19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 13
October 18th, 1809. Fred goes up before the judge at the Old Bailey tomorrow, accused of the murder of poor Mr Armitage. We visit him daily in his cell, bringing bribes for the gaoler and [more…]
19th Century
19th Century
The Little Big Horn Campaign of 1876 Part Four – Outnumbered, Outmanoeuvred and Outgunned
After the annihilation of Custer’s force, the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne regrouped to attack Reno and Benteen. The fight continued until dark, approximately 21:00 and for much of the next day, with the outcome in [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 12
September 25th, 1809. I write this after our customary afternoon performance, as the scenery is being set up for the opening night of La Vestale. The past few days have been a furious succession of [more…]
17th Century
I Hate to Say This But . . .
Noticing an internet forum thread entitled, ‘You know you’re getting old when . . .,’ a personal ‘when’ came swiftly to mind as: ‘. . . you hear (usually much younger) people discussing something as [more…]
19th Century
Milestones in Nineteenth Century Firearms Development, Part Eight
Introduction During the first half of the 19th century great leaps forward were made in firearms technology and by the 1870s soldiers who 50 years earlier would have been supplied with flintlock, smoothbore muskets were [more…]
19th Century
The Little Big Horn Campaign of 1876 Part Three – The Battle of the Greasy Grass
Brigadier General Terry and Colonel were unaware of the Battle of the Rosebud and Crook’s retiring back to Goose Creek. Gibbon and Terry joined forces in early June at the mouth of Rosebud Creek, where [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 11
September 5th, 1809. It has been a busy month. Our aimless wanderings took us to Guildford, where we have been encamped in a tumbledown barn. The farmer is quite content with our presence, as we [more…]
19th Century
The Awful Moment
I suppose everyone has either visited, heard of it, or seen pictures of the awesome spectacle. Over the years there have been many attempts by people to go over the Falls, in barrels, balls, & [more…]
19th Century
Milestones in Nineteenth Century Firearms Development, Part Seven
Introduction By the 1860s it had become obvious that the days of the muzzle loading firearm were numbered and that any government that failed to re-arm its troops with breechloaders would quickly be left behind [more…]