Reenactors Saturday demonstrate the flintlock rifle at Morgan’s Grove Park in Shepherdstown, W.Va., for the 250th anniversary of the Bee Line March. The march was made by riflemen from Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland to help Gen. George Washington at the Siege of Boston. (Photo by Tabitha Johnston)

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The final event marking the 250th anniversary of the Bee Line March was held Saturday at Morgan’s Grove Park and in downtown Shepherdstown.

The Second Continental Congress called for 10 companies of riflemen from Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland to aid Gen. George Washington at the Siege of Boston.

The first to answer the call was a company from Shepherdstown, which left July 17, 1775, from Morgan’s Spring near Morgan’s Grove Park, and made the 600-mile march on foot in a record 25 days. The march was portrayed Saturday by a large group of reenactors, who set up a military encampment in the morning and in the afternoon marched into downtown Shepherdstown.

Throughout the day at the park, a variety of activities were held, including military drills, children’s 18th century games, flintlock rifle demonstrations, musical performances by the Old Line Fife and Drum Corps and speeches about Revolutionary War life, such as colonial hygiene and clothing. Food trucks sold barbecue, macaroni and cheese, ice cream and lemonade.

“There have been a steady group of people who have come in, listened to one or more talks and gone on to spend some time with the reenactors. We’ve had some people who showed up at a quarter of 10 this morning and have been here all day,” Donna Bertazzoni, who co-chaired the Bee Line March 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee with Peter Smith, said. “It has been very well received. Everybody has been impressed with the event itself and what’s available to look at and to listen to here.”

The 250th anniversary celebration of the Bee Line March included meals that would have been served at the time of the Revolutionary War. (Photo by Tabitha Johnston)

While one of the other events in the 250th anniversary celebration series, held at the park on June 14, featured a similar concept to it, Bertazzoni said several elements ensured Saturday’s event remained unique.

“It’s a very different type of an event,” Bertazzoni said. “The other one had all of the dignitaries and officials in attendance, whereas this one is more focused on the soldiers. This is what they did and what they looked like and how they prepared to go on the Bee Line March.”

At least five of the participants were artisans and reenactors at Colonial Williamsburg, one of whom previously was employed as a reenactor at Colonial Williamsburg and one of whom was previously employed at Mount Vernon. They were inspired by the drive for historical accuracy from the Anniversary Celebration Committee.

“Frankly, with a lot of events, the standards that are set in place are [pretty low]. Events with a higher standard like this are exciting,” Sam McGinty said after leading the final flintlock rifle demonstration of the day. “It incentivizes the reenactors and historians here, to know that they are going to an event that emphasizes quality, with a certain degree of reverentialness to the topic.”

McGinty participated with the Crockett’s Rifles Unit reenactment group. To make it to the morning event in time, he had to leave the evening before for Shepherdstown.

“I was marching around Colonial Williamsburg yesterday at 4 o’clock, showered as quickly as I could, hopped in the truck and drove up here last night,” McGinty, supervisor of military programs at Colonial Williamsburg, said. “This was important enough that I wasn’t going to consider missing it.”