Residents Experience a 200-Year-Old Battle

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected. In a previous version of the post, we incorrectly used historical terminology. We also misidentified a group of reenactors in a photograph.

A battle brewed in Riverdale Park Saturday.

Brigades of men lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with guns mounted at their sides. Fire! A barrage of loud pops and musket smoke filled the air. The stench of saltpeter settled as the men began to reload.

During the War of 1812, almost 200 years ago, this reenactment was a reality for the residents of Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas.

On Saturday, the along with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, celebrated this milestone at the 16th annual Battle of Bladensburg Encampment.

“This was their 9/11,” Ed Day, the museum director at Riversdale, said.

The Battle of Bladensburg was a harrowing loss for the United States against the British, which ultimately lead to the writing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" and the British invasion of Washington D.C.

According to Day, who has been museum director since December of 1994, the Flemish residents of Riversdale left accounts of watching cannon balls fly through the air from the mansion windows.

Activities of the day included a battle reenactment, cannon firing, 19th century dancing and museum tours.

Day has embraced reenacting as a teaching tool for the museum since it makes history come alive for spectators.

“I always say if one person goes away knowing something about the War of 1812, then I’m doing my job,” Ed Seufert, unit commander for the British Marines 1st Company, 2nd Battalion, said.

The reenactors dressed in completely handmade uniforms made from thick wool. Every detail of the uniform was thoroughly researched and hand stitched by the wearer.

The battalions also made or bought traditional goods that would have been used in the time period like cups, tables and medals.

Myron Peterson played the American Joshua Barney of the Chesapeake Flotilla with his organization Ship’s Company.

The Flotilla was an important American defense against Britain’s world-renown navy. Made up of 500 men manning shallow-water gunboats, the Flotilla engaged Britain’s large frigates in the Chesapeake Bay.

At Riversdale, Ship’s company had a cannon for spectators to marvel at, as well as a series of games to test their sailing skills.

Participants were asked to coil rope as quickly as possible.

“Sailors were constantly coiling rope,” Peterson said.

All of the reenactors involved were volunteer and helped with the event out of pure passion. Ship’s Company participates in about 12 events a year between 1812 and Civil War reenactments.