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How would you go about starting a Russian-American Company LH event?

Get a hard core goup together and focus on LH.
Get a huge static display of equipment together to show off regardless of bodies.
Focus on a battle reenactment with local Tlingits.
Forget the whole thing and go fishing.

Author Topic: Russian-American Company Help  (Read 11985 times)

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Offline Karl Helweg

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Russian-American Company Help
« on: November 12, 2009, 08:27:06 PM »
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
« Last Edit: February 28, 2020, 01:03:07 PM by Karl Helweg »
-Karl

Offline Karl Helweg

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Re: Russian-American Company
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2009, 02:06:31 PM »


 
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

Offline Karl Helweg

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Re: Russian-American Company
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2009, 02:44:48 PM »

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. 
« Last Edit: June 08, 2018, 07:30:37 PM by Karl Helweg »
-Karl

Offline Karl Helweg

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Basic guarb ideas
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2009, 03:02:05 PM »



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?

« Last Edit: February 17, 2010, 10:44:29 AM by Karl Helweg »
-Karl

Offline Karl Helweg

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six crickets chirping, five lurkers lurking, four.....
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2009, 07:09:49 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: December 13, 2009, 02:27:55 AM by Karl Helweg »
-Karl

Offline Karl Helweg

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General Napoleonic Uniforms
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2010, 01:43:04 PM »
This has some general Napoleonic information:  http://www.wtj.com/games/republique/uniforms/glossary.htm



http://www.manus.baikal.ru/eng/es05.htm

http://britishbattles.homestead.com/eurasia.html

  Grenadier Siemenoski Reg. 1796

1796
« Last Edit: September 17, 2010, 02:16:59 PM by Karl Helweg »
-Karl

Offline Karl Helweg

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Re: Russian-American Company Help
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2013, 07:03:16 PM »
-Karl