Archive for the Civil War Category
Battle of Lewisburg – Report
The following is a report from our correspondents, Bill and Linda Donegan in Southern West Virginia: Report of the 147th Anniversary Battle of Lewisburg Living History and Reenactment May 14-17, 2009, Lewisburg, West Virginia By Bill Donegan This year’s event celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday. This was my experience at the 2009 event. Linda and [...]
Battle of Rowlesburg Reenactment
It was wet. That sums up much of the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd. In fact, the weather put quite a damper on what could be a nice little spring event. Friday night’s torrential downpours left the field wet and any areas not covered with grass were all mud. Fortunately, on Saturday, the rain [...]
Battle of Lewisburg
Next weekend, May 15-17, 2009, the Reenactment of the Battle of Lewisburg will be held in that picturesque southern West Virginia town. The reenactment will portray the engagement between Union forces commanded by Colonel George Crook and a larger Confederate force under Brigadier General Henry Heth on May 23, 1862.
Quest for the Graves of Two Brave Boys in Blue
On Sunday, April 19, 2009 Jim Barnes and I visited the graves of two brave soldiers that fought for the Union during the Civil War, Jesse Taylor and John Shanes. When I took the Civil War bus trip last fall (see related story CW Bus Trip in past posts) I had heard the story of [...]
Charleston Gazette/AP: Fairmont markers join Civil War tourism trail
This was in today’s Charleston Gazette: Fairmont markers join Civil War tourism trail Five markers in Fairmont commemorating the city’s Civil War roots have been added to a state tourism trail. By The Associated Press FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Five markers in Fairmont commemorating the city’s Civil War roots have been added to a state tourism trail. [...]
Battle of Blakeley, Alabama Reenactment
The following is a dispatch from a correspondent, Hugh Glasgow, regarding the reenactment of the Battle of Blakeley, Alabama. The actual battle took place from April 2-9, 1865 and was, according to Wikipedia, ” the last combined-force battle of the war” (naval and ground forces.) Union Maj. General Edward Canby, commanding the XVII and XIII [...]
Hurricane Civil War Event
On the weekend of March 28th and 29th, I travelled to the Charleston, WV area to attend the annual reenactment of the Battles of Hurricane Bridge and Scary Creek. I didn’t camp due to the weather (cold and rainy) and the continuing health problems which have plagued me since last fall. Much thanks to Bill [...]
Hurricane Bridge and Scary Creek Weekend Article
Here is an article regarding the upcoming Civil War event in Putnam County this coming weekend. From the Putnam Standard Newspaper: Civil War weekend brings in re-enactors from everywhere Carolyn Harmon reporter CULLODEN – Re-enactors will provide a close account of a couple of the battles of our country’s Civil War at the 12th Annual [...]
Civil War reenactment causing division
From Appleton, Wisconsin,(Courtesy of WLUK-TV Channel 11) March 12, 2009: Reporter: Evan Perrault APPLETON – It’s a war that divided the nation, now it seems to be dividing parents and administrators in the Appleton School District. “Hopefully we can get people to change their minds,” said Theresa Kersten. “This is 20 minutes of a living [...]
Parkersburg News and Sentinel: Civil War reenactors living history
Civil War reenactors received some coverage in the Parkersburg newspaper on Thursday: Civil War reenactors living history By PAMELA BRUST, pbrust@newsandsentinel.com POSTED: March 5, 2009 PARKERSBURG – Although many are already ardent students of Civil War history, reenactors say they continue to learn new things everyday, and that, combined with the camaraderie among their fellow [...]
Passion for the Past: Last Mourner for Lincoln
A post on Passion for the Past today shared an anecdote about reenacting from a child’s perspective. My daughter, Rosalia, at her current age of 8, has been involved in living history since she was 3. She doesn’t remember not reenacting. And she realizes that reenacting is when we pretend to be living in the [...]
