THIRD TRUMPET: MTA
It looks like we’ll have a decent
turnout for Military Through the Ages this year, even though it is
SNOWING
like crazy at the moment! For those of you not participating,
Jamestown
Settlement is open 9 AM to 5PM, and admission is $10.25 for adults, $5
for age 6-12. Oh, and for those of you who are participating for
the first time, you do NOT have to be in period clothing while setting
up on Friday, though you certainly may if you like. If you have
any
questions, ask soon, it’s time to march!
SECOND TRUMPET: MTT
Marching Through Time will be
April 10-11, 1999, at Marietta Mansion in Glenn Dale, MD. Our
soldiers
and civilians will be chatting up the public from 11 AM to 5 PM both
days.
A couple of us will be setting up on Friday the 9th while busloads of
school
kids are brought in to get a brief tour of whatever reenactors are
there--I
always have the first group help us set up the tent. This is a
good
event for first-timers (as well as veterans!) and I think we’ll have a
good turnout. Invitations have also gone out to a couple other
legions,
and we will share our camp space with them if necessary. Our
civilian
contingent will also be in attendance. Oh, and remember how I
told
you last month that “Charlie’s Angles” did not get invited to
MTA?
Well, they won’t be at MTT, either!! I can’t take complete credit
this time, since I was only one of several people who complained in the
right ear, but it is still a victory for truth and history!
Admission for the general public
is $5 for adults and $2 for students. No pets, please!
Marietta’s
phone number is 301--- and you can call them or Quintus for more
information.
Directions: From I-95/495
the Capital Beltway, take Exit 20 onto Rt. 450 East (Annapolis Rd.)
towards
Lanham and Annapolis. Go about 4 miles to a big intersection and
turn left onto Rt. 193; take the first left onto Bell Station Rd. and
left
again into Marietta. Notice: There is a LOT of new
construction
on Rt. 450, and it now includes a left turn where it meets Rt. 704--be
alert for other changes. Also, the general public should not turn
on Bell Station but go to the second left turn and park in the
recreation
center lot, then catch the shuttle vans to the site. There
will be plenty of signs.
For those setting up for the
school
groups on Friday, we should be in our tunics before 10 AM, and no cars
will be allowed into the camp area between then and 1 PM when the kids
leave. On Saturday, participants may may drive into the camp area
to off-load heavy gear before 9:30 AM, then must park at the rec center
or along the side of Rt. 193. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER upon
arrival, although the paperwork may be with your Commander rather than
at a central booth. You may need to give tag number of your car,
in case of emergency. I know little bureaucratic stuff like this
is a pain, but with all the lawyers in the world Marietta needs to
cover
its gluteus, so please help us do our part for this most helpful host
site.
AUXILIA
A number of people near and far
have recently expressed at least a passing interest in portraying
auxiliary
soldiers, and this is certainly a good thing. Long ago I made an
auxiliary shield (simply because I had a piece of wood the right
size!),
and at a couple of our first events it got some use because we had more
bodies than gear. With that clipeus and a sling, an otherwise
sidelined
legionary could leap into action as an auxiliary slinger. For a
long
time since, however, my clipeus has served mainly as a “kitchen table”
by the fire pit--a humble role but finely performed--because we have
been
able to equip all our troops as legionaries. But I do want to
make
it clear that auxiliary troops would be an excellent addition to our
overall
impression, so members or recruits who would like to portray
auxiliaries
instead of legionaries are welcome to do so. Such a portrayal
would
be fine not only as one’s main impression, but also for a new member
who
lacks his full legionary kit, or any veteran who simply wants a change
of role now and then. After all, half of the Roman army was
composed
of auxiliary troops, so they should be represented alongside the
legions
whenever possible.
Since it would also be a good
idea to select a unit to portray at Legio XX functions, rather than
simply
being “generic” auxiliaries, I dug through a couple books and found a
good
possibility: Cohors VI Thracum Equitata, the Sixth Cohort of
Thracians,
“Part Horsed”. A cohors equitata had six centuries of infantry
(480
men) and four turmae of cavalry (120 men), so we can accomodate
equestrian
types as well as ground-pounders. This unit, according to P.A.
Holder’s
The Roman Army in Britain, was probably part of the invasion force in
43
AD, and was later stationed in south-eastern Wales, the same area as
the
original Legio XX. So quite likely the units worked together, and
parts of each may even have been garrisoned at the other’s base.
This does not mean that other types of auxiliary soldiers are
forbidden,
of course, it’s just a general starting point. I have not yet
searched
for any information specific to Coh. VI Thracum Eq., such as tombstones
or inscriptions, so please point me in the right direction if you know
of anything like that.
Most likely the men of this unit
were equipped in the “standard” style, with mailshirts, helmets, flat
oval
shields (the “clipeus”), swords, and the light throwing spear or
lancea.
