The making of

 

The American Revolution Extended Trailer | Premieres Nov. 16 on PBS | Ken Burns Documentary Series

 

War on the Turtle's Back

Off to print this week, Laurence Burrows' War on the Turtle's Back, a fascinating account of the contribution of indigenous peoples to North American warfare, 1752-1766. Great artwork by Renato Dalmaso and an excellent cover design by Paul Hewitt, Battlefield Design. Register your interest here: https://www.helion.co.uk/.../war-on-the-turtles-back...
 

Book illustrations here

Today in 1791

 St. Clair's defeat, also known as the Battle of the Wabash, the Battle of Wabash River or the Battle of a Thousand Slain,^[3] was a battle fought on 4 November 1791 in the Northwest Territory of the United States. The U.S. Army faced the Northwestern Confederacy of Native Americans as part of the Northwest Indian War. It was "the most decisive defeat in the history of the American military"^[4] and its largest defeat ever by Native Americans.^[5]

How Stands The Glass Around? (Why Soldiers Why?)

 This song first appears in print in 1729. According to a story, probably apocryphal, it was sung by British General James Wolfe on the night before he was killed in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Quebec in 1759.

"How stands the glass around for shame you take no care, my boys. How stands the glass around Let mirth and wine abound. the trumpet sound the colors they are flying boys To fight, kill or wound May we still be found, Content with hard fare, my boys on the cold, cold ground Why, soldiers why Should we be melancholy boys Why soldiers why Whose business is to die What sighing fye Let[s] not fear, Drink and be Jolly, boys T''is he, you or I Cold, hot, wet or dry We're always bound to follow boys and scorn to fly. O, T'is is in vain I mean not to upbraid you boys O, T'is is in vain for soldiers to complain Should next campaign send us to him who made us boys We're free from pain But should we remain A Bottle and kind Land lady cure's all again"

Triguard Miniatures 40mm

 

Extensive FIW and AWI figures. Triguard Miniatures Home - Triguard Miniatures

49mm American War of Independence

 These look good. Range

Fort Ticonderoga's 1775 map

 Learn more about the map (object ID 1992.16, photo by Gavin Ashworth, © Fort Ticonderoga) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29569

Battle of the Chateauguay

26th October 1813 – A combined force of British regulars, Canadian militia, and Mohawks defeat the Americans in the Battle of the Chateauguay.

In Defence of their Homelands - Canada.ca

Mohawk Warrior from Tyendinaga, Autumn 1813

 (Painting by Ron Volstad (Department of National Defence))

Black Watch Grenadiers

 

Thang Ho Photography at Fort Massac

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Hot Stuff - British Army Song

 Written by Sergeant Ned Botwood of the 47th Regiment of Foot, before he was killed in the assault at Montmorency during Wolfe’s Quebec campaign in 1759.

Harmar's Defeat

 Major defeat in the Northwest Territory War. Here

Today in history

 Siege of Yorktown - Wikipedia

Today in 1780

 

The Royalton raid was a British-led Indian raid in 1780 against various towns along the White River Valley in the Vermont Republic during the American Revolutionary War. It was the last major Indian raid in New England.^[1]

Apple River Fort

Facebook
 

YOUNG WASHINGTON Official Trailer (2025)

 Young Washington - Wikipedia

60th Grenadiers by David S. Lentz

 Mather's Company. At Fort Ligonier Days Oct. 12 2025

French and Indian War - Czech Reenactment Group

 See more Facebook

Also out

 

HäT – 8343 – AWI British Infantry

 These have come out. More soon when I find out more. Pretty exciting. 1/72.

Jean Thurel 90 years a soldier

Jean Thurel: Ninety Years a Private Soldier - Journal of the American Revolution
 

Photos in the woods at Bath American Museum

 
it was difficult to get good photos in the woods as it was dark but we tried

Battle of Bemis Heights (October 7)

 Battles of Saratoga - Wikipedia

A decisive defeat for Burgoyne. A major turning point in the war.

Tecumseh The Last Warrior 1995

 This movie isn't bad. Tecumseh: The Last Warrior - Wikipedia

Battle of the Thames

 The Battle of the Thames /ˈtɛmz/, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was an American victory over British forces and Tecumseh's Confederacy during the War of 1812. The battle took place on October 5, 1813, in Upper Canada near what is now Thamesville, Ontario. The British lost control of the Western District of Upper Canada as a result of the battle. Tecumseh was killed, and his confederacy collapsed.

A Dialogue in Hades by chevalier de James Johnstone

  Work dealing with Johnstone's time in Canada were printed in Quebec in 1887: The Campaign of 1760 in Canada and A dialogue in Hades: a parallel of military errors, of which the French and English armies were guilty, during the campaign of 1759, in Canada.^[1]

"A Dialogue in Hades" by Chevalier de James Johnstone Johnstone is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This work presents a unique perspective on military strategies and mistakes made during the 1759 campaign in Canada, focusing particularly on the encounters between French and English forces. The dialogue features key military figures, notably General Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm, who discuss their experiences and the errors that led to their respective downfalls. The opening of the text introduces a captivating discourse between Wolfe and Montcalm in the afterlife. They reflect on their fateful encounters during the military campaign in Canada, discussing their respective strategies, the failures in communication and preparedness, and the tragic outcomes of their decisions. The two generals confront the biases of their nations regarding their legacies, as Wolfe receives posthumous accolades while Montcalm laments his unjust treatment. The dialogue method employed illustrates their contrasting viewpoints and provides readers with an insightful examination of leadership, fate, and historical interpretation in the realm of war.A Dialogue in Hades by chevalier de James Johnstone Johnstone | Project Gutenberg

The American Revolution Extended Trailer | Premieres Nov. 16 on PBS | Ken Burns Documentary Series

 

Fort Ligonier

 

Final reminder about tomorrow's FREE program, The New American Revolution Film – One Hour Screener – Free Event! , going on tomorrow, Sunday, October 5 at 3 p.m. in our Center for History Education!

