Event: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad 2016

On Saturday September 10th, several members of the 4th participated in a skirmish and living history event for the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.  Photographs courtesy of Messrs. Strand and Walker.

Our boys in blue!

The skirmish in progress.

General Grant enjoys the view from his car. 

General Lee seems to be on the same train.

Event: Fort Worden, Day 3 & Final

The final day of the event saw a return to cool, damp weather.  Though well-suited for marching in wool uniforms, it proved less conducive to drawing an audience.  Wet canvas aside, spirits were high during take-down, and the younger members of the 4th are particularly to be commended for their enthusiasm.  

Monday morning mist over the camp.

Particular thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Strand, who organized the entire event and provided the mess.  Also to Mrs. Talbot for her work with USAS (and making delicious cookies for the group), Mr. Wyland for saving the dance, and to the military vehicle drivers who transported everyone between the two camps.

Event: Fort Worden 2016, Day 2

The mixed-era fun continued to a second day, the highlights of which included numerous Lee and Grant sightings, Civil War trivia, swing dancing, a massive group tintype, and trekking up to the motorcade camp.

General Grant, next to the "deuce and a half" transport which ferried
visitors between the camps.

General Lee meets the Eastern Front.

I count five soldiers, four countries, three centuries, and one saloon. 

Group photo!

Mr. & Mrs. Keyes show visitors the field hospital.

The military vehicle collectors' camp has two things in abundance:
nice people, and camouflage.

Event: Fort Worden 2016, Day 1

We had an exciting day at Fort Worden, with Civil War, Revolutionary War, WWII, and military vehicle collectors all in attendance.    

Sgt. Hick explains soldiers' daily life to the public.

The USS Tahoma's Land Ship. 

Revolutionary War camp.

Fife and Drum Corps.

General Grant's Command Tent

Ladies at the USAS tent.

Miss Ruby's Saloon serves cold drinks.

The fun continued into the evening, with an 1860s dance at the USO hall.

The Dancers and Audience Rest Between Dances.

Dancing the French Quadrille.

Event: Fort Worden 2016, Day 0

The event properly starts tomorrow, but we're here, we're setting up, and we're ready for some fun. So far, there are Yankees and rebels (Revolutionary War Edition) on the parade ground, APCs on the hill, and Soviets in the parlor.  

The Civil War reenactors occupy prime real estate
in front of the Coastal Artillery Museum.

The infantry and navy camps (and a neat cloud formation).

With teamwork, the kitchen fly can be raised!

Making Beds

Beds and Their Draperies from
The Workwoman's Guide (1838) 

As soon as you quit your bed, take off the bed-clothes, (each article separately,) and spread them widely over the chairs, turning the mattrass [sic] or bed as far down as it will go. This will give the bedding time to air; and in all houses it should be done every morning, the whole year round. Before you leave the room, raise the windows as high as they will go, (unless it should be raining, or snowing,) that the apartment may be well ventilated...  

There is but one way of making a bed properly; and yet it is surprising how little that way is known or remembered. First, shake up the bed high and evenly, turning it over, and see that the foot is not higher than the head. If there is a mattrass above the bed, turn the mattrass half up, and then half down, till you have shaken up the bed beneath. Next, spread on the under-sheet, laying it well over the bolster to secure it from dragging down and getting under the shoulders. However, to most beds now, there is a bolster-case. Then tuck in the under-sheet, well, at both sides, to prevent its getting loose and disordered in the night. For the same reason tuck in the upper sheet, well, at the foot, leaving the sides loose. Tuck in the blankets at bottom, but not at the sides. Lay the counterpane smoothly over the whole. Turn it down at the top, and turn down the upper-sheet above it so as to conceal the blankets entirely. 

--Eliza Leslie, The Behavior Book (1853), pages 12-14