Stepping Out

History repeats itself

Militia encampment sets up at Old Bethpage Village Restoration

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You may not be able to get those coveted Hamilton tickets, but there’s another way to travel back to the times of founding fathers and revolutionary antics — plus, it’s closer to home.
The Order of the Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia camps out on the grounds of Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Sunday, June 26. During the daylong event, “soldiers” and “townspeople” will reenact life circa 1775 to give visitors a view into the past. They will demonstrate multiple military drills, including marching, manning of arms, and musket firing. Visitors can even get in on the action using practice “muskets.”
The Huntington Militia was formed in 1653 to defend the island against hostile Dutch settlers. It was reactivated in the early ‘70s and became a reenactment unit, serving as a link to the town’s military heritage.
“The public can come and see and touch and feel and talk to all these living historians who are experts in revolutionary war and early colonial history,” says Commander Patrick Mantle, who has been a member of the organization since 2013.
Mantle explained that the annual event is held to commemorate the militia’s monthly training exercises, which were done in the public eye back in colonial times. He likened this meet-up to a street fair of sorts, as the women and children in the town would set up craft and cooking tents to accompany training day.

Mantle believes encampment reenactments are crucial to preserving the historical roots of not only the militia, but also Long Island itself, since many locals are unaware of the region’s part in the Revolutionary War.
“It was a civic obligation for every able-bodied man between the ages of 16 and 60 to serve in the militia,” Mantle says. “The battle everyone forgets is the Battle of Brooklyn, which the militia actually fought in, but no one wants to remember it because it was Washington’s biggest loss of the war.”
Mantle also recalled Long Island’s history as the breadbasket for England during the Revolution, supplying British troops with wheat and grain. At the time, martial law was rule in occupied areas; because of this many Long Islanders were put into forced labor under the British, and supplied them with food, housing, and even built their forts.
The ultimate goal of the encampment is to provide visitors with an accurate depiction of Long Island’s revolutionary beginnings. One notable aspect of that history Mantle finds he’s had to debunk in recent years is the presence of the Culper spy ring, which has gained attention and fame as a result of the popular AMC series “Turn.”
Mantle describes AMC’s depiction of the Revolutionary War era as completely inaccurate. “TV networks present history solely for entertainment, and often times the history is pushed aside,” he says. “Specifically in “Turn” I’ve seen the chronological order of events getting mixed up, and the costumes are not period correct.” Mantle explains that the Long Island loyalists depicted in “Turn” are dressed in the iconic redcoats of the British army, when, in fact, Mantle says, the loyalists actually wore green-coated uniforms.
Another inaccuracy, according to Mantle, is the show’s focus on Setauket as headquarters for the spy ring; he cited Huntington and Oyster Bay as other important areas with spy presence. Mantle went on to discuss how “Turn” inaccurately depicts historical figures, including its villain John Graves Simcoe. Although a “ruthless attack dog” on screen, the real-life Simcoe was a respectable and honorable gentleman, Mantle says. “Although he was a loyalist, what people don’t know about Simcoe is that he carried out a romantic relationship with Sally Townsend, who was the sister of a patriot.”
What’s even more compelling about this forbidden romance is that it is believed that Simcoe delivered the first-ever Valentine to his beloved. That letter can be found on display at Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay.
Mantle says he gets inquires about depicted history at almost every event the militia holds. “I’ll have groups come up to me after I’m done talking with them, and they say that they learned more just listening to me for five minutes than they ever learned at school. “We’re in an important place to enlighten the public and to really give them a hands-on experience with history.”
The Huntington Militia will be camped outside of Schenck House at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 26. Admission: $10, $7 for children ages 5-12 and seniors. 1303 Round Swamp Rd. (LIE exit 48), Old Bethpage. (516) 572-8401 or www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.