In June of 2008 Boy Scout Troop 3 of Springfield Illinois, sponsored by Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church, camped at Fort Kaskaskia and attended the 38th Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres.

 

Photo Gallery of June 7.
scout tents at our campsite Garrison Hill Cemetery with view across the Mississippi Another view of Garrison Hill Cemetery

Troop 3 picked this campsite at Fort Kaskaskia. We departed Springfield around 7:30 p.m. and arrived before 11:00 p.m. The air held the odor of honeysuckle, pine, and clover. Many scouts tried to sleep outdoors to enjoy the fine air, but mosquitos harrassed many of them through the night, and so in the wee hours of the morning some relocated to inside their tents.
 		Garrison Hill Cemetery has some of the graves of the first Europeans to live in Illinois. Many graves were moved from the cemetery of the historic village of Kaskaskia when changes in the river flow threatened to erode away the old burial grounds. The view across the cemetery looks out across the Mississippi River. In 1703, when this area was settled by the French pioneers the Kaskaskia River flowed where the Mississippi now does. A change in the Mississippi's flow put Kaskaskia on the Missouri side of the river, and eventually the river eroded away what was left of the state's first capital.

     
Fort Kaskaskia Mississippi River Sebastian

Here you can see the earthworks that remain from the French (and then later, American) Fort Kaskaskia, constructed around 1759, abandoned, re-occupied by the Americans, and then again abandoned around 1807 aside from a brief use during the war of 1812-1814. The fort's main claim to fame is that many of the Corps of Discovery joined Lewis and Clark from postings at this fort.
 		Here is a view of the Mississippi River from near Fort Kaskaskia. Changes in the course of the River put a significant parcel of land belonging to Illinois over on the Missouri side of the River at this point. The point across the river seen in the image above is close to the original site of the town of Kaskaskia, now submerged, an important French town in the 18th century and the first capital of Illinois (from 1818-1820). Here is Sebastian Hadley-Ives up in the morning of June Seventh.

     
Matt Konrad Greg Small Sebastian in his tent

Representatives of Troop 3 watch the opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on June 7th, the 38th Annual Rendezvous.
 		Some scouts from Troop 3 arrive at the Fort de Chartres Rendezvous. Here is Sebastian Hadley-Ives taking a nap in a tent.

     
Warren and Green Scouts walk past bastion Sebastian in his tent

Scoutmaster Bob Warren and Assistant Scoutmaster Matt Green stand outside the front gate to Fort de Chartres.
 		Troop 3 approaches the main gate, walking in front of the rebuilt southeast bastion of Fort de Chartres Here is Sebastian Hadley-Ives at the closing ceremonies at 4:00 p.m.

     
Fife Troop Indian Tree

A fife and drum group that was dressed rather warmly for the hot weather, which exceeded 30 degrees Celsius already by the opening ceremony.
 		A historical re-enacting enthusiast participating as an Indian. Some of those who dress as Indians for the Rendezvous are in fact Native Americans who celebrate their heritage by participating in this festival celebrating our history. A tree growing by the parade grounds in the old Fort de Chartres.

     
A boy with a red coat Children with a wagon A cute little girl

Not all the historical re-enacting participants portray soldiers at the fort. Many dress as camp followers, wives, children, French pioneers and settlers, and the later immigrants from all over Europe who came to settle this part of the Mississippi River valley in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
 		Although the soldiers look splendid in their uniforms, and everyone enjoys the drums, fifes, and bagpipes, still it is charming to see the little children participating in the Rendezvous dressed in their historic costumes. It seems likely that these children had ancestors 10-12 generations ago who might have dressed similarly and lived nearby. Did those distant ancestors have similar thoughts and feelings? Not only men enjoy trying to re-create costumes and living styles that were employed by our ancestors six to twelve generations ago. Many women also participate. Perhaps dressing up this way and trying to briefly re-create some aspects of our ancestors' lives is a way to honor our heritage and keep ourselves mindful of the transcendent human condition.

     
British Troops Historical Re-enactment American Troops

On October 10th of 1765, exactly 227 years before I was married, the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment took over Fort de Chartres, which was soon renamd Fort Cavendish by the British.
 		French troops march through the old French fortress. These men recall the old soldiers led by Governor Kerlerec out here in remote North America during the war (1754-1763), Americans of the first decade of the 19th century stand at the opening ceremony.

     
Potpourri Beads Corn Husk Dolls

There are many vendors selling their merchant wares during the Rendezvous. Perhaps you can imagine the delicious scents in this tent where the herb and tea merchant offers his goods.
 		Beads were an important trade good in the 18th century, and so it seems right that this display of beads for sale should catch your eye at the Rendesvous. Corn husk dolls sunbathe as they wait for some child or collector to come along and acquire them.

 

 

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