Shared by Linda Baldwin, Volunteer, as Guest Blogger.

Will we survive the day?

"Excitement builds as the militia begins their daily drills, the smell of baking bread wafts from the colonial tavern, and the ringing of the blacksmith’s hammer pierces the morning air. 

In an instant, children’s screams raise the alarm and musket shots ring from the wood line. Women and children are rushed through the fort gates as the militia forms to repel the attack.

I take up my rifle and find an opening in the picket wall from which to fire as the cries of dozens of warriors fill our hearts with fear. I stand anxiously awaiting Captain Martin’s command to fire. All at once the flash from the pan blinds me and I feel the immense heat from dozens of muskets firing in cadence. Smoke fills the fort walls and the smell of gunpowder fills my nostrils.

Will we survive the day?"

Everyone helped protect the fort during attacks

It is held on the second weekend of May each year, often coinciding with Mother’s Day. This event draws visitors and re-enactors from far and wide including 39 states, Switzerland, and Australia. In fact, to maintain a high level of historical accuracy, participants are juried into this event. I am extremely excited to see what the staff has in store this year.

The Raid at Martin's Station depicts life on the frontier

Friday:
The weekend begins with school tours for local children, as well as children from neighboring states. They come to learn about daily life on Virginia’s colonial frontier. Park employees and volunteers demonstrate candle making, soap making, textile dyeing, spinning, weaving, food preparation, blacksmithing, gunsmithing and much more throughout the three day event.

Frontier skills are demonstrated during the festival

Saturday:
Living history once again comes alive with demonstrations, encampments, and a colonial market faire; however, this day also brings rumors of impending Cherokee attacks.

Sunday:
Parson John rings in Sunday services as we gather inside the fort walls for a historically accurate sermon. Later, the colors are lowered and old friends say their good-byes carrying with them fond memories of the weekend. 

Women were an important part of the community on the frontier

For me, as a volunteer, it is exciting to see children and adults make a genuine connection with our nation’s colonial roots. The Raid at Martin’s Station is one of the nation’s premier living history events. Visitors are able to touch, smell, feel and in some cases taste life on the frontier. The employees and volunteers are very passionate about what we do and we hope visitors leave with the same passion and a better understanding of colonial life.

We hope to see you at the raid!

Learn more about Wilderness Road State Park here.