Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
“Charge bayonets!”
The young group of eager recruits, students from the Intown Community School in Atlanta, reached to their sides and pulled their invisible weapons. With a loud “schwing” they held their empty fists in the air.
Coastal Heritage Society interpreter Aaron Bradford then gave the order, “Fix bayonets."
In single motion, the invisible implements were attached to the solid wood replica muskets and the unit was ready for battle.
“Charge!”
Bradford led the group toward the replica Springhill Redoubt on the busy corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Old Louisville Road. As they students neared the edge, a line of heads popped up over the top of the hill, one wearing the bright red colors of the British Army.
“Fire!”
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News
A bright flash and loud boom from the top of the redoubt left a plume of smoke to rise from the musket of interpreter Harrison Carter.
“You’re hit; you’re hit” yelled Bradford as students fell to the ground.
Bradford reorganized his Colonial troops for another attack. This time, the British-led unit met them at the entrance to the redoubt. With one last push the British retreated.
After the melee ended, Bradford asked his soldiers who had won.
An excited young revolutionary yelled, “We did.”
On this day it may have appeared the Colonial unit proved victorious, but on Oct. 9, 1779, the British held their ground and clamed victory in one of the bloodiest hour-long engagements of the Revolutionary War.
Richard Burkhart is a visual journalist for Savannah Morning News. Contact him at rbburkhart@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: "Charge bayonets!": CHS brings revolutionary history alive for students
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