Costumed Interpretation
Military
ONMHA portrays Cushing’s C
ompany of the 2nd US Artillery. This company did not have enough artillery men, so General Harrison attached small groups of men from other units to Cushing. These included 16 men from Lt. Samuel Kercheval’s Company of the 7th US Infantry. We encourage our members to uniform themselves as either 2nd US Artillery or 7th US infantry. We expect our military members to learn both artillery and infantry drill.
While women were not allowed to serve in the military during the War of 1812, we allow women to portray soldiers. Any woman who desires to serve as a soldier is expected to portray a male soldier.
Civilian
Women who followed the army (Camp Followers) had to be employed by the army in order to be fed.The army allowed women to fill two positions, either laundresses or matrons (nurses). We have equipment for women to demonstrate both roles.
Civilian men attached to the army were called Artificers. They were skilled tradesmen such as blacksmiths, carpenters, harness makers, etc…
Other non-military interpreters portray civilians of the time period with demonstrations of cooking, gardening, tinsmithing, and demonstrations of games and other pastimes of the period.