|
The Siege at Fort Randolph - We made a late decision to attend the event at Fort Randolph. Thunderstorms had rumbled through the Louisville area on Friday night but we awoke to a fairly dry and sunny morning on Saturday. So we packed our gear and headed out. Three and a half hours later we reached the West Virginia State line and the sun was still shining.
At Fort Randolph the militia was being mustered inside the fort. Visitors were in the Indian camp and we noted a new addition to the venue - with bleachers placed outside the fort for the public. Bleachers when available at a site, always give the public a better overall view of a battle.
This event has always meant great photographs for us because of the way the battle is re-enacted. The drama is stopped halfway through and the narrator directs the visitors outside the fort. Thus visitors get to see the inside of the fort during the battle - with settlers manning the walls, women loading guns and supplying water, lead and powder.
From the outside, visitors get to see the Indians mounting an attack on the fort - charging the fort walls and taking cover in the high grass.
But at about fifteen minutes to two the skies over Point Pleasant, West Virginia opened up. The event staff made a wise decision not to cancel but to have “a rain delay.” Radar indicated that when the immediate front passed there would be clearing skies behind it. Visitors and re-enactors alike huddled on the porches, under flies and umbrellas.
Well the battle did finally take place with intermittent showers through out. Unfortunately although a “picture is worth a 1,000 words” ruined digital camera equipment is not. This year we shot the battle completely from inside the fort and the shelter of a dry fly.
Hats off to Craig Hesson and the volunteers at Fort Randolph for making the best of a rainy situation.
|
