From the September 29th Wilmington Star-News Back Then column.
From the September 22, 1960, Wilmington Star-News. Robert Harrill was told to move from the marsh side of Fort Fisher because no one is permitted to live in the Sunny Point Ammunition Terminal Safety Zone (Blast Zone).
The land he was living on was leased by the federal government to the North Carolina Department of Archives and History for the Fort Fisher Historic Site.
Harrill had been living in a World War II pillbox for six years and gave no indication that he was willing to move. But, he claimed he was actually living in a car.
Harrill continued living in the pillbox until he was found mysteriously murdered in 1972. He is buried at Federal Point Methodist Church off Dow Road at Carolina Beach.
Quite a Character, That Hermit. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
News from the Front: Lake Villa Civil War Days-- Part 2
Our Camp Commander, Dr. Mark Woolfington had a short meeting. he mentioned that a new group has been formed called the Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation who want to open a museum and rebuild one of the barracks at the site of the former prison.
This would be great as few in Chicago even know of the camp's existence. However, in the current state of affairs, we'd like to know if this group is Confederate-friendly.
My own thought is that they must be if they want to bring to public awareness one aspect of the Union's war effort for which they can't be proud. You always hear about the horrors of Andersonville, which they certainly were, but rarely anything of the horrific conditions at northern prisons.
Our next Camp Douglas meeting will be this Saturday October 9th at the Silver Stallion in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Fighting an Uphill Battle. --B-Runner
This would be great as few in Chicago even know of the camp's existence. However, in the current state of affairs, we'd like to know if this group is Confederate-friendly.
My own thought is that they must be if they want to bring to public awareness one aspect of the Union's war effort for which they can't be proud. You always hear about the horrors of Andersonville, which they certainly were, but rarely anything of the horrific conditions at northern prisons.
Our next Camp Douglas meeting will be this Saturday October 9th at the Silver Stallion in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Fighting an Uphill Battle. --B-Runner
General W.H.L. Wallace, USA-- Grant's Greatest General?-- Part 1
Union General Prentiss usually gets credit for the valiant fight at Hornet's Nest at the battle of Shiloh where Union soldiers withstood six hours of frantic Confederate attacks which gave General Grant time to rally his forces and bring up reinforcements, but perhaps the "real" hero of the battle was Brigadier General William Hervey Lamme Wallace of Ottawa, Illinois.
He was born in Urbana, Ohio and came to Illinois, initially to learn law under Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, but ended up going to Ottawa, Illinois, and setting up a law practice.
He had a brief experience in the Mexican War and at the outset of the Civil War, volunteered as a private in the 11th Illinois before being elected its colonel. He became known as Grant's greatest general.
At Fort Donelson in 1862, he made the acquaintance of General Lew Wallace, with whom he is often confused (including me). Of course, Lew Wallace later wrote "Ben Hur."
More to Come. --B-R'er
He was born in Urbana, Ohio and came to Illinois, initially to learn law under Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, but ended up going to Ottawa, Illinois, and setting up a law practice.
He had a brief experience in the Mexican War and at the outset of the Civil War, volunteered as a private in the 11th Illinois before being elected its colonel. He became known as Grant's greatest general.
At Fort Donelson in 1862, he made the acquaintance of General Lew Wallace, with whom he is often confused (including me). Of course, Lew Wallace later wrote "Ben Hur."
More to Come. --B-R'er
Dennis Weaver 1st USCT
Deoliver 49 Daily Kos by Denise Velez who was named after her great great uncle. She has a blog called Motley Moose at www.motleymoose.com. Just got to love any blog with that name. This is from 2008, but I neglected to get the date.
Denise Velez's father was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Her great-great uncle was born a slave, but ran off during the Civil War and joined Co. D of the 1st United States Colored Troops at age 19.
The role of blacks in the Civil War is too often overlooked. And, her uncle was at both Battles of Fort Fisher and the entire Wilmington Campaign and even at my birthplace, Goldsboro, NC.
The 1st USCT organized in Washington, DC, May-June 1863, then participated in General Butler's James River Operations, the Siege of Vicksburg, battle of the Crater July 30, 1864.
They were also at the battles of Chaffin's Farm, new Market heights and Fair Oaks.
Other Operations:
First Battle of Fort Fisher, NC, December 7-27, 1864
Second Battle of Fort Fisher January 7-15, 1865
Sugar Loaf Hill January 19th
Sugar Loaf Battery February 11th
Fort Anderson February 18-20th
Capture of Wilmington February 20th
Northeast Ferry February 22nd
Campaign of the Carolinas-- March 1-April 25th
Advance on Goldsboro March 6-21st
Occupation of Goldsboro March 22nd
Cox's Bridge March 23-24th
Advance on Raleigh April 9-13th
Occupation of Raleigh April 13
Bennett House (Johnston's Surrender) April 21st
They were mustered out September 29, 1865. During the war, the 1st USCT list 4 officers and 67 enlisted killed or mortally wounded. officer and 113 enlisted died from disease for a total of deaths at 185.
This unit was definitely in the thick of the action, perhaps even more than the 54th Massachusetts. Perhaps someone should make a movie about them.
Quite a History. --Old B-Runner
Denise Velez's father was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Her great-great uncle was born a slave, but ran off during the Civil War and joined Co. D of the 1st United States Colored Troops at age 19.
The role of blacks in the Civil War is too often overlooked. And, her uncle was at both Battles of Fort Fisher and the entire Wilmington Campaign and even at my birthplace, