PINEY POINT, Md. — Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park kicked off Maryland’s tourism season with cannon fire and muskets that echoed across the Potomac River in coordinated volleys during the Rebels & Redcoats event April 11-12, which transformed Piney Point and St. George Island into a living museum and a snapshot of the American Revolution.
The event drew families, history enthusiasts and tourists to three distinct locations — a British encampment on St. George Island, a Maryland militia camp at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, and an educational hub at the St. George Island Improvement Association — all connected by shuttle service and a shared mission to commemorate the region’s Revolutionary War history.
Organized as part of the broader Maryland 250 and America 250 commemorations, the event highlighted the Battle of St. George Island — the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Maryland — while offering an immersive, ground-level look at 18th-century military life.
The British Camp
At the British encampment near the bridge to St. George Island, reenactors lived in period-style tents from Friday through Sunday, demonstrating daily routines and military structure. Visitors watched as British forces fired a ship-mounted cannon from the Kingfisher, recreating maritime combat elements tied to the region’s history.
Reenactors Kathryn Tribble and Stefan Marks of the Youth Virginia Regiment brought to life the final movements of British forces under Lord Dunmore during the Revolutionary War.
“We are recreating the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s flight up the Chesapeake trying to find a new base to reconquer the colony,” Tribble said. “It doesn’t work because he’s pushed off by the Patriots.”
Lord Dunmore and his forces moved up the Chesapeake, facing resistance along the Virginia shoreline before stopping on St. George’s Island to regroup, resupply fresh water and bury their dead.
“We lost a battle in Virginia, and we were coming up the Chesapeake trying to find a spot to recover and go back and take it back,” Marks said, staying in character.
Traveling from Virginia’s Hampton Roads region, the Youth Virginia Regiment portrayed British troops retreating up the Chesapeake Bay following defeat at the Battle of Great Bridge, ultimately attempting to establish a foothold on St. George Island.
“They briefly have a camp on St. George Island, but the rebels come, and Dunmore tries to secure his position and is repulsed,” Tribble said. “He realizes he can’t hold it and retreats.”
The encampment focused not only on military history, but on immersive, hands-on education for spectators but for their youth participants as well.
“We focus completely on the kids,” Tribble said. “They are our main reenactors and it’s a very hands-on way to experience the 18th century and understand why people chose the side that they did.”
The youth-centered reenactment group emphasized discipline, historical understanding and perspective, with participants sleeping rough throughout the weekend and taking part in demonstrations that showcased the history of Maryland’s only revolutionary battle.
William Stone took on the role of Lord Dunmore, fully immersing himself in character as the royal governor navigating the final stages of British resistance in the Chesapeake.
Through a first-person interpretation, Stone highlighted one of the most controversial and defining aspects of Dunmore’s campaign — his 1775 proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people and indentured servants who joined British forces. The portrayal emphasized both the strategic and human dimensions of the conflict, presenting the British perspective as one shaped by loyalty to the Crown, survival and the shifting realities of war.
“I have presented in my proclamation that any unfree person of whatever color that comes to me and will take up arms against the rebels wins their freedom,” Stone said, as Lord Dunmore. “The rebels say terrible things about us, and they are angry because I freed their slaves.”
Stone also underscored the importance of reenactments in helping modern audiences connect abstract history to real people, places and decisions, reinforcing the event’s educational mission.
“I think it’s invaluable, because now you have a vision and something to hook the theory to,” Stone said. “It ties a personality and personalities to the story.”
Reenactors remained in character, interpreting both the strategic failures of British forces and the broader human motivations behind the conflict, offering visitors a nuanced look at the Revolutionary War from the British perspective.
The Maryland Camp
Across the water, the Maryland encampment at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum offered a contrasting, ground-level look at colonial defense. Reenactors portraying local militia units demonstrated 18th-century musket drills, guiding attendees through the commands, movements and limitations of the era’s weapons before firing volleys along the shoreline.
Interpreters explained that many of the men represented were not professional soldiers, but farmers, watermen and tradesmen who traveled from surrounding counties — including St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert and Prince George’s counties — to respond to the British threat. Armed with a mix of personal hunting weapons and leftover military muskets, the militia reflected a patchwork force.
Dan Schlueter, captain of the Brooks Company of the Calvert Militia, helped bring the Maryland encampment to life by interpreting the local militia response to Lord Dunmore’s occupation of St. George Island in 1776.
