Coffee had key role in Battle of Smithfield’s 160th anniversary
Published 4:53 pm Wednesday, February 7, 2024
- Historian Kevin Ritton demonstrates a bugle in his portrayal of a soldier in the 99th New York volunteer infantry, whose company was on the USS Congress when it was sunk by the CSS Virginia, also known as the captured Union steam frigate USS Merrimack. (Photo by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
Feb. 1 marked the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Smithfield, a Civil War skirmish fought on the Pagan River and on Main Street.
On that date in 1864, Confederate troops destroyed the U.S. Army gunboat Smith Briggs, but not before locals unloaded the ship’s considerable supplies of coffee and tea, which had been in scarce supply since the Union had blockaded southern ports.
The Isle of Wight County Museum commemorated the anniversary on Feb. 4 with events at multiple locations.
Living historians dressed in replica Civil War-era uniforms were stationed in and outside the museum. At the 1750 courthouse, Harry Johnson, an engineer by day with Huntington Ingalls Industries, dressed as Randall Booth, an enslaved man who in 1862 saved Isle of Wight County’s court records.
At the museum, visitors could sample various coffee substitutes made from dandelions, peanuts and acorns, that residents of the town would have consumed prior to taking the Smith Briggs’ supplies.
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- “Cannon Fire” was one of two specialty coffee drinks created by Cure Coffeehouse specifically to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Smithfield. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer England)
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- Kolby Coleman of Cure Coffeehouse prepares “Cannon Fire” which featured homemade marshmallow fluff. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer England)
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- Nancy Farrell, an employee of the Isle of Wight County Museum, pours samples of peanut and dandelion coffee. (Photo by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
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- Devin Batts of Portsmouth samples acorn and peanut coffee. Acorn was the winner. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer England)
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- Tidewater Maritime Living History Association reenactors Alan Mordica, right, and Chris Johnson, show a replica cannon of the type sailors from the Union gunboat Smith-Briggs would have used during the Feb. 1, 1864 Battle of Smithfield. (Photo by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
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- Harry Johnson, an engineer with Huntington Ingalls Industries, portrays Randall Booth, an enslaved 19th century man who during the Civil War helped save Isle of Wight County’s court records. (Photo by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
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- Isle of Wight County Museum Director Jennifer England created these hollowed-out and corked sweet potatoes, which Civil War-era soldiers would use to smuggle brandy. (Photo by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
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- Connor Jeannette, a reenactor with the Tidewater Maritime Living History Association, demonstrates an accordion and 19th century sea shanties. (Photo by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
