Military Encampment Weekend: Williamsburg Dy’d of a Purple Coulour – November 1 -2, 2025
Credit: Brendan Sostak, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Military Encampment Weekend: Williamsburg Dy’d of a Purple Coulour – November 1 -2, 2025
In August 1775, the Third Virginia Convention passed an ordinance. It was for raising and embodying a sufficient force for the defense and protection of this colony. This act effectively raised the 1st and 2nd Virginia Regiments. These two regiments mustered in Williamsburg in the fall of 1775, taking turns guarding the Magazine throughout their time here. Throughout that fall, these first regiments trained, marched, and became soldiers in full view of the people of Williamsburg.
Equipping the 1st and 2nd Virginia regiments was the work of many of Williamsburg’s trades and people. On October 27, 1775, the captains of the 2nd Virginia Regiment were given a directive. They were ordered to provide “Legins for his men & hunting shirts Dy’d of a purple Coulour.” Join us in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area for a re-enactment of this event. Watch as the regiment dyes its uniforms. See how they prepare for the war ahead.
This special event is located at the Military Encampment. It is in the center of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. The event is also in the historic trade shops throughout the town.
The name of the program is a reference to the distinctive purple color of the 2nd Virginia Regiment’s hunting shirts: “It is Expected that each Capt. will with all Expedition Provide Legins for his men & hunting shirts dyed of a purple Coulour…” (Orderly Book of the 2d Virginia Regiment, October 27, 1775)
This event will interpret the 2nd Virginia Regiment and its impact on the Williamsburg community. The 2nd Virginia Regiment was authorized by the Third Virginia Convention in August 1775. It was camped in Williamsburg in the fall of 1775.
Bring the family and come see 50-100 volunteer reenactors from as far away as MA, NJ and NC will be joining Colonial Williamsburg’s Military Program staff for a weekend of programming including:
Saturday Nov 1 and Sunday, Novementer 2, 2025
- Exercise and Evolutions (Courthouse Green) – 10 a.m., 3 p.m.
- Under Arms: Join the 2nd Virginia Regiment (Military Encampment) – 11 a.m.
- The Weight of Liberty (Wheelwrights and Courthouse Green) – 12 p.m.
- The Discipline of Woods Fighting (Courthouse Green) – 2 p.m.
- Beat the Retreat (Military Encampment) – 5 p.m.
“The weekend is meant to be very immersive – the city will feel alive. We’ve set a high standard for authenticity with our reenactors and will be trying to thoughtfully and accurately represent Williamsburg in 1775. The programs on the schedule, with the scale the reenactors will provide, should be something really special,” said Colonial Williamsburg’s Military Programs Supervisor, Sam McGinty.
Learn how equipping the 2nd Virginia Regiment was the work of many of Williamsburg’s trades and people. During this reenactor weekend, the following Colonial Williamsburg’s historic trades will be contributing to army preparations:
- Wheelwrights, repairing and making artillery carriages
- Foundry, casting musket balls
- Weavers/dyers, dying hunting shirts
- Farmers, harvesting crops for the army
- Bookbinders, reproducing drill manuals and orderly books
- Printers, printing enlistment papers and other important documents
- Milliners/Mantua Makers, repairing and repurposing older worn out garments
- Cooks, comparing and contrasting the high-end foods of the upper and officer class with military enlisted rations
This historic event will have the recreated 2nd Virginia Regiment standing on the same ground as the original regiment did exactly 250 years ago. They will perform the same drills detailed in primary sources.
Between the mid-1990s and the mid-2010s, Colonial Williamsburg hosted numerous reenactor weekends. The last reenactor weekend hosted by Colonial Williamsburg was in 2015. The Foundation plans to host two additional reenactor weekends in 2026 as part of its year-long commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. More Information
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