Schlueter explained that the militia — made up of minimally trained, lightly supplied citizen soldiers from across Southern Maryland — played a critical role in containing British forces by cutting off supplies and preventing expansion beyond the island. Though lacking a navy to force a direct retreat, the militia effectively held the line, ultimately contributing to the British withdrawal.
“The militia is the first line of defense, and we were irregular troops with minimal training and minimal supplies, and we managed to hold the line,” Schlueter said. “We didn’t have a navy to drive them off, but we cut them off from food supplies and they eventually had to evacuate.”
Schlueter said that the Battle of St. George Island represented a defining but often overlooked moment in Maryland’s Revolutionary War history, an event that could have shifted the course of the war if British forces had successfully gained a foothold along the Potomac.
“This is our moment to stop an early momentum pushed by the British,” Schlueter said. “If the British had been successful here, the entire revolution would have taken a different shift.”
Schlueter also highlighted the importance of immersive, hands-on reenactments in connecting the public — especially younger generations — to local history, noting that experiences like walking through camps, hearing musket fire and interacting with reenactors help make the past tangible.
“Here there’s a chance to go into the camps, smell the smoke, watch the drills and get a real feel for what happened right here,” Schlueter said. “So much of the history here focuses on other wars and battles. This is our glory moment for the Revolution.”
Artillery demonstrations followed, with crews operating a two-pounder “falconet” and a larger howitzer, walking spectators through the step-by-step firing process before coordinated blasts echoed across the river. The demonstrations highlighted both the power and danger of the weapons, emphasizing the training required to operate them safely.
Beyond the battlefield demonstrations, the Maryland camp served as a central hub for visitors, featuring historical organizations, educational exhibits, vendors and live music performed with period instruments — blending immersive history with a festival-like atmosphere.
History On St. George Island
At the St. George Island Improvement Association building, attendees found a quieter, interpretive space with exhibits, discussions and historical context.
Lisa Conley, vice regent of the Major William Thomas Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), attended the event to support the America 250 commemoration and help highlight the historical significance of the Battle of St. George Island.
“We uphold service to the country, supporting our troops, American history, education and giving back to our communities,” Conley said. “We are supporting America 250, the reenactments and the marker dedication for the Battle of St. George’s Island.”
Conley said the organization’s presence — which included a planned historical marker dedication to the Battle of St. George Island — reflected its broader mission of preserving history, promoting education and honoring those who fought in the American Revolution.
“It’s very important that people know how we got here, why we got here and what happened here,” Conley said.
The DAR is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. Conley said membership is open to women who can trace their lineage to an ancestor who supported the American Revolution, with genealogical documentation verified through the organization.
Author Jonathan Beasley added historical depth to the weekend, sharing insights from his book “Tory Congressman,”which explores Maryland’s lesser-known Revolutionary War loyalties and figures. He described the complexity of the era, focusing on Marylanders who remained loyal to the British Crown, including Philip Barton Key, whose path from British service to U.S. congressmen reflected the complicated allegiances of the time.
“They’d sworn an oath of allegiance to the King and were executed for treason for fighting against their own country,” Beasley said. “He joined the British Army and was captured, sent abroad, and came back three years later and became a U.S. congressman.”
Beasley’s presentation underscored a broader theme of the event: that Maryland’s Revolutionary War history extended beyond the battlefield, shaped by difficult choices, divided loyalties and defining moments that helped shape the nation.
Mark Deeds attended the event to support awareness of the American Revolution and promote Maryland 250 commemorative coins, designed to raise awareness of the state’s often-overlooked role in the American Revolution while supporting future preservation efforts.
“The commemoratives are to help educate and bring awareness to all the contributions of Maryland through the Revolutionary War,” Deeds said. “This is an effort to educate and raise money for a Revolutionary War memorial.”
Deeds said the coins serve both as educational tools and fundraising items, helping highlight key moments such as the Battle of St. George Island and the Maryland 400. Proceeds from the effort are intended to support the development of a Revolutionary War memorial in Maryland, reinforcing the state’s historical significance in the nation’s founding.
“Without the Maryland 400, Washington’s army would have been decimated,” Deeds said. “If it wasn’t for the Battle of St. George Island, we could have been invaded from here.”
Three students from St. Mary’s College of Maryland volunteered at the Rebels & Redcoats event, helping staff a children’s activity table focused on hands-on, colonial-era learning. The group guided young visitors through simple games and activities such as spinning tops, coloring and word puzzles, offering a glimpse into daily life for children during the Revolutionary War. The effort aimed to make history approachable for younger audiences while encouraging curiosity about the region’s past and programs like the museum’s Junior Historians initiative.
