Forum > 1600-1800
Russian-American Company Help
Karl Helweg:
I am surprised that there is a potential opportunity to continue 18th century (barely) reenacting where we have moved here in beautiful south-east Alaska. Since there is a reconstructed Russian-American Company blockhouse in Sitka and from the number of obscure used books I have already found locally I am guessing that several other reenactors have not quite gotten this off the ground over the past fifty years. There are some theatrical reenactments in Sitka such as: http://alaskadayfestival.org/ but they focus on the signing over of Alaska to the U.S. rather than the initial contact and battles with the local Tlingits. I have been slowly gathering information and baubles for the past couple years so I am not in a rush.
Does anyone have more information or sources for 1792-1815 Russian-American Company appearance and daily life in Alaska? Right or wrong I am currently approaching this from a military or para-military side. While there was Russian Navy here there seems to officially have not been a army presence but between the Czars(-ina) there was radical change over in Russian Army officers and uniforms so ex-military officers and gear was possibly some of the most available for the strapped Russian-American Company. Your contributions would be appreciated and it just might lead to an excuse to come to Alaska fishing, hunting, and sight-seeing. >:D
Karl Helweg:
Alright I can't justify one of these toys but they did have some "small" cannons (the Tlingit even had a better one), large bluderbuss(es), and apparently a lot of surplus 2nd model Brown Besses as well as a wide variety of trade guns.
Karl Helweg:
There are some Tlingit proto-reenactors who would probably be willing to kill some Russians. Tlingit were less into being pacifists than Aztec were. They were somehow trading for iron knives before 1600 (Siberia?) and had good trade guns before encountering whites then a cannon right after. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Battle_of_Sitka
This might be that famous cannon on the left and not the monkin blunderbuss on the right.
Between Katherine, Paul, and Alexander uniforms changed quickly as well as the officer corps. Paul (the Mad) even went to a retro 1750-75 look that actually seems to have been one of his most effective and popular decisions complete with steel knee plates.
Basically infantry were separated by height into tall Grenadiers and short jaegers who dressed similar to colonial rangers. There were many regional uniform variations. The commander, Baranof, wore chainmail.
Karl Helweg:
This is the Russian Blockhouse in Sitka, Alaska which would most likely be "ground zero" for any LH activities.
Anyone out there have some input?
Karl Helweg:
Just in case folks are interested in a little more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian-American_Company
M1756 Russian Infantry Hangar.
Late 18th century Grenadier helmet. There seems to have been several varieties of Grenadier and Jaeger helmets worn in rapid succession. Apparently Guests cannot see most of these pictures that I have been posting. You will actually have to create an account.
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