Date: 12.19.2020
PAX (16): Red Coat (Q), The Ux, Scar, Scar2K, Dos Equis, Cruiser, Photo Finish, Trail Blazer, Milky Way, Dick Clark, Brisket, Mountie, Black Hole + WallE, Gobbler and Posse in the Zoom.
AO: The Rising
Conditions: 10 degrees F, ice, snow, all the good stuff.
On a very cold Christmas Day of Dec 25, 1776 General Washington’s army, all worn out, poorly equipped and outnumbered, unexpectedly for British, had undertaken adaring crossing on Delaware River and marched on Trenton in the gloom of the night in order to attack the Hessian regiment quartered in Trenton.
Today. we will march with Colonial Army and learn everything about American revolutionary war soldiers weapons, accoutrements and uniforms.
Before each exercise, we will learn one fact about these items, work out and at the end of workout each of us will name one item they have remembered.
Warm up:
Arm circles (20)
Ws (15)
Run in place (15)
Inch worms (8)
Tippy taps (20)
Lateral jumps (20)
Side Straddle Hopkins (20)
High knees (10)
Butt kicks (10)
Motivator – 11 count
FACT: Main weapon of the time: musket (Brown Bess) – manufactured in Europe, but later Congress has commissioned american gunsmiths to start producing Brown Bess muskets in colonies
Spiderman merkins (10 – 5 each side)
FACT: Range of musket shot – approx 100 yards, produced a lot of smoke. Skilled soldiers could fire up to 4 rounds per min.
Shoulder touches (10)
FACT: Another weapon used by militiamen: long rifle
Bonny Blairs (10)
FACT: Muskets and long rifles are “muzzle loaded” – gun powder is poured from the cartridge into musket barrel, lead ball is dropped into the barrel and ramrod is used to push it in.
3 rounds with weight (assortment of weights from 20 to 40 lbs – dumbbell, kettlebell, med ball, barbell plates)
Thrusters (10)
FACT: Cartridges were placed into cartridge boxes worn by the soldier. Box could fit up to 30. Gun powder horn is used to carry gun powder and keep it dry
Deadlifts (10)
FACT: Muskets had bayonets. The bayonet normally was placed in scabbard (leather sheath) and worn by soldiers on the side. Bayonets were attached to musket for charging into close combat
Goblet Squats (10)
FACT: Each soldier had to have canteen for water (glass, wood or tin made)
Goblet lunges (10)
FACT: Soldiers were carrying rations and utensils in haversacks (small linen bags) and clothes and other personal items in knapsacks. They also were carrying blankets to protect ourselves from cold during marches, since number of tents were limited and often only officers had them
Goblet reverse lunges (10)
FACT: Uniform colors: red and scarlet were Crown toops (hence the name – “red coats”), colonial army didn’t have the same uniform and only in 1779 Congress legislated on dark blue or brown uniforms.
Most of the units in PA wore brown, while NJ units wore gray. Blue uniforms were worn in the south – VA and Carolinas.
Push press (10)
FACT: Under uniform regimental coat soldiers worn waistcoat and shirt. Knee long pants were called breeches. Shoes were made without regard for right or left, any shoe from the pair could be worn on either foot.
Strict press (10)
FACT: Gaiters or splatterdashes were used to protect knee long wool socks and shoes from mud.
Farmer carry of weight 100 yards (around parking lot)
FACT: Militiamen had similar accoutrements to soldiers but many also carried light axes/tomahawks
Motivator – 11 count
FACT: Because of poor shooting precision the battle tactic at the end of 18th century was shooting rounds in volleys by two forces opposing each other. They were lining up in ranks at close range. The goal was to cause as many casualties as possible and then charge into close combat with bayonets in order to force the enemy off the battle field or force them to surrender.
Plank – 30 count
Breathing – 10 count
