Tag: Union Reenactors
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Cedar Creek 2021
The weekend of October 16-17 saw the resumption of the reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek after a year off due to Covid. Linda and I joined the 7th Louisiana Co B. for the event. An old friend from “Gods and Generals,” Tony Morgan, was our commander.
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Events for 2021(?)
I know that I have been pretty quiet as of late. The situation with Covid restrictions has been tough to assess. They seem to be loosening up in some areas and some groups are finally starting to plan events. There are other questions that I have heard expressed by concerned reenactors. Will Cancel Culture put…
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Book Review: Sacred Ties
I learned today that the Tidioute Remagen Bridge reenactment has been cancelled, although this may be partly because the organizers have heard that the Reading Airshow may be moved to that date. How everything shakes out remains to be seen. At least we have books to read. Book Review: Sacred Ties Sacred Ties by Tom…
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Book Review: Eye of the Storm
It isn’t exactly news at this point, but just about every event that I know about through June has been cancelled or postponed. Since we have no idea whether we will have much of a reenacting season, or whether we will have one at all, I will try to put in some historically related posts…
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Events: January to June 2020
This is what we have so far: January 2020 WWI – January 10-12, 2020: “Fortifying the Line” (Unit Sponsored Event) (Hosted by Fusilier Regiment 90). Time period: Early 1915. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html
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Cedar Creek 2019 From the Confederate side
The reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek was held over the weekend of October 19-20. Since I hadn’t fallen in with the Confederates at a larger event, I decided to do so this time. I have known Tony Morgan since the days of filming ‘Gods and Generals,’ and he was pleased to have us…
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A Quick Overview of 2018
Here is a quick overview of events that we didn’t cover in individual articles. April 6-8. School of the Longhunter – Prickett’s Fort, near Fairmont, WV. This is a very informative seminar on life on the frontier in the 18th Century. Subjects can vary from an enlightening discussion on the life of Simon Girty to…
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Recap of (Most) of 2017
This past year has been an interesting one to say the least. Here is a recap of what we have done since April. We attended the Lantern tour at the Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton which contains 2100 internments, including 1252 Civil War soldiers. I delivered General Black Jack Logan’s address of May 5, 1868 to…
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Initial 2018 Calendar of events
Here is what we have so far for the coming year through April. January 2018 WWI – Jan 12-14, 2018: “Bathelémont: Baptism of Fire”(Hosted by FR 90 (German) and the 18th RI (French)). Time period: November 1917. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html WWII – Battle of the…
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2016 – A Retrospective
This is a month late, but better late than never. The following is a quick summary of events we attended last year: Our first event of the year was at Fort Indiantown Gap for the annual Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, sponsored by the WWII Historical Association. We take part in the Axis hospital…
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Events – January – May 2017
Below are the events on which we currently have information. More to follow. January 2017 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 25- 29. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiiha.org/new/index.php/fig February 2017 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 18, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usual. They still have…
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2016 Events
The following is starter calendar for the 2016 Reenacting season. More to follow. January 2016 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 27 – 31. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiiha.org/new/index.php/fig February 2016 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 27, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usual. They still have…
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Grafton Lantern Tour
Grafton, West Virginia – Grafton National Cemetery Lantern Tour On Friday evening, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. There will again be a living history tour of the Grafton National Cemetery. Tour leader Mark Tennant will lead the tour of Civil War graves in the cemetery. Mark and reenactor assistants dressed in Civil War period…
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Upcoming 2015 Events – January through April
The following is what I have so far for our general region. Some events have not yet released their 2015 event information. Check back for updates and additions. January 2015 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 27 – February 1. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org February 2015 Civil War – February 20-22,…
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Chief Logan Civil War Reenactment 2014
News Flash! The following is a report from our correspondent, Bill Donegan from the field in the Southern Mountains: Federal Battalion wiped out! A Federal Battalion led by Captain Steve Allen was wiped out to a man at Chief Logan State Park on Saturday September 27, 2014. The Federal objective was to capture…
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Philippi Blue-Gray Reunion May 31, 2014