Sons of Union Veterans Recognize Eagle Scout
From Matt Gillespie: Eagle Scout Recognized Jonathan Slaughter Receives Certificate From Buckhannon Camp #49 Boy Scout Jonathan Slaughter, Troop 106 chartered to Sand Run Baptist Church, officially received his Eagle Scout Award at a ceremony held at BSA Camp Mahonegon in Upshur County, WV. Every scout who attains the rank of Eagle must lead a project [...]
Civil War Reenactor Faces Felony Aggravated Assault Charges in MD
This was posted yesterday in The Evening Sun newspaper. Seems a little extreme for a situation that sounds like a bad joke that got out of hand. What do you think? Here’s what happened according to the story: from Felony charges refiled in re-enactor shooting By KATHARINE HARMON, The Evening Sun, 02/25/2009 On Aug. 3,The [...]
Division of Tourism Announces Civil War Trails Program
We just received the following announcement of interest to the Civil War community in West Virginia: West Virginia Civil War Trails The Division of Tourism is pleased to announce that it will be working with Civil War Trails Inc. to implement the Civil War Trails program in WV. Civil War Trails is an established, successful [...]
WVU Today: WVU Civil War historian lends expertise to battlefield preservation efforts
This was posted on the
AP: WVU to study contested Civil War site
The Associated Press is reporting that a West Virginia University class will be studying a Civil War site in the Eastern Panhandle. WVU to study contested Civil War site By the Associated Press January 12, 2009 SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – A West Virginia University history professor will produce a study on a Civil War battlefield that [...]
Washington Post: Remains Of Union Soldier Found at Antietam
Mark Tennant sent me this information, which should be of interest to all Civil War Living Historians and history buffs. According to The Washington Post: A visitor who was walking the battlefield in mid-October, strayed off the Corn Field Trail and saw some bones on the ground that he later left at the visitors’ center. [...]
In Winter Quarters – Getting Your Kit Ready for Spring
Okay, the holidays are over and winter yawns before us. What to do with all that time? Freeze your butt off outside? Not me. After you repair your tent loops and replace the glass in that candle lantern, how about working on improving your impression before spring gets here? I submit for your consideration, a [...]
General Meade’s Birthday Party – Attention to Orders
This notice just came in today. Especially interesting for Civil War Reenactors in the Philadelphia area. GENERAL MEADE’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & NEW YEAR’S TOAST The annual General Meade Birthday Celebration will mark the 193rd anniversary of the birth of General George G. Meade, commander of the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg. A parade [...]
Night of the Generals
This just in: One of our correspondents has just returned from a meeting of the Union command which may effect the outcome of the current struggle in which our great nation finds itself embroiled. I submit the following for your consideration and edification. J. Barnes Editor-in-Chief Greetings one and all! Here is my report as [...]
21st Century Abe: Finding Abe
We recently received the following communication regarding a new project involving a subject of interest to living historians in general and Civil War living historians in particular: Abraham Lincoln is turning 200 in February, and we want you to celebrate his bicentennial with us! My name is Alexis Lerro and I work for a company [...]
Skirmish Magazine
Many of you may be familiar with the British living history publication Skirmish magazine. For those who are not, I would like to recommend it as an interesting alternative to your usual reenactor literature. I recently started getting it and have been impressed with the quality. How I got to this point, however is a [...]
Civil War Bus Trip by Mark Tennant
CIVIL WAR BUS TRIP On Saturday Oct. 25, 2008 I went on a bus trip sponsored by the Mason-Dixon Civil War Roundtable to visit some Civil War sites in the eastern panhandle of W. Va.. Jim Barnes had signed up to go on this trip with me but had to cancel at the last minute [...]
145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Droop Mountain
This past weekend saw the biannual Droop Mountain reenactment at the DM Battlefield park in Pocahontas County, WV. It was in many ways an optimal weekend for the event. The weather could hardly have been better. Clear blue skies framed a fine golden and red leaf display. The temperatures were warm during the daylight hours [...]
Why Do We Do This?
This week, on the eve of the Droop Mountain reenactment, I want to start a discussion about the value of reenacting and living history. Why do we do this? This is a question that usually pops into your head when the wind has just blown over your tent fly and everything you own is wet. [...]