All About the Rose of Nelson™ Batteau
Last Updated May 11th, 2011
The Rose of Nelson has been plying the James, Rivanna, Potomec, Rockfish, and many more rivers in Virginia for 6 years in it's current form - the 4th Batteau to hold the name. Besides the main annual Batteau event(The James River Batteau Festival), the Rose participates in many other river adventures.
In 2011 for example, it navigated in a Virginia Canals and Navigation Society event in partnership with the National Park Service at Harpers Ferry. The educational event was open to the public to tour the boat and learn about how these flat bottomed boats were used in the 1700 and early 1800's to supply much of the goods needed. They were the tractor trailers of a time past.
The 3rd Rose was lost in a re-enactment on the New River in West Virginia. Read the full story here (link soon).
The people involved with the boat are a group of friends who have a passion for the river and spending time on it.
What others are saying about us
From a fund raising trip in the spring of 2011:
KUDOS: Fantastic! So interesting to be in and even briefly steer a replica of the original batteaux. The boat's captain and Pete Runge do an excellent job of providing local history and showing us remnants of the old canal system. Truly an experience to remember and treasure for years. (Susan G)
KUDOS: Wow, what a neat idea! Pete looked like one of the crew! He and Captain Mike were willing to show and let us practice maneuvering le batteau whether by sweep or by pole. We didn't let a few sprinkles dampen the spirits. Not so many club members on the 2nd day, so Gwen had room for a nap. Would do it again, but maybe not on the Upper Gauley. (Chad)
KUDOS: It was great.
I had a fantastic time on the James last weekend; many thanks to you and the crew of the Rose of Nelson. I hope your Sunday adventure went well, too!
Best,
Kate
Anticipating the James River Batteau Festival: A Brief History of the Rose of Nelson Batteau
By Mike Neal, Captain
Note:This article is in response to the request from the Editor in early 2004 to all Batteau Captains about their involvement with the Batteau Festival as a part of the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society.
I first became interested in the James River Batteau Festival and batteaux when my wife (Ellen) involved our boys (Kenny, Daniel, and Jacob) with the Edward Scott at the recommendation of one of our home schooling friends. After a half day of crewing (mainly bailing) on the batteau, my three boys and I had found a new passion. We were part of the crew on the Edward Scott until it was worn out, with the captain, Ed Barbour, making no plans to repair or build a new batteau. (The Edward Scott is now on display at the Canal Basin Square in Scottsville, Virginia.) My family then responded to an advertisement in the Nelson County Times asking for help with the Rose of Nelson III batteau.
The Rose of Nelson is named after the Reverend Robert Rose, a clergyman who owned a large plantation in the Nelson County area in the 1700s. Parson Rose modified the existing river craft, the large dugout canoe (30-60 feet in length), to avoid the long and dangerous road trip to the Richmond market and to increase the limited capacity of the single dugout canoe on the river. What he did seems simple now, but was a leap in river transportation, at least until the Rucker Family developed the Batteau. Rev. Rose basically lashed two of the large canoes together to carry the hogsheads of tobacco (the money maker of the colonies) down river to the Richmond market. With his modifications began the capacity for large scale freight transportation on the James River.
The first Rose of Nelson was built in 1988 for the James River Batteau Festival. She was 55 feet long and captained by the late V.L.Bailey until 1995. His boat was known as "a very wet and wild batteau." The Rose of Nelson II batteau was built in 1991 and was 43 feet long. Diane McNaught was captain from 1996 through 1999. This boat was now known as the "dry batteau." Of course these reputations are only about the spirits that were on board and consumed by its riders!
The Rose of Nelson III batteau was 43 feet and 6 inches long and was built in 1999. This boat was not completed in time for the Festival and was the first time the Rose did not participate in the James River Batteau Festival (JRBF) since 1988. The Rose of Nelson III was refurbished and made water worthy. In 2000, I took over as Captain one week before the Festival, and to my surprise I soon realized the many responsibilities required of the captain. Due to the surprise change in captains, I could only get off work for the period of time down to the Wingina site and had to then pull out the batteau. The Rose was no longer a "dry bateau," although it is dryer than it has ever been as far as river water in the batteau!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of such a great historical reenactment and become more involved in the Batteau Family that participates in the Festival.
During the years I have been Captain, we have taken the Rose on many rivers: the Dan, the James, the New, the Rivanna, the Hardware, and the Slate rivers. We have been active in the James River Batteau Festival, Dan River Batteau Festival, New River Gorge Batteau Festival, the Revolutionary War Reenactment at Columbia (Point of Fork), along with supporting the VC&NS and its other events.
In 2004, the Rose of Nelson and her crew tried to complete the reenactment for the National Park service in West Virginia on the New River Gorge. The New River Gorge Batteau Festival was a reenactment of the survey trip taken down the gorge in 1869 for the development of the railroad along the river. Our first years’ participation was captured on the cover and inside the Wonderful West Virginia Magazine, November 2003. The National Park Service also filmed a documentary of the event for use in the Sandstone, West Virginia Visitor Center and other promotions. Our 2004 trip was featured in The Tiller article, "The Demise of the Rose of Nelson III." A photograph of The Rose and crew was printed in the National Geographic Magazine on-line issue about the Batteau Festival in 2000.
The fourth Rose of Nelson was built of 30 foot white oak planking and a one piece gunwale as in boat # 28 from the Richmond dig. The batteau is 43 feet, 6 inches long and was completed in May of 2005 in about 485 man hours.
I was asked, what are the things that you like the most about being captain and what attracts you to the Batteau Festival and its activities? First you must understand that I love to be on the river and in, on and by the water. I grew up in California, 30 feet from the north fork of the Kings Canyon River. I fished and played in the water in all my spare time. As a history enthusiast and a person that likes and greatly appreciates the "hard and rough old days and old ways," the Batteau Festival and the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society provide me the outlet for some of my deepest interests. The many hours of work fixing and making boxes, poles, sweeps and gear as well as camping and enjoying the challenges of the river are only a few highlights of the Festival. Reenacting the period of river transportation on the James and other rivers allows me to relive the time in history that was so instrumental to the building and growth of the colonies and our great Nation. It is such a rewarding feeling to be able to help keep this small piece of history alive and growing. Also, the association with the lively people that are involved with the Batteau Festival and the VC&NS is like having a great big overextended family of friends, even if I only see them once a year. See you on the River!!!