and what
incidents happened to some of us on other scouts. The scout continued out of the
woods, across meadows, and to the site of the original Fort Boonesborough. The
boundaries of the Fort was discussed and the location where Jeremiah Boone and
his friends were captured by the Shawnee. Other discussion took place along with
explaining to the public visitors to the site what we were doing.
We trekked back to the Stockade. After saying our good byes, we packed
our kits for the 5 ½ hour drive to our modern families.
It is always sad for a great event to end but it is always good to be
home. Always remember to watch yer back trail.
John Curry Standing in the middle with slouch hat and the long hair tied back.
YMHS,
John Covert
Great
Lakes Territorial Governor
"We Go Recruits"... The Soggy Bottom Boys
Mark "Weaser" Wetzel on the left, Jim "Blackie" MacClure on the right
The alarm was raised and all able bodied scouts were to assemble on
Weasers blockhouse. They were to scout the area of the Clearcreek to the
Hock-Hocking down to the settlement of Logan to make sure the area was clear for
the safe passage of supplies to the settlement. The scouts assembled late in the
evening at Weasers block house and gear and canoes were readied for the trip.
After the gear was checked the scouts precede to an area away from the block
house where a camp had been set and made plans and discuss tactics for the next
day.
Look who they got doing the dishes... Captain McGee
A terrible storm came in early Saturday morning and dumped 3 inches of
rain on the area and made the streams unsafe for navigation and overland travel
all most impossible. So the morning was spent resetting the camp and sending out
scouts of the area and checking in at the block house for reports of activity.
Saturday also brought the visit of a local brave to bring news of activity in
the area but our scouts reported none seen. Through out the day several trips
were made to the block house for supplies and reports. Haveing seen no activity
in the area the scouts were signaled in to the camp for a hot meal with plenty
of drink and fellowship, Long after dark the young brave returned this time
brought his squaw with him to visit for a while and partook of the drink and
visited for a while, and brought news that all indian activity had moved out of
the area. But late in the night their carrying on could be herd over the hill.
Sunday brought a lazy ariseal and late breakfast while plans were made and
futuer meetings discussed. The camp was struck and Capt McGee and Blackie
prepared to head back to the north.
With my candle growing dim and my tea getting cold I will end my report
here and retire for the night.
I remain
YMHOS
Weaser
News from the Territorial Governor
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