This event usually occurs at the end of May or the first week in June. Often it happens on the same weekend as the Reading Airshow, so I have rarely attended. The last two years, these events have occurred on different weekends, so that hasn’t been a problem. The reenactment commemorates the “Philippi Races”…
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New Market Pt. II
The following is Captain Chuck Critchfield’s AAR from New Market: This year’s reenactment at New Market, Virginia, marked the 150th anniversary of the battle fought in a thunderstorm and made famous thanks to the Virginia Military Institute. But it was also a milestone for member of the 1st West Virginia who participated in the 125th…
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Battle of New Market Reenactment 2014
The 125th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of New Market, Virginia, was my first experience in Reenacting in May of 1989. So it was fitting that I made it back for the 150th this year, also the 25th year in the hobby for myself and Mark Tennant, 1st Sgt. of our unit, Co. A, First…
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MTA 2014
For a change of pace for me this year, Linda and I attended MTA at the Jamestown Settlement as mere tourists, rather than participants. Because of this, we were able to actually take our time and look at every exhibit in depth and at our leisure. Certainly a different feeling than the usual ‘stealing a…
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Burning Springs Documentary Filming
Here is the latest dispatch from our correspondent, Bill Donegan: Thanks to Jack and Tonya Daft I was able to participate in the making of a documentary about the oil and gas history in the Kanawha Valley area. “Burning Springs” is a documentary produced by Motion Masters, a Charleston, W.Va. company that has produced…
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Burning Springs
The following is a post from our correspondent, Bill Donegan: Thanks to Jack and Tonya Daft I was able to participate in the making of a documentary about the oil and gas history in the Kanawha Valley area. “Burning Springs” is a documentary produced by Motion Masters, a Charleston, W.Va. company that has produced…
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Droop Mountain 150th
The West Virginia Reenactor’s Association held it’s reenactment commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Droop Mountain on Labor Day weekend this year due to a scheduling conflict later in the fall. While the event lacked the attraction of colorful autumn leaves, which it normally has, the park is still a remarkably beautiful…
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Review – Gettysburg Reenactment – Blue Gray Alliance June 27-29
The Following is a report on the Blue-Gray Alliance version of the 150th Gettysburg reenactment from our correspondent, Chuck Critchfield: Greetings Attached is my report on the recent disagreement at the town of Gettysburg Scenarios We started the weekend with McPherson’s Ridge on Friday morning. We were up early and on the road (more about…
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150th Chancellorsville- May 3-5 2013
The following is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev: From the Living History Camp The 150th Battle of Chancellorsville on the W. J. Vakos Companies property at Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA presented living history, battle reenactments, plus a huge selection of sutlers, the First Brigade Band from Milwaukee, MI playing period music, the U.…
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THE LONG ROAD HOME EVENT : FALL OF RICHMOND – APRIL 5-7, 2013
The following is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev: The third of five annual events in the Long Road Home program leading up to the 150th anniversary of the surrender at Appomattox continued April 5-7, 2013 at Clover Hill Village in Appomattox, VA with the Fall of Richmond. It was hosted by Appomattox…
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Federal Generals’ Corps at the Dr. Samuel Mudd House
The following is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev: Federal Generals’ Corps at the Dr. Samuel Mudd House March 22-24 , 2013 the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Society hosted the Boy & Girl Scout encampment and the Battle of Zechiah Swamp activity on the grounds of the historic Dr. Samuel Mudd…
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Mayday, Mayday, Mayday in Connecticut! Part II
Here is an update on the ongoing situation in Connecticut from our friend on the scene: Hello All: Things look very gloomy here in Connecticut. Monday afternoon the Governor and his party just released their bill to punish gun owners in this state for the crimes of an evil man. They have mercilessly exploited…
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16th Annual Scary Creek Battle
Here is a report from our correspondent, Bill Donegan: From March 21 through 24th the Valley Park, Hurricane Civil War Week-end was held as the tribute to the sesquicentennial. The public was invited to visit the campsites, meet President Lincoln (Fritz Klein) as well as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, who gave talks…
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Spring Living History Events
January 2013 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 22 – 27. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org February 2013 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 23, 2013, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usual. They still have several buildings available and are currently accepting pre-registrations. The scenario revolves around…
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2012 – A Retrospective
2012 has been an interesting year, with more than its share of ups and downs, to be sure. As some of you know, I have had some personal bumps in the road, including some unpleasant health problems, which have affected my ability to get out to events as well as mind this blog as much…
