One of my pleasant memories from a long time ao. Time flies - wonder what Ruth Ann Messick is doing these days? John Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 21:38:52 -0700 From: John Helmut Merz hessian@sympatico.ca To: AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [REV-HESSIANS] Back from the Saratoga Battlefield. Hello AMREV-HESSIANS, my wife and I came back last night from our trip by Amtrak from Schenectady, N.Y., late and tired, and now after having recuperated somewhat, would like to give you a short report. First let me thank Ruth Ann Messick who took so lovely care of me and my wife from the time of arrival Friday evening until we left Monday morning. She picked us up at the station and drove us to our Motel in Saratoga Springs, which we had booked for the three nights. Let me say this, Ruth Ann is something else, she must run on atomic power, the things she does, it is unbelievable, I think she must be one who does not need to sleep much. Thanks Ruth Ann, you were great! Saturday morning at Ballston Spa the Head Hunters, sorry, the Heritage Hunters put up their show, I had a table where I displayed my books and answered questions all day. It sure was evident that not too much emphasis was previously demonstrated about Hessians, my being there (again thanks to Ruth Ann) brought home the fact that the Hessians (Brunswickers, Hesse-Hanau) played quite a role in the Saratoga history. It was evident to me that American history was taught very one-sided, particularly when I heard many times the expression 'on our side'. I mean after 222 years with descendants of all sides participating, you don't quote only one side. They all took part in the historic events of the time. Towards the end of the day, and ready to go home with my voice very strained, suddenly the day brightened up with the arrival of the first real Hessian descendant, Bob Vinica with his wife Irmgard. His ancestor Andreas Wienecke had belonged to the Brunswick Regt. Prinz Ludwig, which was involved in the Battle of Bennington in August 1777. Bob and his wife just made it in time coming from New Hampshire, and they booked a room at our Motel. We had a very good time that evening, and you guessed it, we talked about Hessians. Thanks Bob and Irmgard for keeping us company. Next morning after a good breakfast we started off for the Saratoga National Battlefield Park, and watched the various re-enactment camps of the Patriots, and also of the British camps. What we did not find were any Hessian re-enactors, although we were told that some fellows of the Brunswick Regiment von Specht were expected to show up. If they did, we sure missed them. We also missed some Hessian ancestors who were looking for me, kept chasing us, but apparently could not catch up to Bob and me. We met Mr. Riedesel, from the line of General Riedesel who to commemorate the Brunswick's march route from Quebec City to Saratoga and to the Boston prison camp, followed the same trail and timed their arrival corresponding to the actual time table of the Saratoga battles. There was also Mr. von Breymann, from the line of Colonel Breymann who was killed at the Breymann Re-doubt at the Park during the final battle. Colonel Breymann was the commander of the Brunswick Grenadier Battalion v.Breymann. We missed each other as well. It's a large battlefield Park, and it was estimated that 1500 people were visiting that day. It was a long day, and we were kind of happy to be driven back to our Motel after Bob and Irmgard Vinica said good-bye to leave for home. Ruth Ann picked us up in the morning to bring us back to the Amtrak Station in Schenectady. It was quite an experience, but I felt my age! Once more my sincere thank you to Ruth Ann Messick, she was a true Ambassador of Good Will for the whole County of Saratoga. Yours truly, John Merz,