THE GEORGIA REFUGEES

Photos from Fort Toulouse

April 6-8, 2001

Last updated on April 10, 2001

Fort Toulouse, first constructed in 1717 (rebuilt c. 1750) in Wetumpka, Alabama, schedules a French Colonial Living History program every third weekend from April to November.

Technically, this is supposed to be a French and Indian War/Seven Years War period event, but they do allow a bit of wiggle room for other 18th Century-ish folks, so we showed up in all of our glorious regalia. For once, the show had enough opponents that the French were required to give some actual thought to ignoring us.

Although Toulouse is not our time period or place, it did allow us an opportunity to drill and work on refining our impressions for those upcoming events when we will be judged more closely. Although we encamped a bit more heavily than we plan to in future events, we managed to present a suitable military presence and acquitted ourselves handily in the engagement. These photos are ones I scanned in after the event, but we will have more to post in the coming days. The first photo above is the limber and cannon with our camp, such as it is, in the rear.

The next is a shot from the reverse side looking out toward the open field.

Pulling the piece, so to speak. Steve Brown by the right carriage wheel (left in photo), Terry Oglesby by the left carriage wheel (right in photo), Earl Smith on the left bricole, Chuck Blake on the right bricole, Charlie McCulloh on the left limber tree, Chris Long on the right limber tree, and Mark Lewis far, far away in yonder treeline, perusing his copy of pornographic Dutch engravings from 1762.

Our erstwhile brothers in arms. (Just wait a few years, fellers, and we’ll be making noise at YOU with our cannon!

The above photos are all ones I took on Saturday, and below are a few (out of the billion or so) that Charlie McCulloh took (and sent me via email—which took forever to download from my mail server). There is also one of Ruth McCulloh over on her new page in the Members section, so be sure and check it, too.

First, a shot of a bewildered Frog and his well rounded scout, wondering from whence comes all zee noize—as Mark Hubbs and Linda Jo Smith look on, Steve Brown fondles a jug of liquid refreshment.

We were pleased to be joined at Toulouse by Jerald Eyer (right), although he did frequently facilitate Mark Lewis’ forays from camp to peruse various knives, brain tanned leather, trade goods and indecently clad spectators of the feminine variety.

AND, a shot of a big bunch of us ‘round the 3 pounder—from left to right: Ruth McCulloh, Steve Brown, Charlie McCulloh, Mark Lewis, Jerald Eyer, Earl Smith, Linda Jo Smith, Mark Hubbs, Al Stone, and Chris Long.