NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. – In the winter of 1782-83, the soldiers of the Northern Continental Army in the vicinity of West Point anxiously awaited for news of peace to arrive from Europe. On Washington’s birthday weekend, Feb. 17-19, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. each day, reenactors will make the huts at the Last Encampment of the Continental Army come alive with military drills, musket and cannon firings. February 17, a formal military drill will take place at 2 p.m. followed by a cannon firing. February 18 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. there will be more military firings and open-hearth cooking demonstrations. From 2 to 3 p.m., children enlist in the Continental Army and drill with wooden muskets, set up tents, build stone fireplaces to keep warm and get paid in Continental currency for their service. February 19 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. the military and camplife demonstrations continue. From 2 to 3 p.m., children participate in a fun and informative search through camp to find objects lost by the soldiers and everyone earns rewards.

The huts of the Last Encampment of the Continental Army are located across the street from the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site on Route 300 in Vails Gate, N.Y. Parking is available at he end of Causeway Road just off Route 300 next to the huts. For more information, call 561-1765. All activities are free.

Following the capture of the British forces by the allied armies of France and America at Yorktown, Va., in the fall of 1781, the Northern Continental Army returned to the Hudson Highlands. The defeat of the principle British field army in the south broke the English will to continue the struggle. However, Britain was not only fighting America, but France, Spain and Holland as well, so the peace negotiations begun in early 1782 dragged on. Building a city of 600 log huts to the west of New Windsor in the late fall of 1782, the 7,500 soldiers and camp followers of the Continental Army braved the winter at this semi-permanent camp know as a cantonment and kept a wary eye on the 12,000 British soldiers in New York City.