The British Are Coming, The British Are Coming! No, Wait… Never Mind

My ancestry on both sides of my family is primarily Irish and I have the temper to back up that claim.  Pollock, my married name,  is not Polish, despite most people thinking it is and pronounce my surname, “Pole-lock”.  (The correct pronunciation is “Paul-lick”.).

Recently my son learned about a reenactment event about the Jacobite Rising, which was the last challenge to the British Crown by the Scots, led by Charles Edward Stuart in 1745.  The Scottish campaign began at Glenfinnan in the Scottish Highlands, and they decided to invade England in November of 1745, but ultimately turned back on December 4, 1745. 

A group of reenactors from several states organized an event in March at Fort Loudoun in Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania, which is a 2.5 hour drive from our homes.  My son is a huge history buff and well, I love to take photographs and like men who wear kilts…. It was a no-brainer that we would rise early and make the trek out to the Fort.  The weather two days prior to the event had been stormy with a lot of rain. So.much.rain.  We arrived around 10:30 am in the misting rain to a water-logged, muddy Fort Loudoun with the temperature fluctuating between 29º-32º.  We were invited inside the Barracks by a “Scottish Highlander” and were welcomed by reenactors who were warming up at the fireplaces and busy making breakfast and also peeling potatoes in preparation for that evening’s meal of haggis and other culinary delights.

The bagpiper had to put down his pipes as the weather outside was not ideal for music.  A lovely lass shared fresh baked bread from the hearth with us.  Highlanders and Lowlanders regaled us with tales and history.  And the British?  Well… unfortunately, due to the weather, many of the reenactors cancelled coming to the event – including the British troops, except for one brave British soldier.

I was fascinated by the different styles of kilts, particularly the ones that had an excessive amount of fabric in the back that could be pulled up and used as a cloak, and not exposing the Scot’s. backside.  We toured the Guard House, the Blacksmith’s Shop, and the Museum.  I took over 600 photographs.  We hung out in that misting rain for over 3 hours and the dang British never showed up.  It appears that this modern day Jacobite Rising was a win for the Scots.

My son and decided to make our way home.  We stopped in historic Bedford at a delightful coffee shop He-Brews and also Bedford Candies.  We watched tipsy people, who were part of a Bedford Brewery Tasting Tour, stumble over the cobblestone streets.  We meandered on back roads and visited several Covered Bridges.  We finished our day with dinner at the historic and haunted Jean Bonnet Tavern.  We arrived home 14 hours after we had left in the morning.

And the British?  Well, we all know how they fared when they crossed the sea over to America in the late 1700s.