Blenheim Palace,
Estate of the Duke of
Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
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It is documented that the original Second Pennsylvania Regiment received new leather caps made expressly for it and personally paid for by its young commander, Colonel Walter Stewart. They were produced by the Commissary of Hides in Connecticut and delivered in time for the unit's June 1, 1780 inspection. What was not well documented was how they actually looked. Just before the Bicentennial got underway, the regiment produced its version of those caps, based on some sketchy period descriptions and information in the Anthony Wayne Papers. We wore them proudly for more than a year (probably longer than the original Second Pa. men wore them), but eventually returned to the more comfortable and easily obtainable black felt tricorn. You can still find one of them occasionally among some sutler's wares at a reenactment or on a shelf in the basement family room of one of our veterans.
Here are some photos taken of the unit circa 1974, complete with our leather caps...
With the Franklin Institute in the background, the regiment marches through Philadelphia led by drummers Bill Lee and Dan Dalesio (in white hunting shirt) along with fifers Jim Moffat and Jim Hawkins. Behind them is unit commander
G. Gedney Godwin who will later establish one of living history’s first and most enduring sutleries.
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Drummer Bill Lee looks on after a volley is fired. Sam Parker checks his frizzen and Don Maley grasps the flag as Craig Nannos gives the commands. That’s Frank Shuck in the brown hunting shirt.
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