Claudia's Recap of the Fort Mims 2010 Commemoration

Amidst drizzling rain but cooler temperatures, the 2010 Reenactment of Fort Mims was again better than ever!

Brien and Brett led up a great group of reenactors--tents spread from the new east wall all around to the west gate--and two Indian tents completed the west wall! What a great showing we had. The encampment was a site to behold!! The blacksmith set up in the living history area as well as the wool spinner with her gorgeous yarns plus the display of beautiful flint/black powder guns from Veteran Arms were all great additions! We even had a wagon that added to the 1800’s flavor being portrayed. (I heard several comments on the improvement in our settler and Indian dress being more “period” for the event, too.)

As the story began to unfold, all went well--the Indians charged through the newly constructed east gate, the men (and a few women) fired their guns (and they worked in misty conditions!) to protect the innocent. The women and children screamed, ran, hid and died in pain with arrows or at the hands of the Indians with tomahawks and knives! Scalps were flying!! The fort burned and the loom house was the last stand with screams of dying settlers and victory whoops from the Indians arising above the back walls!

There are quite a few children who are growing up in Fort Mims. Jonathan, Brett’s grandson, has become a veteran fighter! His other two grandchildren are great, too. Jena, RA’s daughter, is also “into” the part of a frightened frontier girl. A special award to our newest “actress” Carley Bullin. At 9 years old she screamed and cried real tears! A few of the men shooting Indians near her tried to comfort her during the first reenactment! She sounded really afraid.

What a great job everybody did. We had a lot of first-timers who joined right in like they had done this plenty of times. There were several area children who had heard the talks given at school and then came to participate. Maybe they’ll be “hooked” now. I hope the stepped-on arm of a first-time arrow wounded women is ok by today. She died beautifully!

I want to give a huge THANK YOU to Charles Misulia, Veteran Arms, for participating at our event and for the donation of 3 BEAUTIFUL 1795 Springfield US Army Muskets for FMRA to display! Hopefully they will hang in our planned “Heritage Museum”, “Visitor Center”, “Interpretive Site”--or whatever our building will be named!!! Our hats are off to Charles for this generous gift!

Many participated in the Tomahawk Throw on Saturday! The “Throwdown” came down to two men--Mitch (from the Whitewater group) and Raeph, also a reenactor. In the third round, Raeph Hargrove won out and was presented a Throwin’ Hawk from board member Forrest Bullin who handled this event.

The Black Powder Gun Raffle was a success, too. The gun was beautiful along with the powder horn and “possibles” bag. The drawing was held immediately after the last battle on Sunday afternoon. When Tom Sheppard was called as the winner of the drawing he jumped for joy! Cindy Bryars and Pres. Martin McGuire made the presentation to him. Hopefully he’ll be our newest reenactor next year.

The display of the Preliminary Conceptual Drawing for improvements at Fort Mims was viewed with interest by most everybody who got a chance to see it. It is a beautiful drawing that allows us to see on paper what our Master Plan has written out in words only. Charlie McCulloh did an excellent job and we are so proud to be moving in a positive direction! Special appreciation to you, Charlie, for your work and dedication to Fort Mims!

Special thanks are due so many!

Curtis Makamson, Narrator for all four reenactments (Burnt Corn and Mims)

Brien McWilliams, Reenactor Coordinator

Steve Thomas, Military weapons and uniforms

Tom Robinson, Issues between the Red Sticks and Settlers

Terry Nobles, Bagpiper

“Kracker Dan”-- Provided music all day Saturday

Jim Parmer, preacher

Kathy Dukes, Guitarist (and other musicians who joined her) on Sunday

Jerry Sherrell, Webmaster and Sound Man

Linda Smith, wool spinner

Richard Bryars, Black Powder Gun Shoot

Forrest Bullin, Tomahawk Throw and Hay Delivery

Charlie McCulloh, Preliminary Conceptual Drawing

Tom Varnado, Indian Arts and crafts (from Louisiana)

Quilters from South Side Baptist Church, Bay Minette

Blacksmiths

Tommy Hart, Arrowhead Display

USA Archeology Display, Bonnie Gums & Dr. Gregory Waselkov

Baldwin County Archives and History Display, John Jackson & Nick Warren

Brett McWilliams, War of 1812 Display

John Earle Steadham / Gordon Phillips, Johnny, Hope, Lennon, & Philip for FOOD

Baldwin County Commission, Garbage/Portables, lines for Parking lot

Martin McGuire, M.C. and FMRA President (and Edith for all her help)

Fort Mims Chapter DAR, Memorial Service

BCHS ROTC and Choral Group, Flag Raising and National Anthem

Marilyn Davidson & Claudia Campbell, Wreath

Cindy Bryars & R. A. Bryars, Black Powder Gun Raffle and publicity

June Slaughter, Pat Watson and Betty Stabler, T-shirt sales (Betty’s gdaughter had lemonade sales)

John Chason, Money/treasurer

Jimbo Brown, Firewood

Mary Flo Williams, Face Painting (SO popular with the kids!)

Scarlet Weatherford and children, Fig Preserves

Diane Cooper, Publicity & cleanup

George Riley, Delivery of Ice and Fans

Catherine Cortelyou and crew (including Key Club), Gate

Charlie Bryant, Honey Sales and Certificates of Event Participation

Jim Eddins, Perdido Vineyards

Can you believe the number of people working to make this a success????

(If I left anybody out, KNOW that it was an oversight and I apologize.)

Again thanks to ALL participants, workers, visitors and to everyone who was a part of this 197th anniversary of Fort Mims. Without a doubt, Fort Mims WAS remembered.

We have begun plans for our 200th Anniversary in 2013 so mark your calendars. Progress at Fort Mims will be posted on this site and the FMRA website: www.fortmims.org