ABOUT THE SOLDIERS...
Andrew Porter's Company of the 4th Battalion of Continental Artilllery was originally recruited in Pennsylvania and became part of George Washington's Continental Line in 1779.
Andrew Porter's Company is alive and well today due to its "modern day" counterpart...the 4th Battalion of Artillery in Corunna, Michigan. Each soldier carries a replica of the Brown Bess musket used during the revolution. He also carries the cartridge case, bayonet, canteen, knapsack, and haversack that was commonly used. The uniforms are faithfully reproduced using the same materials like those of the 18th century. Blue wool coats are faced and lined with scarlet trim and include 42 brass buttons. The small clothes which include the waistcoat and breeches are made of coarse linen and the shirt is of muslin.
The 4th Battalion of Artillery is a non-profit historical society and is incorporated in the State of Michigan. The society continues its original purpose: "to promote, stimulate and cultivate interest in all matters pertaining to the American Revolution, and is dedicated to recreation of the sights and sounds of the Revolutionary War period".
Living History at its best, describes this organization indeed. Over the years the society has collected, preserved and displayed period weaponry and has told the story of the American Revolution thru authentic dress and encampments. The noise and smoke that follow the discharge of the cannon will remind you of the courage of the men who fought in battle over 200 years ago.
ABOUT THE ARTILLERY... The society is proud of its centerpiece, a bronze light six-pound battalion field gun. It is an exact duplicate of the original which includes the crown and cipher of King George II. The gun also bears the Royal Family's rose and thistle on the muzzle. The calibre is 3.66 inches and is stamped gun No.4. The cannon weighs 1,800 pounds and can fire a 6 lb. iron round shot 1200 to 1400 yards, maximum effective range. During the war, this type of weapon was operated by a crew of 12 artillery men and 3 horses. It could batter heavy construction with iron solid shot at short or long range, destroy fort parapets, and, by ricochet fire dismount cannons. The mortar is a reproduction of a 1757 British bronze coehorn. Its calibre is 3.6 inches, weighs 100 lbs. and bears the Master Generals and Royal ciphers. A mortar uses a high angle fire to shoot bombs which are fused to explode near its target.Interesting Links
Other Rev War Re-Enactment Groups
