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Brigand's Grove 2011 - Charlestown, IN
Photo: Mission
Don Dunkelberger holding a real period razor.
Chapter 2nd. Of Saturday during the day when the public appeared and the displays were set up. Displays include cannon, your surgeon's meager set-up, a sutler, jugglers and the Tavern. Also featuring a detailed account of the Saturday skirmish and a somewhat less detailed account of the Saturday battle (which the author missed as will be explained).
I arrived bright and not-so-early on Saturday to find Michael and Kate had finally arrived. They had actually arrived Friday night while I was chatting with Iron Spike and Larry, but they didn't see me and I was too entranced in conversation to see them, so they set up their site and then went out to dinner.
I wandered around the camp and stopped in to see Larry again, who now had two other people with him, Don Dunkelberger and his wife. (I think it was his wife. I didn't actually get formally introduced to her, so I don't know her name. Although, who are we kidding, even if I had been formally introduced, I would have forgotten her name if I hadn't written it down immediately, like I did Don's.) Don was showing off a razor he had bought from the one vendor who was set up in the grove, McCannon Creek Station. This is a sutlery run by David and Beverly Book, who were at the site along with their son Jake and his wife Autumn. They had a wonderful display of both reproduction and actual antique items.
 Photo: Mission David Book at his sutlery, McCannon Creek Station. |
 Photo: Mary Lyons "The key is here somewhere..." |
 Photo: Mission Jake dressing as a lobster back |
Photo: Mary Lyons
Don Dunkelberger and your author chatting on Saturday.
Don was immensely pleased to have finally found a period correct razor, explaining that he had been looking for a real period razor for over ten years. I told him he was lucky he spotted it first, because I had been looking for one for several years myself. The sides of a modern straight razor are scalloped so that your rounded fingertips can hold it when it gets wet and soapy. For whatever reason, period razors are not scalloped on the sides and the blade extends all the way back to the handle, making them very tricky for those not used to handling sharp, slippery steel items to handle without cutting their fingertips. This is why the barber-surgeons of the Golden Age of Piracy were tasked with barbering on ships - the sailors needed their fingertips. As a point of interest, Don told me that Ben Franklin had shaved his entire adult life using a period straight razor and did so without the aid of a mirror! He was a very interesting fellow to chat with.
Photo: Mission
Sword fighting siblings. (Some things
never change)
Photo: Mission
Beverly Book and her yappy dachshunds.
There were a number of neat moments to capture in the campsite, just like Pirates of Paynetown. Next door to Kate and Michael's tent was a family whose kids enjoyed sparring with each other. This seemed highly appropriate. On the other side of Mark and Jennie's place was the sutler I mentioned previously. Beverly Book had brought her two Dachshunds with her, who proved to be a little on the yappy side when greeting new people. (Regular readers may recall how key dogs seem to be to the Paynetown event. Even thought there weren't nearly as many dogs at Brigand's Grove, their presence was definitely felt here.
The event officially opened at 10am. I had decided to only bring about a third of my surgical equipment with me. Jennie and Mark Gist were the only ones who brought a table. (Kate Bagley said they would have brought theirs but a certain ship's surgeon had broken it at the Put-in-Bay event. Who me?) So we only had one small table between the lot of us to work with. Jennie kindly said I could use the half of the table nearest the public to display the surgical gear, so I set up mini-shop there. Mark Gist had brought his newest cannon with him and set it up in front of their site. The traffic was reasonably steady and we both got several opportunities to to explain our stuff to the public.
 Photo: Mission Surgery AND dinner - on the same table! |
 Photo: Mary Lyons Mark Gist, proud father. |
 Photo: Mission Mark training youngsters to fire a cannon. |
Photo: Mary Lyons
Mission worms the cannon while Jennie guards the vent.
Of course, just going through the motions of preparing and firing a cannon isn't really that much fun. No matter how loudly Mark shouted "Bang!" when he announced that he was lighting the charge, it didn't have quite the effect you'd hope. So he got his faithful, if (in my case) slightly forgetful, Mercury crew members together to do some actual cannon firing. As Michael put it, we were "aiming at an offending tree leaf on a hill side tree opposite the camp.