Unless someone has some evidence for VI Thracum's shield emblem, we
might
as well just copy mine, though the exact size and shape of the shield
can
vary. Helmets may include Robinson's Auxiliary types A and B (but
the cross-braced type C is a later style), or any Coolus or
Montefortino
type. Cavalrymen would carry the spatha instead of
the
gladius, of course, and may choose from various cavalry helmets as
well.
There is growing speculation that auxiliaries may have worn some of the
Imperial helmet styles, so that may be negotiable. Tunic,
caligae,
cloak, balteus, and gladius are all basically the same as for
legionaries,
but there is more leeway for "native" substitutes and influence.
Although all auxiliaries should strive for the "standard" kit, in
campaign
conditions they may wear a mix of Roman gear and approved barbarian
items,
especially clothes.
A fuller rundown of auxiliary
equipment requirements is available for all who want it.
BUCKLES AND BELT PLATES
Some interesting tidbits came
through the ArmaList recently about belt buckles and plates. This
is another area where reenactors tend to "out-do" the ancients, having
equipment that is much prettier and better-made than the average
originals.
Mark Martin told of very simple belt plates from Colchester that are
cut
from sheet brass and undecorated, with a domed rivet at each corner and
a fifth in the center. Other people added that other plain or
simple
belt plates were quite common, some tinned, or tinned with the border
left
plain brass. Of course there are the fancier stamped plates as
well,
and the various cast types. Mike Bishop said, “out of 73
boss-style
plates from Vindonissa, only 12 appear to have been cast."
I also asked the list whether
belt buckles were always cast, or if any examples are known to be cut
from
sheet like a few of our first repros. Dr. Bishop
replied:
"There are a few sheet buckles, but they are very rare. Out of 67
buckles in the Vindonissa catalogue, only four are largely or wholly
beaten
(the others are all cast or made of bone).” Mark Martin also
mentioned
a bone buckle from Colchester, and will hopefully send me a drawing or
description of it. I bought a big bone in anticipation.
Dean
Cunningham suggested using a jeweler's saw to cut buckles out of 1/4"-
or 3/8"-thick brass (though I'd say that 1/8" is plenty thick), then
grinding
and filing to shape.
We certainly don't have to give
up making our belts with nice stamped or cast plates, there are just
some
easier options, now. And bear in mind that even plain brass
plates
will look quite nice when polished.
PHOTOS
Also from ArmaList, Mark Ware
has put a number of photos of Roman ruins in southern France online at
www.Geocities.Com/Athens/Academy/4012
. David Tibbetts mentioned a couple antiquities dealers online,
and
I found their pages to have better pictures than most museum
sites.
Harlan J. Berk, www.harlanjberk.com, and Edgar L Owen,
www.edgarlowen.com
.
OLD STUFF
Just got word from James Knox,
an antiquities dealer in Toronto, Ontario, that he has some original
pilum
heads for $40 each. No details on size or condition, but talk to
him at: atpcorp AT mail DOT interlog DOT com.
TOOL TALK
In an addendum to last month's
mention of cheap items from Harbor Freight Tools, Dean Cunningham warns
that there's a reason their merchandise is cheap: low
quality.
That's very true in some cases, for example their cotton garden gloves
which are nearly water-soluble, and I will NEVER buy "titanium nitride"
coated drill bits again! Serious craftsmen should be careful
about
what they get from places like Harbor Freight. But for most
of us hobbyists on a budget these tools are adequate. My punch
has
lasted for several years and several loricae, and still works pretty
well--the
1/8" die gets the most use by far and is starting to wear out but is
still
functional. And even a cheap cast iron anvil will hold up to
years
of occasional riveting and general tinkering. Just be forwarned
that
the old saying holds true: You get what you pay for.
While I was trying to polish the
brass wings on my shield and not getting far with the Nevr-Dull, Jane
dug
out an old clipping (Washington Times, 7/26/90) with home recipes for
cleaning
metal. It suggested a paste of salt and lemon juice for brass,
and
it worked! It cut the worst tarnish very quickly, and following
it
with the Nevr-Dull--not to mention a vigorous brushing with a whisk
broom
to get all the salt out of the nooks and crannies--resulted in a very
nice
gleam.
WE ARE INVITED
Okay, here is all the info on
the event to which we have been kindly invited by Merlynia, leader of
the
Celtic Cooking Ladies whom you may remember from Roman Days.
Although
it is not a “general public” event and not at all like our other
encampments,
the other attendees will most likely make for a better-informed
audience
than usual. Heck, we can even let them play with our
weapons!
Teach them to drill, etc. We can have as small or large a
contingent
as we are able, so anyone who is interested should contact Quintus
soon.
(Or now!)
" Quest for the Swamp Thing"
May 28-31, 1999
Settmour Swamp [Neshanic Station NJ]
The Barony of Settmour Swamp welcomes one and all to our annual
weekend camping event where there will be something for everyone.
