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History Afloat!
Posted:
Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:59 pmby bunghole
Here's something you don't see everyday! History in motion on the James River at Lynchburg, Virginia - The Batteau Festival 2006.
All photos copywrite Linnin Images 2006
Posted:
Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:04 pmby bunghole
During the American Revolution some 50 batteaux were known to be at Fort Pitt and made their way down to the Falls of the Ohio and back on a somewhat regular basis.
Posted:
Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:11 pmby bunghole
Just a few more!
Can you imagine barrels of rye and corn whiskey being transported?
Posted:
Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:15 pmby Bourbon Joe
They almost liik like a Connestoga Wagon that floats.
Joe
Posted:
Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:21 pmby bunghole
JoeBourbon wrote:They almost liik like a Connestoga Wagon that floats.
Joe
Joe, the batteau pre-dates the connestoga wagon, and I'll bet there was some influence on the connie's design as they did float to aid in river crossings.
Linn
Posted:
Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:23 amby gillmang
That's interesting Linn, nice pictures. Bateau in French means boat.
Gary
Posted:
Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:13 pmby bunghole
gillmang wrote:That's interesting Linn, nice pictures. Bateau in French means boat.
Gary
Thanks Gary! I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. A lot of resolution is lost when I have to shrink them down to one tenth of the original size for webpage application.
Linn
Posted:
Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:36 pmby bunghole
A quick bit of historical background -
The batteau was invented by two Amherst County brothers - Anthony and Benjamin Rucker. Thomas Jefferson witnessed the launch of the Rucker's batteau on April 19, 1775 and later wrote about it.
The site where these photos were taken was originally where John Lynch established a ferry in the 1750's and came to be called Lynch's Ferry and later to become Lynchburg. Amherst County is on the northern bank of the James. This would have been very close to the originial launch site of Rucker's batteau.
Batteaux were made mostly from oak and were six to eight feet wide with a flat bottom, and 40 to 60 feet long. Pointed at both ends with a rudder at each made the batteau very maneuverable. The batteau was also quite strong and could shoot rapids and go over small falls with ease.
Linn
Posted:
Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:39 pmby cowdery
Very cool. There is something very appealing about messing around with boats on rivers, something I grew up with and have always enjoyed.
Posted:
Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:16 pmby bunghole
cowdery wrote:Very cool. There is something very appealing about messing around with boats on rivers, something I grew up with and have always enjoyed.
ima glad you enjoyed the photos, Chuck. Anytime I can envoke a fond memory or other positive response with my photography then my work has not been in vain.
Linn