I wasn't planning on writing an additional blog post about my recent visit to Fort Roberdeau. But, I wanted to mention an unusual situation during my car ride to this event. You never know when a great photo opportunity might occur. While driving on a two-lane road around a mountain range sprinkled with a few houses, I passed this old, white-painted country church and believed I saw a wooden bird resting on a cross. After driving for about one-half mile, I knew I had to go back and see. Before, I let opportunities like this slip away, not this time. Yes, the wooden bird sat atop this hand-carved wooden cross that was around three feet. Looking closely below, you'll spot it next to the red door. I had never seen this before. Have you? 
I turned the car around and parked in the church lot. No one else was around. I walked to the front of the church and spotted the bird perched on this wooden cross. I went back to my car, retrieved my camera, and took some shots. The Bird on the Cross intrigued me, so a few days after getting home, I asked my friend and publisher/author, Revolutionary War Journal-Harry Schenawolf, if he heard of this before. He shared-

As to the bird on the cross, having delved into vampire lore over the past year or so, I've read a lot on the crucifixion and religious symbolism. My guess is the carving is supposed to look like a dove. A dove took the form of the Holy Spirit and was symbolic of Christianity as part of the trinity. It was used as a precursor to the cross, which took the bird's place some time during the fourth century. Hollywood that depicts early Christians, especially those thrown to the lions in Roman arenas would not have displayed or worn a cross until the last century of the empire.

Thanks Harry!

I like photographing flags. I'll take some photos of any event that has one. Even as a child, I was fascinated by them. Growing up, we had a wooden fence in our backyard that resembled a fort. I made my own American red, white, and blue flag with stars and bars, attached it to a long tree limb that I cleaned, and attached it to my fence. When arriving home from school, I'd spot the flag fluttering before I went inside smiling. Some of my best photos have been of flags.

It's not this photo but last year, the North Carolina Museum of History used an image of a reenactor holding a stars- and- stripes American flag as the cover page for the spring 2024 edition of the Tar Heel Junior Historian periodical. When I took this flag photo at Fort Roberdeau, I felt it would be a good one—and I was right!

One of my photography goals at these events is to create unique photos besides reenactment ones. As I stroll at any event, I'm searching for photography opportunities. Before the raid scenario, I visited the cabin. I spotted the fruit bowl and other assorted items inside and knew this would make a good photo using the light from the open window. To give it a vintage look, I muted the overall color and added grain in On1 software, liking it to the days of film.

One notable aspect of this event was the interaction between the reenactors and the public. After the woods skirmish, the leader of the loyalist militia tried to persuade the public to follow the King of England. Most folks booed. It was fun bantering back and forth!

Check out my photo gallery with over 100 photos from this event.

Thank you for reading! Blog #77 will be posted in November 2024.  Be safe & well!

Ken Bohrer