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WHEELING -- The sound of musket fire rang out over the field at Camp Russel Shelter in Oglebay Park during the re-enactment of the battle of 1782 and Betty Zane's famous powder run during Fort Henry Days.
Apart from the battle recreation, Site 1 at Oglebay became the weekend home of dozens of historical re-enactors portraying 18th-century settlers, military and natives while they performed demonstrations of period-correct crafts, entertainment and everyday subsistence.
Karen Fry, who has taken part in reenacting the battle for the past 48 years with her husband, explained that the re-enactors "don't go to show and tell" but instead to inform the audience of "the history of what actually happened."
"This was a very important battle we're portraying here," said Fry. "The British didn't want us to take over any more of the land that they were claiming."
While Fry enjoys the opportunity to teach history through live demonstration at Fort Henry Days, she added that she is a descendant of one of the settlers who fought in the battle, making the event "significantly important" to her family.
Fry does not reenact her ancestor's battle on her own, as both her grandchildren Madison and Jeg Lucas have each been participating in the battle of 1782 reenactment since they were 3 years old.
In her role in the battle, Madison Lucas described playing a Fort Henry inhabitant who was kidnapped by Indians while "picking berries and herbs" for her family.
"When the Indians arrive, I get very confused because I don't know what was happening," said Lucas on her character. "I run back to my cabin because I think it's safe there, but I end up getting kidnapped by the Indians, and I never get to see my family again."
Fresh off the battlefield, re-enactors Bill Graham and Mickey Davis explained the importance of portraying the tense relationship between settlers and Indians accurately. Graham, who played an Indian, explained that while they have a script, they have to be "spontaneous" while reenacting the battle as well in case any set-up part of the re-enactment goes awry.
Davis, who was on the opposite side of Graham in the battle playing a Fort Henry inhabitant, added that they try to portray history "as close as they can" to give audience members "a bird's eye view" of what actually happened at the battle of 1782.”
"The biggest problem was that white people stole the land from the Natives for very, very cheap," explained David on the conflict. "The whites cheated the Natives in any way possible for the land, and if that didn't work, they removed them forcible more often than not."
Beyond getting the opportunity to portray history accurately, the event has provided Davis and Graham the opportunity to build a friendship. Davis jokes that over the 10 years the two had been fighting against each other on the battlefield, the two actors "forged quite the friendship" off the battlefield.
Tiffany Apan, a re-enactor who gives lectures on cosmetics of the time period, explained that her favorite part of attending Fort Henry Days is "the community and the people."
"It's always great to see the same people that keep coming back and maybe some new people too," said Apan. "I get the chance to see re-enactors that maybe I'd otherwise only get to see online."
While some actors found family in the community of re-enactors at the event, other actors brought their families to the event. The entire Mazer family was decked out in period-correct attire, with mother Becca Mazer saying that her 3 and 5-year-old sons, who also participate in the event, love to "immerse themselves in the setting."
"This venue is so wonderful because we're able to interact with visitors while also still being able to keep an eye on our sons running around," explained father Tyler Mazer, who plays a settler selling cutler and other accouterments. "For us, it's just like camping, so I forget about my day job and immerse myself in the weekend here."
While most parents would find it daunting to spend a weekend living in two tents with two energetic little boys, Becca Mazer explained that the event is very "family-oriented" for both re-enactors and attendees. She joked that while their younger son, Sillas Mazer, was getting a "little grumpy" because he hadn't had a nap yet today, their 5-year-old Emerson Mazer loved to run around and play with the other child re-enactors at the event.
"I have no worries when they're off visiting the other tents," explained Becca Mazer. "We know everyone here, and so we're perfectly fine with letting them wander off and explore while we give demonstrations back at our tent."
The Bennett family also enjoyed the day at Fort Henry as observers, with mother Chyanne Bennett saying the trip was just a "fun historical day" with the family.
"My son is very interested in making things using knives since he joined the Boy Scouts," said Bennett. "We just got to see a woodcarving demonstration, which was very exciting for him."
Apart from woodcarving, Blake Bennett was thrilled to see Betty Zane's powder run brought to life, as he explained that he had just been learning about the event in school.
"What I saw was so much different from how we learned it in class," described Blake Bennett. "My favorite part was definitely the Native Americans chasing after settlers, it was so intense."
To be able to bring history to life in front of children who often only read about it in textbooks is a favorite part of the event for many actors. Apan noted that in the "TikTok era" that creates "10-second attention spans," there are not often opportunities to "attract somebody who might not be interested in history to learning about colonial times."
"This is really just a more immersive opportunity to learn history instead of sitting down and reading a book or hearing a lecture," added Apan. "The living history aspect of the event really allows people to learn more because they're witnessing firsthand what it was like."