Jennie Gist was in charge of guarding the touchhole so that air couldn't get into the barrel while we were jamming the cannon firing tools into the maw of the piece. I was in charge of worming the piece to clear debris from the last firing as well as ramming the load home by pushing it down the barrel with the rammer. Michael Bagley was in charge of swabbing the barrel (cleaning it by running a wet sponge on a stick down the length of it) and loading the gunpowder. Mark Gist was our crew leader who was in charge of giving orders, holding the powder until the cannon was ready to be loaded, priming the cannon by putting the gunpowder down the cannon touch hole and actually firing the thing with a linstock that held a slow-burning match.
 Photo: Mary Lyons Michael loads the cannon. |
 Photo: Mary Lyons Mark Gist fires the cannon by putting the slow match to the touch hole. |
Before moving on to the next subject, I would like it noted here that this was Jennie Gist's first time on a cannon firing squad and she did not get the stinky swab sponge face rubbing that you must be subjected to after your first cannon firing. Put-in-Bay was Michael's first cannon-firing and he is still due for a stinky-sponge face swabbing. Regular readers may wonder why I keep bringing this up. It is mainly because I had to do it and, like a fraternity hazing, if you have been publicly humiliated for your first cannon firing, you want to make sure that all your good friends have that same opportunity. I'm just performing a public service here.
Photo: Mission
The Budabi Brothers entertain the crowd while we wait.
The official schedule called for an argument to spontaneously break out at the John Work house at 11am. Around that time, people down at the grove campsite started asking when that skirmish was going to start. Well, not many people. Maybe two. Eventually we decided we should really get that 11am skirmish going. Around 11:20 or so we trooped up to the house to find that the people inside the house weren't ready for the skirmish to begin.
So Mark Gist, Clint Barnett and me - who had volunteered to be outside the house protesting - stood around and waited with the crowd who was gathered to watch the spontaneous, now thirty-or-so minute late fight. Fortunately the Amazing Budabi Brothers know an expectant crowd when they see one, so they were out there with us showing off their juggling. They did this for a good ten or fifteen minutes while the people in the house were filling waterjugs to throw at us.
Photo: Mission
Clint yelling at women.
The plan was for those of us outside to harangue several people in the tavern, who were to insult us and throw water on Clint. (When asked if he would would be the water-target, Clint replied, "Sure. It'll be refreshing!" That is the kind of guy Clint is.) Eventually the people in the house got everything arranged, the Budabi Brothers scurried away with their juggling objects and we started complaining. Since there was no script, Mark Gist complained about the price of the drinks and I complained that Clint hadn't been served a drink when he was last in the tavern.
This went on long enough that Mark and I traded roles - I complained about the prices and Mark complained about Clint's lack of service. Clint was wonderful, poking inside the windows and threatening the ladies inside, even though they technically weren't a part of the skirmish.
Eventually one of them threw a bit of water on Clint, who become suitably outraged. Not long after that, Michael surprised Clint by pouring the entire contents of a pitcher on him. Mark Gist started firing his gun, as you can see by rolling over the image of him below center right. (Two roll-over image effects on one Journal! How about them apples? Go ahead, roll your mouse over it... C'mon, do it for me...) While we were waiting for the skirmish to spontaneously break out, a Scottish re-enactor had showed up to add his firepower to ours. Mark and the Scot fired several rounds until Jake Book appeared from the woods in his red coat to break up the mob. We scurried around the side of the house to avoid being caught by the authorities. Skirmish completed.
 Photo: Kate Bagley A soaked Clint Barnett |
 Photo: Kate Bagley Wet cats get mad! |
 Photo: Kate Bagley Mouse over to see Mark Gist firing! |
 Photo: Mission The Scottish guy firing. |
Photo: Mission
Budabi Brother Eric works the crowd.
Speaking of the Budabi Brothers, I will now speak of the Budabi Brothers. They actually juggle as a way to earn their living, although I couldn't say for certain if this is their only trade. The team is actually composed of two brothers: Eric and Nick.