For the fighter we will be running two events; the first, which will be
open to all fighters, will be a special passage of arms event, so bring
your banners, heraldry, and best armor. The event will be run by
Baron Sir Mitchell McBain [you can contact him through the pikestaff
under
Southern Region Earl Marshal]. The second event will be for our
Baronial
championship. It includes a random weapons draw and bear pit
tourney.
The winner will represent Settmour Swamp at events.
For the archers and throwers we will have an archery range with events
all weekend, and a throwing weapons area. This year we have a
special
throwing event where a Baronial champion will be chosen!
For the brewers of fine drink we will be offering a brewing contest for
beer, wine, and cordial.
The thinkers won’t have it easy this year for there will be a mighty
Quest!
This year’s, from what I have heard, promises to be most
challanging.
It’s all about the [on second thought let’s make it a surprise].
For the person looking to learn a few extra fighting skills we are
having
a demo by a group of Roman soldiers [Legion 20] our Baroness has
invited
up from Maryland and Virginia.
And finally there is food! Breakfast will be served on the weekend for
a very reasonable price.We are having a feast [price listed
below].
To guarantee a spot please send in money for a reservation. There
will also be a Baronial court.
Now the site is damp [beer, wine, and mead allowed but no distilled
alchohol].
There will be no running water on site (Editor’s note: I’m told that
sufficient
water will be trucked in). There will be porta-castles on site as
well as a big dumpster. The county asks that we recycle all
bottles,
cans, and paper.
There will be a central fire pit for socializing,with any luck there
will
be some real entertainers among us. A quiet area will be
designated
[a chart at troll will show area]. Merchants are welcome, there
is
no charge for space.
We ask you to keep an eye on your kids while on site [for there are
rumors
that there is a vile and evil creatures living in the site's river and
bog who preys on wandering children and loose animals!] So also
keep
your pets leashed and please clean up after them.
The site will open on Friday the 28th at 5pm and close on Monday the
31st
at 12 noon. Anyone who shows up early Friday or stays late Monday
gets to help out [lots of horrible jobs to do].
Prices for the event and feast are as follows: (Editor’s
Note:
Legio XX participants will be admitted free, but will have to pay for
the
feast if they wish to attend). The feast will cost $6.00.
The
only guaranteed reservation is a paid reservation. All checks
should
be made out to SCA-Barony of Settmour Swamp. Please include SCA
and
mundane name of all attending. Mail all reservations to Lord Ben
e draig [Ben Redditt]. For written confirmation send
an
S.A.S.E.
Will take reservation up till May 24. Any questions please
contact
the autocrat, Eric the Wandering Horseman [Fred Henninger JR] at
732---
Directions to site located on the Nechanic Station fire dept. picnic
grove
[corner of River Rd and Elm St] listed below:
Take route 206 to county road 514 [Amwell road] in Hillsborough.
If you are coming from the north, turn right onto Rt.514; if you are
coming
from the south, turn left. Stay on RT 514 for about 8 miles,
until
you come to a three-way intersection at a large white church.
Turn
right onto county route 567 [River Rd]. A mile or so down the
road
turn left and go across a white metal girder bridge [Elm St]. The
site is just across the bridge to your right. Route 206 can be
reached
from routes 287 and 22 from the north and from routes 95, 295, and 195
from the south. Any questions call autocrat.
CALENDAR
March 20-21 --Military Through the Ages, Jamestown Settlement,
VA. Multi-period encampment with over 30 groups from the first
century
through the twentieth.
April 10-11 --Marching Through Time, Marietta Mansion, Glenn
Dale, MD. Also a multi-period event, not quite as big as MTA but
closer to home and warmer.
April 21 --Anniversary of the Founding of Rome, 753 BC.
Where's the party?
April 30-May 2 --Mithracon II, New Haven, CT. Contact Jane
Sibley for more info.
May 29-31 --SCA Quest, New Jersey. We have been invited
by the 3 cooks who attended Roman Days. Who's in?
June 12-13 --ROMAN DAYS, Marietta Mansion, Glenn Dale, MD.
If you only get to one Roman event all year, this is the one!
Several
other groups will be joining Legio XX, and it will be bigger and better
than last time. Massed tacticals, Olympics, merchants, and
more.
You do not have to be dressed as a Roman to participate and have a
great
time! Kentucky Public Television station KET will be sending a
Latin
teacher and a camera crew to film parts of the event, mainly for
students
but possibly for PBS!
July 31-Aug. 1 --Military Time Line event, Ft. Malden, Ontario
(just over the border from Detroit). Bit of drive for most of us,
but definitely a good time of year to head north, eh? Is anyone
seriously
interested?
Sept. 24-26 --Roman Military Equipment Conference, South Shields,
Eng. See the ROMEC website for details,
http://pobox.com/~jrmes/romec.htm
---------------------
Adlocvtio is the official monthly newsletter of the Twentieth
Legion,
the best darn Roman reenactment group in the world! The best darn
Editor and Commander is Matthew Amt, aka Quintus Darius Macro. I
hope everyone had the best darn Ides of March, until next month,
Valete!