After Action Report for Onate Event 11/18/1606

Premise

Our purpose (besides to have fun) was to represent a generic infantry company of the day, approximately 1580 to 1610, who were traveling on the Jornada del Muerto.  The event was the one year celebration of the opening of El Camino Real International Heritage Center which is located a few miles south of Fort Craig.  It was a Saturday, one day only event and visitor attendance was quite good.  The center has a great museum with loads of interesting exhibits, a theater/lecture hall, and an audio tour – almost too much to see and do at one time.  For more info on the center go to: http://www.caminorealheritage.org/

Muster

We mustered seven people: Dave, Bennett, and Davin Poulin, Mike and Barbara Bilbo, Tony Campisi, Samuel Ulibarri.  Tony acted as quartermaster, handing out the loaner gear.  Museum visitation was good and there were other things going on besides us.  There was a Spanish guitarist, an author/lecturer, a weaving exhibit, and a Matachine dance group from Socorro.

El Bilboano carrying the king’s flag.

Pike Drill

In the morning we mustered in the outdoor plaza which has seating for the audience.  We hadn’t had a chance to warm up so we started out cold – a little creaky but we eventually go into it.

Tony, Mike, Dave, Sam, and Bennett in the plaza of the Camino Real Center.

Pikes at the ready.

Sword Drill

Sam and Tony demonstrated the sword drill.  Tony was able to show his new falchion - the preferred type of sword for many pikemen of the day.  They are shorter for close fighting and have some weight to the blade to penetrate armor.

¡Guardo!

Dave, Davin, and Bennett watch.

Comida

Barbara has done extensive research on the subject and has written articles on it.  She set up an impressive display of the various vegetables, fruits, cooking utensils, and dishware.  She didn’t cook this time so she set up a display outside for the visitors.  The museum fed us with sandwiches, chips, and soft drinks.

Barbara’s living history exhibit.

Afternoon Lecture and Demonstrations

In the afternoon we were posted indoors and for the first time we had to perform for a sit-down audience.  It was something new for us but Mike, Tony, and Sam went at it with a will.  Mike talked about period clothing and armor.  Tony discussed period tactics and basic pike maneuvers and Sam talked about swords and sword techniques.

Earle, a new recruit, demonstrates Mike’s coat of plates.

Cabo Sam (El Vasco) discusses swordsmanship.

Sergento Tony (El Siciliano) leads us in a pike demonstration.

Shoulder pikes.

 Interesting Game

One exhibit at the center is a large game that represents the voyage of the colonists from present day Mexico to Santa Fe New Mexico.  The game is made of painted wood on its own stand.

Sam, Tony, and Mike figure it out.

Davin and Mike – I guess Mike lost.

Hand Outs

Barbara brought her excellent handouts for the visitors.  One was titled “Exploracion de Nuevo Mejico.”  It was about Coronado’s and subsequent explorations.  “Onate’s Legacy” told about Onate’s entrance to colonize the province and his legacy, the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, and the purpose of our historical interpretation (besides having fun). 

Photos by Claudia Gallardo and David Poulin

Conclusion

Great fun as usual.

Mike and Dave