Yesterday we saw some historical reenactments of the British arrival at Mount Vernon.
The activities were to begin at 1pm so we spent the morning looking at all the gardens.
Garden Walk with the Redcoats
The kids were surprised to see one of the Redcoats enjoying the gardens too.
I told them he was checking the inventory before the raid.
Lunch with the Redcoats
We had an early lunch before the action started.
To our surprise, the Redcoats joined us for lunch at the Food Court!
They arrived with their ammunition, muskets, full uniform…everything!
My son said with shock, “That one bought food at Cafe Lafayette!”
Of course they attracted a lot of attention, as they walked by with their food, smiled back at all of us, set their muskets against the wall, and sat down to eat.
I told the kids they wanted to taste the provisions before the raid.
After lunch, we went down to the encampment to meet some of the British.
British army and navy didn’t get along well
The first group we met was the navy.
The spokesman said the British army and navy didn’t get along too well.
But what was the army going to do? They needed the navy for transportation.
Display of 18th century naval equipment and guns
The spokesman showed us the display of guns and supplies for us to see.
They let us look through the spyglass, possibly an original. It worked fabulously!
When we left my son whispered, “Ah, I now have secret information for General Washington.”
1781 Reenactment of British Raid on Mount Vernon
This reenactment is based on actual documentation on events in April of 1781, when the British arrived at Mount Vernon from the Potomac.
They offered freedom to the slaves if they joined their army…
They demanded from Lund Washington (the general’s cousin) provisions or else they would burn down Mt Vernon.
General Washington had put his cousin in charge of the plantation during his absence. He told him to never cooperate with the British.
However, Mrs. Washington was in the house and Lund Washington was concerned about her. He provided the British with food and supplies.
General Washington was angry when he learned that Lund didn’t just let them burn Mount Vernon to the ground.
Slave Story of Yorktown and returning to slavery
One of the slaves told us she chose to join the British and followed them to Yorktown.
She described the surrender ceremony where the Americans ined up on one side and the French on the other while the British marched through.
Refusing to look at the Americans, they looked only at the French.
At that moment, Lafayette ordered that Yankee Doodle be played. That got the Redcoats’ attention!
Because the British lost, this lady had to return to Mt Vernon as a slave.
Slave Story of Freedom
The next slave to speak got the news that she was freed after George Washington’s death.
She was scared. Where to go? What to do? Where to sleep? She didn’t want to leave her husband behind.
She was one of General Washington’s slaves.
Her husband was one of Mrs. Washington’s slaves that she had received from her first husband’s estate, Daniel Parke Custis’, after he died.
According to Virginia law, she could neither sell nor free these slaves from her husband’s estate. She could only use them.
After she died, they had to be passed on to the Custis family heirs.
George Washington’s Changing Perception of Slavery
One of the topics discussed was General Washington’s changing perception of slavery throughout his life.
Since English rule imposed slavery on the colonies in the 17th century, those born in the 18th century were bound to that law.
While General Washington fought for liberty, he questioned slavery…especially when many slaves joined the army and fought with him.
Also he was influenced by his adopted son, Lafayette, who was opposed to slavery.
Washington wrote in his will that his slaves be freed after his and Martha’s death.
Martha Washington freed his slaves a year after his death.