Be one of the first to see the first hour of the upcoming Ken Burns / PBS six-part, 12 hour documentary, "The American Revolution".

Did you know that the film crew filmed some of Fort Ligonier's own reconstructed buildings for this documentary? See if you can spot any of our fort during this sneak peek of the full documentary (we will be looking too-we have no idea where in the documentary our fort buildings might appear!)

"The American Revolution," a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, premieres November 16, 2025, on PBS.

Le Lys sous L'Erable

 French group. (1) Le Lys sous l'Erable | Facebook

Photo credit: Julien Danielo Author Photographer

Mid 90s Massachussetts Provincials at Fort Ti

 

Chambly mid 90s

 

The Conspiracy of Pontiac by Francis Parkman Jr - Audiobook ( Part 1/3 )

 This book though now out of date now was the definitive account for 100 years. Still a good read.

Francis Parkman - Wikipedia

Fort George Romsey Hampshire.

This place (a wooden fort cum trading post) figured in our plans 30 years ago. We organised a weekend there in late October. It was a hang out for Buckskinners - you would pay a camp fee and there would be trading and axe throwing etc. They had about 8 weekends a year. The owner had a Western clothing shop in Southampton. He sold things like tomahawks and also beer. So we arranged to have a get together in late October. There was a good woodland there but because of the neighbours you couldn't fire muskets. We put posters up there as there was people with F&I kit who were regular visitors.

Joe Lee artist

 When we were starting in the mid 90s Joe Lee's artwork was everywhere. Did a lot for The Forces of Montcalm and Wolfe and Heritage Books.

New France & Old England 30th anniversary

 New France & Old England 30th anniversary | Facebook

A new group on Facebook for reminiscing about reenacting the French and Indian war in the 90s.

Battle of Longue-Pointe 1775

 Today is the 250th of this battle. Wiki

Saratoga

 Today's anniversary. Wiki

MI Past and Present 1991 G Embleton and P Haythornthwaite's article British Infantry of the Seven Years War

 This was very influential in the 90s. A lot of the activity from 30 years ago was with these pieces.

Part 2 here M I Past Present 1991 37. : SKORPIO : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Part 3 here M I Past Present 1991 39. : SKORPIO : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

King George's Indians 1775-83 Robin May G Embleton

 

Article from MI Past and Present here

Wolfe

 By Bryan Fosten. Military Illustrated Past and Present

Article by John Mollo on the making of the movie Revolution

 

Siege of Fort St. Jean 1775

 Commenced today 250 years ago. Wiki

Battle of Harlem Heights 1776

 Battle in the American Revolution. Wiki

Signal Hill 1762

 Battle of Signal Hill - Wikipedia

Today's anniversary is the last battle of the SYW in the North American theatre.

How Stands the Glass Around (A.K.A. "General Wolfe's Song") - Fife & Drum

 JGBaroque says

This tune came to my attention as a listener had commented on my version of "General Wolfe's March" (link below) and pointed out that they expected to hear this melody, and were a bit disappointed that it weren't. I had not heard the tune, but was delighted to find that it was actually a folk song, earliest referenced in 1729. The alternative title - "General Wolfe's Song" - was not something that had been just smacked upon it as a selling title, but it was reportedly so that James Wolfe, who commanded the British victoriously at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 but died in action, sung this song before the battle. It doesn't seem unlikely, as the lyrics reference a soldiers defiant life in the constant nearness of death. The drums, as well as the harmonies, is my own arrangement, echoing the dampened sound of funeral drums. The image shows the death of James Wolfe at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, painted by the English artist Edward Penny, sometime around 1763-1764, close to the actual event.

from the wiki

"How Stands the Glass Around", also referred to as "General Wolfe's Song", is an English folk song.^[1] The lyrics express the suffering of soldiers, wherefore the song was primarily popular among people serving in the military.^[2] It deals with the helplessness experienced during war and the boldness demanded in the military, but also about reducing fear and pain by consuming alcohol. One paper suggests that it was the favourite song of Alexander Hamilton.^[3]

Background

The oldest known reference to the song is an alternative text written for a ballad opera in the year 1729.^[4][1][2] It became notorious after Wolfe was reported to have sung it before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759), gaining thereby the alternative title of "General Wolfe's Song".^[1][2][5]

Lyrics

How stands the glass around
For shame, ye take no care, me boys
How stands the glass around
Let mirth and wine abound
The trumpets sound
The colours, they are flying, boys
To fight, kill or wound
May we still be found
Content with our hard fare, me boys
On the cold ground

Why, soldiers, why
Should we be melancholy, boys
Why, soldiers, why
Whose business ’tis to die
What sighing fie
Damn fear, drink on, be jolly boys
’Tis he, you and I
Cold, hot, wet or dry
We’re always bound to follow, boys
And scorn to fly

’Tis but in vain
I mean not to upbraid you, boys
’Tis but in vain
For soldiers to complain
Should next campaign
Send us to Him that made us, boys
We’re free from pain
But should we remain
A bottle and kind landlady
Cures all again