Visitors to Gunston Hall, Virginia, on Sunday June 2d, 1996 were in for a treat.
The event, sponsored by the 64th Regiment of Foot and the First Virginia Regiment, drew over 1300 Revolutionary War Reenactors to the grounds of George Mason's historic plantation.
Among these numbers were the current three members of the nascent British Brigade Pioneer Corps. The 18th century term "pioneer" may be misleading to modern readers. A fitting modern description is "combat engineer". These men, chosen from the companies of the regiment, were charged with constructing and deploying field fortifications and obstacles. In the assault the pioneers breached and reduced the enemy's obstacles and fortifications. The pioneers wore fur trimmed leather caps, carried various wood cutting and entrenching tools, and sported the mark of the pioneer, the leather work apron.
As a part of Sunday's battle scenario, the pioneers were to deploy their cheval de frise to protect an advanced piece of artillery. The "fog of war" acted to change the plan. As the pioneer detachment stood in line for the color ceremony, the Fourth Continental Dragoons attacked and took the gun. What to do now? Quick thinking on Corporal Mike Ball's part provided the answer. We gathered our impedimenta and marched rapidly onto the field. The Royal Artillery officer, while dismayed at the loss of the gun, welcomed the added protection offered by the cheval de frise. The name is French for "horse from Friesland". This obstacle was the eighteenth century version of barbed wire. The sharpened, often iron-tipped lances, on a stout timber, served to deny ease of movement. Often, several chevaux de frise were chained together and then staked to the ground. This made them difficult to move or breach, especially under fire. The cheval de frise was designed to be reusable and portable. If the wood broke or rotted, the iron was reused. These obstacles could be loaded on wagons, carried about, and set up in minutes.
On Sunday the pioneer detachment demonstrated these properties on the field, as they quickly set up the obstacle. They later advanced their cheval de frise with the field pieces. This reenactment is the first time in years that such obstacles have been used on the field during Revolutionary War events. The detachment, consisting of Corporal Mike Ball, 42d Highland Regiment, and Privates Carl Johnson and John McQueney of the 64th Regiment, intend to build several chevaux de frise for use during reenactments and living history events. The reenactment of this important and interesting part of eighteenth century warfare adds to our understanding and presentation of battle during the American Revolution.