Living History Beyond The Battlefield
Reenactors remained fully in character throughout the weekend, sleeping in period-style tents and maintaining historically accurate appearances from morning drills to evening encampment life. Tent setups reflected military rank, with officers occupying more elaborate, furnished spaces while enlisted soldiers made do with simpler conditions. simpler conditions, an image that reinforced the structure of 18th-century military life.
Beyond the uniforms and formations, the experience extended into daily living. Participants cooked, trained and camped on-site, offering visitors a firsthand look at how soldiers and militia lived during the Revolutionary War.
“It’s a full immersion — eating off pots, getting grubby, learning the drills — they’re actually taking a step back in time,” said Schlueter, captain of the Brooks Company of the Calvert Militia.
The Maryland camp also served as a central gathering space, hosting organizations including the National Park Service, Maryland Public Television and regional heritage groups, alongside food vendors, educational exhibits and family-friendly activities.
Community Turnout And Ideal Conditions
With clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, the event benefited from near-perfect conditions, drawing steady crowds throughout the weekend. The event also signaled the start of the region’s tourism season, offering residents and visitors an early opportunity to explore Southern Maryland’s museums, historic sites and cultural events.
Liz Mildenstein, executive director of Visit St. Mary’s MD, said the Rebels & Redcoats event is already showing strong regional draw for tourism season, with local visitors and many traveling from outside the county and state specifically to attend the two-day commemoration.
“A number of folks have come from outside of St. Mary’s County,” Mildenstein said. “I’ve met a lot of people this morning from Anne Arundel County who came down specifically for this event.”
Mildenstein said the event is a key piece of the broader Maryland 250 effort, supported by a wide network of partners including the National Park Service, Southern Maryland National Heritage Area and Maryland Public Television.
“The National Park Service, Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, the Maryland 250 Commission — everybody is working really hard to commemorate the 250th year,” Mildenstein said. “We’ve heard from multiple folks that came because they saw information from Maryland Public Television.”
The expanded format this year, including a second day and additional programming, reflects a growing effort to position St. Mary’s County as a destination for heritage tourism.
Mildenstein said the combination of living history, family engagement and regional collaboration is helping introduce new visitors to the county while reinforcing its identity as “Maryland’s original destination.”
“This is a big celebration for Southern Maryland,” Mildenstein said. “St. Mary’s County is Maryland’s original destination.”
Visitors parked off-site at Piney Point Elementary School and used continuous shuttle service to travel between the three locations, allowing for easy access despite the event’s spread-out footprint.
Families, veterans, residents and out-of-town visitors moved between camps, watching demonstrations, engaging with reenactors and learning about Southern Maryland’s role in the nation’s founding.
A Regional Effort To Mark America’s 250th
Rebels & Redcoats is part of a larger, multi-year effort to recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States, with Southern Maryland playing a key role in highlighting local contributions to the Revolutionary War.
Karen Stone, manager of the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, said the Rebels & Redcoats event exceeded expectations, drawing strong crowds and delivering on its mission to educate the public about Southern Maryland’s role in the American Revolution.
“They’re learning things they didn’t know about the American Revolution in Southern Maryland — and that’s what this is all about,” Stone said.
Stone noted that the event — part of the broader Southern Maryland 250 commemoration — is designed to make history accessible, particularly for younger audiences, through immersive, visual experiences that allow visitors to interact directly with reenactors from both sides of the conflict.
“They don’t understand it if they don’t see it, and this is the best way to do it,” Stone said. “People can talk to British soldiers and American soldiers and hear both sides of the story firsthand.”
With participation from regional partners and visitors traveling from outside the region, Stone said the event has grown into a signature celebration for Southern Maryland, bringing together history, education and community engagement.
“It really is Southern Maryland’s signature event,” Stone said.
A Living Link To Local History
From musket volleys along the shoreline to the thunder of cannon fire over the Potomac, the weekend offered a tangible connection to the past.
For many attendees, the experience was not just about watching history, but stepping into it — hearing the commands, feeling the ground shake beneath artillery fire and standing in the same landscape where Maryland’s only Revolutionary War battle unfolded.
In a region defined by its history, Rebels & Redcoats brought that past forward, offering a rare opportunity to see, hear and understand it — not as a distant memory, but as a living part of Southern Maryland’s story.
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