LONDONDERRY - Using apple trees as cover, Revolutionary War soldiers turned a grassy field off Pillsbury Road into a battlefield yesterday.

The reenactment, which was held next to the Historical Society's blacksmith shop, museum and barn, was part of Londonderry's 108th Old Home Day celebration yesterday.

The observance of Old Home Day - originally a one-day event - has been a New Hampshire tradition for more than a century and was started in 1899 by Gov. Frank Rollins. Londonderry is one of fewer than a dozen communities in the state that have faithfully observed Old Home Day on the third weekend in August.

"We used to live in Londonderry so we always come back every year for the Old Home Day," said Christine Cue, who now lives in Chester.

Dressed in 18th century regalia, soldiers fired muskets and cannons while women cooked biscuits and apple pies in Dutch Ovens over an open flame.

"It always amazes me that it only takes the same time to cook in a Dutch oven as it does in a modern oven," said Janet Coombs of Derry, a history enthusiast who visited yesterday's event.

Even though 7-year-old Justin Welter of Londonderry enjoyed learning about how the soldiers load and fire their muskets, he said his favorite part of the event was the loud booming noise the cannon made.

"It looks like they're shooting cannonballs," Welter said of the soldiers who set off the cannons every hour.

Charlie Ogden watched the reenactment at last year's Old Home Day and decided to join the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment in time for this year's annual celebration in his hometown.

"I had an ancestor that was in the 3rd regiment so I decided to try it out," Ogden said of the reenactment group that travels up and down the East Coast doing demonstrations.

Although he signed up a few weeks ago, Ogden said, yesterday was the first time he fired one of the group's replica muskets.

"I knew nothing about this before I came here today," he said while wearing an orange wool coat and a three-cornered hat he borrowed from one of the other soldiers.

Nine-year-old Marissa Johnson also enjoyed taking a step back in time yesterday to dress up and pretend she was a part of the Revolutionary War. Most of her day was spent helping the other women prepare meals but she found time to play with some simple toys like a Jacob's ladder.

"There's no computer or television to play with," the Londonderry girl said. "We're getting to relive how it really was."

Hundreds of people also got the chance to tour the Historical Society's three buildings yesterday.

In addition to the reenactment, yesterday's events included a 5-K road race, baby contest and a parade down Route 28 that included Republican Presidential candidates Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul.

The event continues today with a Contemporary Christian concert from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Town Common. For more information, visit the event's Web site at www.oldhomeday.org.