Reenactment highlights Lieut. Col. Archibald Campbell’s seven months as a prisoner in Reading
Reading, MA — On September 26, 2026, from 9-5, a reenactment/encampment will take place at Parker Tavern, 103 Washington Street. Lieut. Col. Archibald Campbell will be returning to the Tavern!
Who was Campbell?
The Lieut. Col. was a wealthy Scottish landowner and member of Parliament. In 1775, he helped raise the 71st Highland Regiment to support King George in his attempt to quell the unrest in the American Colonies. He sailed from Scotland in the spring of 1776 with a fleet of ships filled with soldiers. After a long voyage, they sailed into Boston Harbor on June 19th, expecting to be warmly greeted by the British. He was unaware that three months earlier, on March 17th, the British had evacuated Boston after being under siege since the events of Lexington and Concord. After a short battle, the ships were captured. On June 22, Campbell, 7 of his officers, and as many as 22 servants were sent to Reading as Prisoners of War. For the next 7 months, Campbell lived at Parker Tavern.
On September 26th, the grounds of Parker Tavern will return to 1776. A Scottish Highland Regiment will set up camp, and Col. Bailey’s 2nd MA Regiment will do the same. Col. Bailey’s Regiment will represent the local militia and the townspeople. Erich and Janice Steinhagen, potters and weavers, will demonstrate their crafts, and examples of their pottery will be for sale. The Tavern will be open for tours with a special exhibit of items pertinent to the American Revolution from the Reading Antiquarian Society’s collection. Reading’s own 18th-century cook, Michael Duncan Smith, will be assisting in a formal tea hosted by the Lieut. Col. for the ladies of Reading. The details of the day’s events are listed below.
Come step back in time. Learn more about Scottish military life and find out what happened to Campbell after his seven months in Reading.
Parker Tavern is owned and maintained by the Reading Antiquarian Society, a 501(3) non-profit organization. This activity is funded in part by a grant from the Reading Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and the Reading Celebration Trust. We sincerely thank them for their support. To learn more about the Antiquarian Society, visit our website parkertavern.org.
Parking is available at the Reading Depot.
Schedule of Events
- 9:00 – 5:00: Ongoing camp activities and a chance for the public to ask questions
- 10:00: Prisoners roll call and issue of rations. Guard is set. Guard will change during the day
- 11:00 – 12:00: Visit Parker Tavern’s first floor with a Special Collections Exhibit
- 12:00 – 1:30: Formal Tea with Lieut. Col. Campbell and the ladies. First-person social discussion
- 2:00 – 3:00: Visit Parker Tavern’s first floor with a Special Collections Exhibit
- 3:00 – 3:45: Presentation – Scottish soldiers in America