The Budabi Brothers showed up in the grove after the skirmish ended and put on their entire show. (The juggling bit before the skirmish was apparently just a warm up.) While I didn't actually see their entire show up close, I did watch in between the people who were at the surgeon's table. I managed to break away to get a few photos of what they did between presentations. The Budabi's show featured all sorts of contraptions. They juggled bean bags, those little thin bowling pins like the ones you saw in the photos in the skirmish and flaming stuff! (Flaming stuff is always a crowd pleaser.) This was performed on ladders and precariously balanced platforms as you see in the photos below.
You'll also find a photo of Autumn Book there. I photographed her mainly because I liked the parasol effect. Regular readers will recall my persistence in putting parasol girl Krista Graves in these accounts, even though she was actually only at the Pirates of Paynetown event in 2009 and even though she totally dissed me recently by not accepting my Facebook friend request. (This could have something to do with the fact that she has no clue who I am because she's never read a Surgeon's Journal. Or perhaps it's because she has read one and know exactly who I am. It's difficult to say.) Of course, you regular readers are already used to the fact that I can milk a dumb joke like this forever. Come to think of it, I should really stick a shot of Jay Babcock in here doing something in this Journal as well.
 Photo: Mission Kids, do not try this at him. (If you even could.) |
 Photo: Mission Autumn Book and daughter watch the Budabis |
 Photo: Mission Krista, who was not there. |
Photo: Mission
Mick admiring the bonesaw.
While working my table, a re-enactor appeared and started studying the bonesaw that gunsmith Commodore Swab (Chad Azevedo) had made for me last year. He studied the bonesaw for quite a long time after I told him it was a reproduction made by a friend. "This is a beautiful piece. You can tell how much work has gone into it." This was my introduction to Mick, a gentleman who was helping Nathan rebuild the John Work house. Mick hand-made all the hinges and chandeliers for the house. He explained to me how Chad had clearly spent a lot of time with a file making it look professional. "Yet he still left enough of the grain work visible so that you can tell it is hand made." He again told me what a beautiful piece of work my saw was.
As it happened, Mick had stopped by my table on the way down to show Jay Henderson the mill wheel from John Work's original mill. I asked if I could tag along. Both he and Jay blacksmithed, and they spent most of the walk over to the mill talking about the bonesaw, what sort of wrought iron was best for working (antique, solid wrought iron - apparently the newer wrought iron isn't really real wrought iron at all, it's some sort of steel.
Photo: Mission
The old mill wheel, apparently of wrought iron.
Their comments made it clear to me that the new wrought iron was clearly inferior. Apparently real wrought iron also welds together like butter.) Mick told Jay that he was about to see some really beautiful wrought iron, because the mill wheel was made of it. I wouldn't know the difference between real wrought iron and steel if you labelled it for me, so I mostly just listened.
Mick led us down the hill to the remains of the old mill wheel, which we all stood and admired. Mick said they had brought a metal detector down and that there was a lot more metal buried on the site. I was amazed at the amount of work that had been done clearing the area. Among other things they had found was a piece of the old stone basement wall of the mill (the mill wheel machinery would have been in the basement.) You can sort of see the old basement wall in the photo below center.
Mick also explained to us that the creek had originally been diverted and tunnel made through the hill for the water to travel to the location of the mill to generate the appropriate amount of water force. He pointed out where they thought the tunnel used to be. I found a painting of the mill up at the John Work house showing the mill as it originally appeared, (below right). Mick explained that Nathan is working on getting money to rebuild the mill as part of the cultural center he envisions for the area. When I left, Mick and Jay were still studying the path the water used to take and hunting for the exact location of the buried mouth of the old tunnel.
 Photo: Mission Admiring what's left of the old mill |
 Photo: Mission A piece of the original mill basement wall |
 Photo: Mission Painting of the old mill |
Back at the camp, I found Kate describing to Michael in lurid detail how they were going to go out to dinner at an air-conditioned restaurant in their air-conditioned van and then go back to my air-conditioned hotel room and take a nice cool shower.
Photo: Mary Lyons
One sure way to beat the heat is to pass out.
If you have now gotten the idea that it was pretty hot in the grove, you have gotten the idea. It was definitely a day for making your clothes smell nice and period correct. (By which I mean "gamey.") Since there weren't many folks hanging around begging for an explanation of period surgical equipment at that point, I announced my intention to go up to the tavern where they had iced lemonade, Gatorade and water. Michael and Kate were immediately on board. So we all scaled the hill.
