Tag: Civil War
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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…
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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.
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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…
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Old Bedford Village Threatened?
Here is a report I just got from Stacy Roth regarding a possible threat to one of our favorite reenacting venues: Old Bedford Village. It sounds like some overzealous local official saw an opportunity to make a quick buck, even if it runs the Village into the ground. Guess the geniuses in the tax office…
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Memo From a Timeline Event Coordinator
Our staff received this intercepted memo from a source who shall remain anonymous: Dear Reenactor, Living Historian, Living Historical Reenactor, We have received your registration for our 7th annual “Timelines Through The Ages and Ages” event, and your letter of complaint. We do not refer to our Revolutionary War reenactors as “cross-dressers”. There is a lace issue, but…
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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…
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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…
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Gallery: Military Through the Ages 2009
Photos from the Military Through The Ages event in Jamestown, VA (March 21-22, 2009).
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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…
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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…
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Upcoming Event: Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern in Heathsville, Virginia
We received this communique this morning. All time periods are welcome! I am writing to see if I can post an invitation to single or an organization who would like to attend a living history weekend at Rice’s Hotel / Hughlett’s Tavern in Heathsville Virginia. I have had Civil War Reenactors there for the last…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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WVU Today: WVU Civil War historian lends expertise to battlefield preservation efforts
This was posted on the
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Civil War Heritage [The State Journal]
Missed this article the other day. Oops! In case you haven’t read it already, here it is. – Sarah Civil War Heritage West Virginia prepares for influx of tourists as 150th anniversary of the war between the states nears. Story by Paul Darst Fighting a battle in the rugged mountains of West Virginia is no…
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Updated Event Schedule (Sept. 17, 2008)
This Weekend! September 20-21. World War II Weekend Location: Eisenhower Farm, Gettysburg National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA. WWII Weekend On September 20-21, the National Park Service will sponsor a World War II living history weekend at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. An authentic recreation of both Allied and German army camps, complete with original World…
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West Virginia Battles Play Key Role in Civil War [The State Journal]
They might not be the first battles that leap to mind when thinking about the American Civil War, but the battles fought in West Virginia were important, one expert said. C. Stuart McGehee is a history professor and dean of his department at West Virginia State University. He has spent much of his professional life…
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Living History Pictures – Group I
Our first collection of images. Take a look and let us know what you think!
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McGrew House, Kingwood, WV September 6, 2008
This past Saturday, I spent the day participating in a living history event at the James C. McGrew house in Kingwood, WV. Mr. McGrew was a community leader in antebellum Preston County, Virginia (later West Virginia) and was a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention in 1861. He voted against secession and returned home to…
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Droop Mountain cleanup
The semi-annual Droop Mountain cleanup took place this past weekend in preparation for the reenactment weekend on October 11-12. About a dozen WVRA members and friends from the Stonewall Jackson Reenactment unit participated in what could have almost qualified as an episode of ‘Axemen’ (and women). A couple of dead standing and numerous fallen trees…
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Gettysburg 2008
Watching the defeated Rebs Gettysburg 2008 was quite an event! This was the biggest reenactment that this author has attended in years. It seems like there has been a general downturn in reenactor participation at events over the last couple of years and I’m not sure that gas prices are the only reason. At any…