The Forage War | The Raid at Drake's Farm, 1777

1 February, 1777. Brigadier-General Sir William Erskine, sends a party of foragers to Drake's Farm near Metuchen in the colony of New Jersey--a known enemy area of operation. When the foraging party is attacked, Erskine commits his main force and a fierce engagement ensues. This video focuses on the opening moments of the engagement from the perspective of the British foraging party as they engage the larger rebel force and are forced to withdraw. Drake's Farm was part of a larger series of engagements known as the Forage War, where British and Colonial foraging parties ambushed and engaged each other while they were in winter quarters in New Jersey between the months of January and March of 1777.

This video was filmed at a private tactical event that allowed members of the 10th to gain tactical proficencies in a variety of tactics and maneuvers that may not be possible at a typical reenactment. In an innovative three days, representatives from all three of our musket-bearing companies broke new ground in the authenticity of North American reenacting. Our experimentation involved tactics and interpretations of the daily life of British soldiers during the Forage War of 1777.
During this event we:
‣Introduced the use of ramrods to the tactical environment while reloading. (These are not used in standard reenactments due to safety concerns--and were only used at this event when there were no opposing forces)
‣Fought with the bayonet affixed for the duration of the engagement as would have been typical during the time period
‣Debuted our watch coats while on sentry duty as well as our woolen leggings
‣Constructed a period camp, using documented techniques and equipment, including a musket rack and fire
‣We delved into several lesser-seen/practiced tactics and scenarios, such as:
•Advancing independently as a file with a file partner
•Ambush situations
•Engaging at night
•Covering a retreat
•Rapidly forming in a field at extreme intervals to swiftly engage hostile forces
•Transitioning from a laid-back camp setting to quickly engaging an enemy force that may have attacked us.

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His Majesty's Tenth Regiment of Foot in America is a historically re-created infantry unit formed to portray the service of the British Army during the American War for Independence.

Composed of three types of soldier, Grenadiers-typically larger men who are used as shock troops, a company of Light infantry, generally smaller, more agile men--capable of maneuvering in the dense wilderness to skirmish or flank the enemy, and a battalion company--a company of regular soldiers, capable of mass volleys and were the heart of the army and are trained in both Grenadier and Light Infantry tactics. We also have a company of Music, who provide music and commands to the army. Last but certainly not least, a Corps of Civilian Volunteers--who provide food to the regiment during encampments and accurately portray civilian and camp life of the 18th century. Each is open for recruitment. The members of the Tenth are accurately uniformed, equipped, and trained in 18th-century military drill and life so that we appear in public as members of the British Army would have in 1775. Contact us to join.

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