The Tavern was on the second floor of the John Work house. The Tavern hosts were Brandon Scott and Jessie Dickenson, just as at Paynetown. Now, as then, they did a sparkling job of providing provender. The windows were wide open and the drinks were ready and waiting. Because it was on a hill, it was definitely cooler in the tavern than it was in the grove.
My plan had been to come up, get some refreshment, and head back down to man my surgeon's station. But that cool breeze...ah. Plus there was lots of food and good service. Brandon and Jessie are such interesting conversationalists that time passes quickly when you hang around their place. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we didn't exactly hurry back. We tarried. We dawdled. We didn't leave for a half an hour at least. Autumn and Jake book showed up and started playing period music in the room across the hall and it was hard to argue that this was the place to be.
 Photo: Mission Kate, Michael, Jessica & Brandon in the Tavern |
 Photo: Jessie Dickenson A nice shot of Kate and Michael |
 Photo: Mission Autumn & Jake provide music |
Photo: Mary Lyons
Mission explaining something (I can't tell what.)
Of course, I couldn't stay up there the entire day because I was there to present. (Besides, someone might decide to use my surgical equipment to open bottles or something.) Michael also wanted to go back down to the grove because it was getting on 2:30 and that meant the 2:00 battle should probably be getting started soon. (Michael was one of the people responsible for organizing the battle plan, after all.) I think Kate might have stayed there forever had we given her the least sign one of us was going to do that. However, we decided we should go and see about all of these things and trooped back down into the valley.
Michael wandered off to gather the troops and explain the battle plan while I stayed at the Gists' tent and amused some folks with tales of the surgical arts. In fact, quite a number of people appeared to check out the surgical arts and I found myself pleasantly busy. That was until two Boy Scouts arrived.
Oh, there was nothing wrong with the two Scouts, they listened attentively and asked good questions. The issue was that their presence encouraged two more scouts to come over. And ask questions...many of them the same as the first two scouts had asked. Then two or three more came over...and asked a lot of the same questions. Then a small group arrived, one of whom was definitely a Surgical Tool Toucher...and asked the same questions. This happened at least five or six times. After they left, Jennie Gist said that she didn't mind their interest, she was just tired of hearing how a trepanation was done. (Something I can't understand at all. It's just so fascinating.) As a result of this non-stop stream of Scouts, your ship's surgeon missed the entire battle.
 Photo: Mission The pirates and defenders discuss the battle plan before heading off to the field |
 Photo: Mary Lyons Mission explains cupping |
Photo: Mary Lyons
The King's men crouch
The battle was pretty short, which was part of the reason I missed it. I kept assuming the trickle of Scouts would stop and I'd at least be able to jog on over and get a few snapshots and comprehend the essence of the scenario they were presenting. Alas, it was not to be so. By the time the kids had stopped appearing, all of the battle fatalities were revived and the crew was walking back to the campsite.
I could see bits of it, so I can verify that it took place in the no man's land between the split rail fence and the yellow police tape that marked the edge of the parking lot. Other than that, I can only tell you what I overheard from some of the folks who were in it. Actually, I can't even tell you much of that. That battle appeared to be some extension of the skirmish previously described. I believe the King's men had been sent down to Brigand's Grove to rouse the brigands. I do know they took Michael Bagley prisoner. Someone was charged with keeping him from escaping near the edge of the forest, but, according to Michael, "He must have gotten bored with watching me and decided to club me so that he could go join the battle and fire his musket." So Michael was clobbered and thrown into the brush.
Brandon Scott also mentioned being shot and falling into the brush which was apparently full of prickly, sticky plants. While I am sorry I missed everything, I am grateful that I didn't go over there and get roped into participating because your author is allergic to prickly, sticky plants. The battle pretty well marked the end of the planned material for Saturday, so I'm just going to stop typing now. (Sudden, isn't it?)
 Photo: Mary Lyons The King's men firing on the brigands and pirates and stuff |
 Photo: Mary Lyons Pirates Mark Gist and Brandon |
 Photo: Mary Lyons Jake Book firing at the brigands |