ABSTRACT
This is not a scene from a Hollywood film, but it is what you might witness as a visitor to Colonial Williamsburg during the “Under the Redcoat” weekend. This weekend-long program marks the anniversary of the occupation of Williamsburg by Cromwell’s British forces before their retreat to Yorktown, Virginia, and the final major battle of the American Revolution. British military re-enactors from all over the U.S. and Canada come to town to participate with Colonial Williamsburg’s staff of historical interpreters. Over the course of the weekend, notable events such as the declaration of martial law and Cromwell’s address to the troops are re-enacted. In addition, interpreters demon - strate aspects of daily life for visitors from the perspectives of soldiers, escaped slaves who have joined Cromwell’s forces to gain their freedom, and camp followers who take care of the needs of the army (e.g. seamstresses, cooks, surgeons). Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg interact with these re-enactors, watch military drills and staged events (such as Cromwell’s address), and then retire to one of the colonial taverns for dinner by candlelight (but luckily with air conditioning).
