Denison House hosts Revolutionary War-era encampment

FORTY FORT — Eight-year-old Kevin Wolf stood wide-eyed when Revolutionary War reenactor Jeff Smith put a tourniquet on his arm to demonstrate a limb removal procedure at an encampment at the Nathan Denison House Saturday.

Kevin, his brother Aiden, 9, and their mother Corrine Wolf, all of Dennison Township, visited the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment Revolutionary War-era encampment at the Nathan Denison House, located at 35 Denison St., Forty Fort.

“I saw it (the event) come up on Facebook,” Corrine said, adding the event allowed her sons to experience history.

Kevin stood very still as Smith, of Shavertown, picked up different-sized knives to demonstrate the gruesome 18th-century process of removing a limb.

“If your bone were broken, we would put on a splint,” Smith said as he pointed to two pieces of wood wrapped with a cloth. “But if the bone were shattered, we would remove the limb.”

There was only one type of anesthesia, Smith said, as he held up a block of wood wrapped in brown leather.

“You bite on this,” he said.

The encampment also featured a woodworker, a scribe who was also the camp clergyman, soldiers, and women, who managed cooking, laundry and nursing duties for the soldiers.

Donna Hopfer, the president of the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment, and her husband David, of Noxen, represented woodworking tradespeople, were contracted by the military and followed the troops.

Tradespeople who followed the military camps were known as artificers, Donna said. Artificers included a variety of trades including blacksmiths, woodworkers, clergy, and doctors, David Hopfer said.

“Artificers evolved into the (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers,” she said.

These tradespeople created and repaired weapons and tools the military camp needed, David said.

Soldiers dressed in wool uniforms discussed daily living conditions, which include sleeping outside in all types of weather, their weapons, and ready to answer questions.

Also, the Luzerne County Historical Society offered tours of 18th-century Nathan Denison House.

Nathan Denison was one of the first settlers in Northeastern Pennsylvania from Connecticut. He served as a justice of the peace, a colonel in the local militia during the Revolutionary War and later, a court judge.

“I hope the event will stoke people’s curiosity,” David said. “I hope they walk away wanting to invest some time learning about our history.”

Kevin and Aiden Wolf did leave with a new appreciation for American History.

Kevin enjoyed learning about the Revolutionary War muskets and bayonets. Aiden was interested in the role of woodworkers played.

The 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment encampment and The Nathan Denison House will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Encampment admission for Luzerne County Historical members is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Nonmember encampment admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children.

Tours of the Nathan Denison House are free.

A lantern sits at a Revolutionary War-era militia encampment at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL081819Militia_5.jpg.optimal.jpgA lantern sits at a Revolutionary War-era militia encampment at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Mark Kahn, of West Wyoming, portrays the Rev. Josiah Entwhistle and Sherry Emershaw, of Dallas, portrays an officer’s wife during a Revolutionary War-era militia encampment at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL081819Militia_1.jpg.optimal.jpgMark Kahn, of West Wyoming, portrays the Rev. Josiah Entwhistle and Sherry Emershaw, of Dallas, portrays an officer’s wife during a Revolutionary War-era militia encampment at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Carpenter Dave Hopfer, of Noxen, left, and his assistant Donna Hopfer work on items at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL081819Militia_2.jpg.optimal.jpgCarpenter Dave Hopfer, of Noxen, left, and his assistant Donna Hopfer work on items at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Officer’s wife Sherry Emershaw, of Dallas, waits inside a tent at a Revolutionary War-era encampment at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL081819Militia_3.jpg.optimal.jpgOfficer’s wife Sherry Emershaw, of Dallas, waits inside a tent at a Revolutionary War-era encampment at the Nathan Denison House in Forty Fort on Saturday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Kevin Wolf, 8, of Dennison Township, right, brother Aiden, 9, and mom Corrine receive a ‘right of passage’ certificate from Mark Kahn, of West Wyoming, at a Revolutionary War-era lilitia encampment at the Nathan Denison House n Forty Fort on Saturday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL081819Militia_4.jpg.optimal.jpgKevin Wolf, 8, of Dennison Township, right, brother Aiden, 9, and mom Corrine receive a ‘right of passage’ certificate from Mark Kahn, of West Wyoming, at a Revolutionary War-era lilitia encampment at the Nathan Denison House n Forty Fort on Saturday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader