A Post Such as Portsmouth is an immersive, interactive, educational, child-friendly, annual spring event commemorating the 1781 British occupation of Portsmouth by the turncoat Benedict Arnold himself. On Saturday, March 22nd & 23rd, 2025, Olde Towne Portsmouth will be brimming with reenactors, interpreters, and the like, as Youth Virginia Regiment hosts this one-of-kind event. Even residents and shop owners dress up (and act up!) for the occasion. This even tis free and open to the public.
Market girls, foragers, redcoats, Hessians, members of the Ethiopian Regiment, musicians, rebels, camp followers, and spies mingle in their daily duties before the Battle of Scott’s Creek (after which you might even spot the Marquis de Lafayette!) Renew your pledge of loyalty to the King with General Benedict Arnold (or join James Fayette in a scheme to kidnap the traitor!). Learn a new dance, and gossip about the politics and events of the day. You may even choose to join a side… but which one?
Background
In 1781, preceding the arrival of General Cornwallis into Portsmouth Virginia, the Infamous Traitor, now British General, Benedict Arnold, leads a British force into Hampton Roads. Occupying Portsmouth as their base, along with Colonel Simcoe’s Queen’s Rangers and Captain Ewald’s Jaegers, the British conducted raids in Hampton Roads, and skirmished with Virginia’s forces including Capt. (“Major”) Amos Weeks at Kempe’s Landing and Great Bridge. General Lafayette led a failed assault on the British post in March 1781, signifying the city’s importance to the beginning and ending of the Revolution in Virginia. As spring approaches, the British await Lord Cornwallis as he and his army campaign in North Carolina.
The 2025 Theme
“Liberty to Slaves: the Ethiopian Regiment’s Post in Portsmouth 1775”
On March 23, 1775 (250 years ago), Patrick Henry gave his famous “Liberty or Death” speech, almost 1 month prior to the April 21, 1775 “Dunmore’s Raid on the Williamsburg Powder-Magazine” (Virginia’s Lexington/Concord) that saw Lord Dunmore giving threats to “Free the Slaves” in order to fight the Rebels. The Culpepper Minutemen, who were recognizable for having “Liberty or Death” on the breasts of their Shirts, came to Hampton Roads, VA (Great Bridge) were they faced off against the Ethiopian Regiment. Seeing “Liberty or Death” on their shirts, the Ethiopian Regiment began to add “Liberty to Slaves” upon their own Shirts in their own Rebellion and Fight for Freedom and Liberty.
The Ethiopian Regiment, former escaped Enslaved, who joined the Crown in exchange for their own Freedom, were formed and trained in Portsmouth, and from their Portsmouth Post, raided into Kemps Landing and Great Bridge, as Soldiers.
Event Date, Time, and Locations
March 22 and 23, 2025
Saturday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The events happen throughout Olde Towne Portsmouth:
Red Lion Square (Park), Portsmouth, VA
– (Corner of: Middle St. & Glasgow St.).
Portsmouth Welcome Center, 206 High St., Portsmouth, VA
– (Adjacent Sidewalks: High St. & Middle St.).
Middle Street Plaza. Adjacent Children’s Museum (Children’s St. Plaza).
Sidewalk along High St. between Court St and Middle St.
Portsmouth Arts/Culture Center (Old Courthouse), 420 High Street, Portsmouth, VA
– (Adjacent Sidewalks: High St. & Court St.).
Trinity Church, 500 Court St, Portsmouth, VA
– (Adjacent Sidewalks: High St. & Court St.).
Schedule of Events
SATURDAY (March 22) 9 am – 4 pm: On-Going:
Red Lion Square, (Middle St. & Glasgow St., Portsmouth, VA).
→ (YVR) Military Encampment, 18th Century Games, “Children’s Musket Drill”.
Portsmouth Welcome Center, (High St. & Middle St., Portsmouth, VA).
→ (Halifax Museum): Mobile History Museum (inside Welcome Center)
Times Subject to change. Stop by the Portsmouth Welcome Center for more information or to scan a QR Code to access this post from your phone on the day of the event. We hope to see you at A Post Such As Portsmouth 2025. Interested Reenactors, Contact Us: YVRDirectors@yahoo.com
A Post Such As Portsmouth Virginia 2025
February 28, 2025
About the Event
A Post Such as Portsmouth is an immersive, interactive, educational, child-friendly, annual spring event commemorating the 1781 British occupation of Portsmouth by the turncoat Benedict Arnold himself. On Saturday, March 22nd & 23rd, 2025, Olde Towne Portsmouth will be brimming with reenactors, interpreters, and the like, as Youth Virginia Regiment hosts this one-of-kind event. Even residents and shop owners dress up (and act up!) for the occasion. This even tis free and open to the public.
Market girls, foragers, redcoats, Hessians, members of the Ethiopian Regiment, musicians, rebels, camp followers, and spies mingle in their daily duties before the Battle of Scott’s Creek (after which you might even spot the Marquis de Lafayette!) Renew your pledge of loyalty to the King with General Benedict Arnold (or join James Fayette in a scheme to kidnap the traitor!). Learn a new dance, and gossip about the politics and events of the day. You may even choose to join a side… but which one?
Background
The 2025 Theme
“Liberty to Slaves: the Ethiopian Regiment’s Post in Portsmouth 1775”
On March 23, 1775 (250 years ago), Patrick Henry gave his famous “Liberty or Death” speech, almost 1 month prior to the April 21, 1775 “Dunmore’s Raid on the Williamsburg Powder-Magazine” (Virginia’s Lexington/Concord) that saw Lord Dunmore giving threats to “Free the Slaves” in order to fight the Rebels. The Culpepper Minutemen, who were recognizable for having “Liberty or Death” on the breasts of their Shirts, came to Hampton Roads, VA (Great Bridge) were they faced off against the Ethiopian Regiment. Seeing “Liberty or Death” on their shirts, the Ethiopian Regiment began to add “Liberty to Slaves” upon their own Shirts in their own Rebellion and Fight for Freedom and Liberty.
The Ethiopian Regiment, former escaped Enslaved, who joined the Crown in exchange for their own Freedom, were formed and trained in Portsmouth, and from their Portsmouth Post, raided into Kemps Landing and Great Bridge, as Soldiers.
Event Date, Time, and Locations
March 22 and 23, 2025
Saturday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
The events happen throughout Olde Towne Portsmouth:
Red Lion Square (Park), Portsmouth, VA
– (Corner of: Middle St. & Glasgow St.).
Portsmouth Welcome Center, 206 High St., Portsmouth, VA
– (Adjacent Sidewalks: High St. & Middle St.).
Middle Street Plaza. Adjacent Children’s Museum (Children’s St. Plaza).
Sidewalk along High St. between Court St and Middle St.
Portsmouth Arts/Culture Center (Old Courthouse), 420 High Street, Portsmouth, VA
– (Adjacent Sidewalks: High St. & Court St.).
Trinity Church, 500 Court St, Portsmouth, VA
– (Adjacent Sidewalks: High St. & Court St.).
Schedule of Events
SATURDAY (March 22) 9 am – 4 pm: On-Going:
→ (YVR) Military Encampment, 18th Century Games, “Children’s Musket Drill”.
→ (Halifax Museum): Mobile History Museum (inside Welcome Center)
→ (TiMLHA): Naval History, Navigation Equipment & Weapons.
→ (YVR) 18th Century Displays, Music, Dance.
►SATURDAY (March 22) 10 am – 2 pm Every Half Hour:
→ Olde Towne Historic Tours (History Alive Interpreters):
►SATURDAY (March 22) Lecture Series: (Scheduled times TBD)
→ Welcome Center. (09:00am – 3:00pm)
→ Portsmouth Arts/Culture Center.
►SATURDAY (March 22) Vignette Series:
10:00am & 2:00pm (Red Lion Park)
→ Benedict Arnold speech & Loyalty Oath to Civilians.
→ Arrest of a Spy. (&/or Arrest of Soldier, Servant).
→ Trial & Courts Martial Spy & Soldier on Charges.
12:00pm (High Street, ending at High St./Court St.)
→ Call to Arms (“Military Tattoo”) & March on/Occupation of High Street.
12:30pm (High St./Court St.)
→ Capt. Ewald’s Report of “Skirmish of Scott’s Creek”.
►SUNDAY (March 23) 10 am – 2 pm: On-Going:
→ (YVR) Military Encampment, 18th Century Games, “Children’s Musket Drill”.
→ (TiMLHA): Naval History, Navigation Equipment & Weapons.
→ (YVR) 18th Century Displays, Music, Dance.
Times Subject to change. Stop by the Portsmouth Welcome Center for more information or to scan a QR Code to access this post from your phone on the day of the event. We hope to see you at A Post Such As Portsmouth 2025. Interested Reenactors, Contact Us: YVRDirectors@yahoo.com