Brimingham >> This year marks the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, the largest land battle of the Revolutionary War. More than 800 authentically-dressed re-enactors will again descend upon Birmingham Township on Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17th, to recreate this historic confrontation between British and American soldiers at Sandy Hollow – the site where the actual Sept. 11, 1777 battle took place. The event is free to the public; hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free parking is available. The event is being presented and organized by Birmingham Township.
During the re-enactment, visitors will witness active cavalry, cannon fire, muskets, rifles, side arms, authentic encampments and military inspections. The battles, scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday will last about 45 minutes to an hour. Several historical figures including George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and Alexander Hamilton will be attending.
Visitors will be able to:
* Tour the American and British camps;
* Hear the fife and drum corps;
* Sample period food;
* Meet authors of period fiction and non-fiction; and
* Play games, shop, and much more.
“We held our first re-enactment in the spring of 2014 and it was a resounding success so it was only natural to bring it back for the 240th anniversary,” said Linda Kaat, chair of Brandywine 2017. “Birmingham Township is once again thrilled to be able to offer a re-enactment on the actual site where the battle took place, something that is extremely rare. Visitors will be walking in the footsteps of thousands of brave revolutionary men who fought valiantly here, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice so that our country could be independent.”
An estimated 26,000 British and American soldiers met at Sandy Hollow on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 1777. The night would end in an American retreat. Though this was a loss, this particular fight served to fortify the colonists’ resolve to ultimately defeat the Redcoats in another four years at Yorktown. In a nod to historical accuracy, the British will win again on Saturday. However, Sunday’s battle will end in a British rout, just for fun.
For additional details and updates, please visit www.brandywine2017.org. Visitors are invited to join our social media communities: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
There are volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. Please contact Linda Kaat at 610.909.3324 or linda.kaat@att.net.
