Special tribute held to mark battle at Fort Necessity
FARMINGTON – On the 249th anniversary of the battle of Fort Necessity, National Park Service staff and volunteers paid tribute Thursday to those who fell in combat at the start of the French and Indian War. “We can often get lost in movements and tactics and forget that lives were lost,’ Keith Newlin, acting superintendent and main speaker, said at the program at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, located along Route 40.
The causalities included 30 men dead and 70 wounded on the British side, while the French suffered two dead and 15 wounded. One American Indian was killed, and two were wounded.
The British dead included 13 from the Virginia Regiment and 17 from the South Carolina Independent Company.
Volunteer Fred Threlfall read the roll call of the British casualties whose names are known, and he also honored the “unknown French and Indian allies.’
Before the roll call, Newlin spoke about the consequences of this battle, including the experience it gave a 22-year-old officer named George Washington, who suffered defeat but learned tactics he would later use as he led American forces against the British. The French and Indian War also set the stage for the American Revolution.
“In this very meadow is the war that started America,’ Newlin said.
He noted the National Park Service is preserving historic sites, such as Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, which is commemorating the 140th anniversary of one of the Civil War’s most famous battles, and Fort Clatsop National Memorial in Oregon, the westernmost camp of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which is now celebrating its bicentennial.
“They ensure that all people involved will be remembered by future generations,’ said Newlin.
Ranger Herb Clevenger, portraying the American Indian, welcomed people to Fort Necessity after the crowd was led to the fort by volunteer John Grant of Oakland, Md., who played the bagpipes. Grant also played the hymn “Amazing Grace’ to end the program.
As Threlfall read the role call, Kurt Threlfall played the drums and Christian Fearer played “Taps.’
Then, a group of re-enactors marched into place and fired a gun salute three times under the command of ranger Brian Reedy.
Re-enactors representing the British included William Williams of Murrysville, Willy and Zach Frankfort of Washington, John Cunning of Washington, Larry Stavish of New Salem, Brad Foust of Ligonier, Daniel Kernen of Washington and Christian Fearer of Farmington.
Those representing the French included Reedy, intern Carl Kramer of Shippensburg, intern Billy Stoeckel of Wisconsin and volunteers John Svokos of Uniontown and Matt Loomis of Masontown.
“This is my first time,’ said Loomis, a history teacher at California Area High School who joined his friend Svokos, a history teacher at Uniontown Area High School. “We camped here last night. We’ve had a great time. It’s nice sleeping under the stars and waking up to find fog everywhere.’
Thursday’s re-enactors included park staff, volunteers, interns and members of C.P.’s Military Stores, who portrayed members of the Virginia Regiment.
In addition, wildlife artist Wayne Chunat of Melvern, Ohio, worked on a sketch of the fort Thursday with the intention of creating a watercolor painting. Chunat and his wife, Sally, dressed in period clothing and will be at the park through Sunday.
Chunat, now retired, formerly worked at Cleveland Metro Parks and is a self-taught painter who travels to shows in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. He is also director for Melvern’s cultural center. Chunat next will appear in the area in November, when he joins 30 other artists at a show at Pittsburgh’s aviary.
“This is a rendering of the fort as it is today,’ said Chunat as he worked with a charcoal stick on paper. “I’m going to interpret the battle.’
Mary Ellen Snyder, chief of interpretation, noted that this year’s crowd was larger than in 2002, but visitation, overall, is down at many national parks.
Officials are attributing the decline to the heavy rains experienced this year, but they said they are confident that visitation will rebound with the nice weather.
Visitors will have plenty to see at Fort Necessity throughout the holiday weekend. The re-enactment group The Ohio Rangers will continue its encampment today, while the First Regiment of Foote, 2nd Battalion, Light Infantry will be there through Sunday. They demonstrate life of 1750s soldiers.
Ranger programs on soldier life and musket firing will be held daily at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. all weekend.
Also, Newlin invited visitors to take advantage of the “Corps of Discovery II’ national exhibit that’s on tour around the country and is opening today at Friendship Hill National Historic Site in Springhill Township. The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July 11.