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A Return to Jollytown
A couple of weeks ago, Mark Tennant and I went out to Jollytown to see how the Jesse Taylor monument was holding up. As some of you may remember, WVRA members and the Sons of Union Veterans teamed up to clean up site and paint the cannon and mortars at the monument. We were quite…
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Grafton Lantern Tour
The Grafton National Cemetery was established in 1867 as a burial site for Union soldiers killed in the recent Civil War. For the last several years, Mark Tennant, with some sponsorship from the Spirit of Grafton committee, has been organizing a lantern tour of the cemetary, and did so again this year on the evening…
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Philippi Races 2012
Here is Bill Donegan’s account of his weekend at the Blue-Gray Reunion with “The Mighty Stonewall.” God’s predestination and sovereignty were made apparent to me again this week-end at the Philippi Races. The May 31st-June 3rd reenactment of the first land battle of the civil war. I had been asked to guard Maj. General…
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An Interesting Fellow
Orders had come down to Brigadier General Ivan Vasilyevich Turchaninov to pull his brigade out of line and begin a withdrawal, which would eventually include the entire army corps. This was probably none too soon, as ammunition was getting low and the enemy had many more troops on the field. As he was leading his…
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Events for the New Year
As we enter a new year, let’s take a look at some of the upcoming events for the next couple of months: January 2012 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 25 – 29. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org/index.html February 2012 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 25, 2012, Old Bedford Village, Bedford,…
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Troops and Trains II
Here is Part two of Bill’s report on Troops and Trains: Following our train ride with the Federal Generals, we returned to the museum to guard tables for the Nowacks (WW2 Army Air Corp, and Homefront), as well as Greg Hall (Vietnam display). On the walk back we spoke German to some tourists who could…
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Troops and Trains 2011 pt. I
Bill and Linda Donegan attended the annual Troops and Trains event in Strassburg, Pa over the weekend of November 5th. Here is their report: Strasburg, Pa November 4, 2011 had dinner with Dave and Lois Nowack. Saturday November 5,2011 we had breakfast with the Nowacks. Linda and I dressed in Civil War attire and…
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Bulltown II
Here is a further account of the fighting at Bulltown, WV: (On the second day) I was asked to walk guard duty around the fort perimeter as the rest of the garrison was asleep from the party the night before. See attached photo. As I looked out across the hollow through the trees I…
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Logan Civil War Heritage weekend
We recently received this missive from a Union soldier involved in putting down the rebels in the Southern mountains (He has evidently had some schooling, but obviously lacks polish). Jim, There was a rebellion broke out in Logan Sept. 24 and 25th. It was so bad that President Lincoln himself had to come down and…
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In the Heat of the Night…and Day…
I believe that I can honestly say that I have never been to a Manassas/Bull Run event that was not hot. This year’s reenactment, however, took the cake (or at least baked it!). When we arrived at camp, we learned that our Lt. Colonel, Kevin Skaggs, had brought a small table-top thermometer which informed…
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Col. George R. Latham’s tombstone dedication
The following is a post from our correspondent, Matt Gillespie: The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Buckhannon Camp #49 organized a dedication ceremony for the newly erected tombstone of Brevet General George R. Latham at Heavner Cemetery on Memorial Day. Latham was a prominate officer during the Civil War and a prominate citizen afterward.…
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HARRISON COUNTY CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL 150TH ANNIVERSARY
Here is Nick Korolev’s report on the Civil War doin’s in Clarksburg last week: MAY 13-15TH Despite a weekend of scattered showers, the Harrison County Civil War Sesquicentennial 150th Anniversary went off with hardly a hitch May 13 -15th. Funded by the state and sponsored by local historical societies and business as the kick…
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Prickett’s Fort – School of the Soldier
The WVRA held it’s annual School of the Soldier at Prickett’s Fort, near Fairmont, WV over the weekend of April 30, 2011. The weekend was well attended and the weather was pleasant. The fort is a good location for this sort of event for a number of reasons. There are numerous historical connections to the…
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LONG ROAD HOME – COLD HARBOR
Here is Nick Korolev’s report on the latest installment of ‘The Long Road Home’ event series: The weekend of April 8-10th Clover Hill Village, Appomatox, VA had the first installment of a special series of events titled “The Long Road Home” which will follow Civil War soldiers on the final campaign leading up…
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Military Through the Ages 2011
This year, I attended my third ‘Military Through the Ages’ at Jamestown Settlement. For those of you who have not attended this event, it is a high-quality, prestigious time-line event. Since it takes place in the environs of the reconstructed Jamestown Settlement and museum, it is doubly interesting. As usual, there were a wide variety…