PORTSMOUTH --
Yesterday morning, a revolution was in the making at Glen Farm.
In one field, dozens of British soldiers in red coats and white breeches gathered to witness the flogging of a soldier who had stolen his commander's watch.
Directly across from them, American troops practiced aiming their muskets and beat lightly on their snare drums in preparation for battle.
In the middle, the two groups mingled over hot dogs and Del's Lemonade.
At this year's reenactment of the Battle of Rhode Island, celebrated on its 225th anniversary, 18th-century authenticity was heavily on display. But the 21st century was hardly left behind.
Men in full battle regalia carried digital cameras and camcorders. Women in laced-up bodices and long skirts sipped from water bottles. The vernacular veered sharply between eras.
"This is great! This should be on television," said 16-year-old Jeff Sands of Marblehead, Mass., while watching the flogging.
A minute later, he was back in character as a fife-player from Glover's Regiment, betting a sailor "five pence" that the thief would begin crying after five lashes.
Sands was one of more than 1,000 reenactors assembled in Portsmouth this weekend to commemorate the fight between the American and British forces on Aug. 29, 1778, the critical conflict of the state's Revolutionary War campaign.
They came from all over New England and as far away as North Carolina, brought spouses, children, and friends to cheer them on in battle, and elected, to varying degrees, to live the Colonial lifestyle for a weekend.
Joe Ryan, a sergeant with the 5th New York Regiment, was staying in a nearby bed-and-breakfast with his wife. Randy Raymond, a private in the 1st New York, was roughing it in the camp's canvas tents and straw pallets.
Lori Jacques, a drummer with the 6th Connecticut Light Artillery, took her involvement to a new level: she chose to portray Miles Cook, the 15-year-old drummer of the 18th-century regiment. She has looked up Cook's genealogy on the Internet and corresponded with some of his descendants.
"I like to really flesh something out," said Jacques, who has learned that both Cook and his father were farmers, and that their ancestors arrived in America on the Mayflower. "I love this stuff. Reality sucks."
Early in the day, soldiers mingled with spectators, snapped photos, and visited the merchants -- some of whom had traveled from Canada and New York -- selling period-style clothes, weapons, and bread.
But just before 1 p.m., both sides assembled to prepare for battle.
The American troops marched up Glen Farm Road, and took position near the stables of the Glen Farm Equestrian Center. The British pursued them, and the first musket shots were fired several hundred yards from where the spectators stood outside the Leonard Brown House.
White puffs of smoke rose as the muskets were fired, and the crowd waited patiently for the troops to advance to the closer field, where the height of the battle would take place.
George Neumann, a commentator from North Attleboro, filled the time by providing details about the period costumes and the history of the battle. Vendors stationed nearby sold everything from hamburgers to SpongeBob SquarePants balloons.
As the soldiers drew closer, however, Neumann's voice took on the frantic, fevered pitch of a sportscaster, and the spectators leaned forward in their folding chairs to watch the fight.
The American and British forces got in formation at opposite ends of the field, and advanced on one another. The air grew smoky, and smelled sulphuric. As different regiments fired, bodies began to fall on the grass.
"That man's pretending to be dead," a mother explained to her daughter, as they watched anxiously for signs of movement.
As the troops advanced, retreated, and reloaded, Neumann continued to call the play-by-play.
"And a ripping volley from the Americans!"
"It's going to be a see-saw battle right here this afternoon!"
"Will George the Third or Washington prevail here?"
Suddenly, the firing ended, and both armies agreed to call a halt to the battle. They lined up in formation opposite one other, advanced slowly, and began to fall out and retreat.
Two American reenactors, celebrating the country's victory, high-fived before walking away.
To contact Jessica Ullian, phone 253-1200 or e-mail JUllian@projo.com
