AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-L Archives

Archiver > AMERICAN-REVOLUTION > 2000-05 > 0959594974


From: John Robertson <>
Subject: [A-REV] Re: Camden, KM forum, Cowpens Forum
Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 06:09:34 -0400
In-Reply-To: <007e01bfc903$9b25e4e0$02000003@hzlwood.indy.net>


At 07:19 PM 5/28/2000 -0500, you wrote:
> I am inferring that this (the Kings Mountain Forum) is a yearly event?

This is the 3rd year of the KM Forum. This is the first year it was held
in May, but will likely be held in May from now on due to less heat than
August when it was formerly held. It is an annual event and worth the
trouble to get to, for anyone interested in the battle and the
times. Cowpens Forum (the next will be the 3rd) is always held on the w.e.
closest to 17 January.

KM has another special day on the 7 October, the battle anniversary, and
usually on the w.e. nearest.

You can stay abreast of events at the KM park at
http://www.nps.gov/kimo
and for the Cowpens park at
http://www.nps.gov/cowp

Have you found your way to this webpage?
http://www.shelby.net/jr/kmnmp/
This is a page I haven't done much with over the last year or so, but there
is a ton of stuff on there about KM and Cowpens. This page will almost
certainly be relocated over the next month. I need to be updating it,
because it will have renewed interest following the release of the
"Patriot" movie on 30 June. I understand that it will likely be linked
from the movie's website.

>Why would anyone want to re-enact this (Camden)?

I've never made it to the Camden affair, so I can't say what is being
reenacted.
It is privately run, subject to less governmental restrictions, so can have
a full-scale reenactment, something not possible in a national park.
There are as many or more Brit/loyalist reenactors as there are patriot
reenactors.
Camden was the principal base of the Brits in the Southern Campaign.
There was more than the one battle at Camden.
80% of the loyalists either remained in this area (or returned) following
the RevWar. Most whose families have lived in the area ever since have
ancestors who fought on both sides (sometimes the same individual).
Dr. Dan Morrell, who wrote one of the best histories of the Southern
Campaign, warned (at this year's Cowpens forum) that you cannot understand
the RevWar if you try to see it as a struggle between the forces of good
and evil.

The neat thing (for a RevWar buff) about attending the Kings Mountain and
Cowpens Forums is that you can become acquainted with the historians
currently writing about the war and times. Most of my books are signed by
the authors.

>I read your notes from last year's KM forum that you posted online,
>and was much pleased and duly impressed.
>Will you be doing same for the forum just concluded?

Probably not, you pretty much have to go there acting like a reporter to do
so. Doing so is quite restrictive and prevents the networking that is such
a meaningful part of these events. I'll pass on the comment to the park
rangers and perhaps it can be arranged to have someone write a "newpaper"
article on the forums to post on their websites.

John Robertson


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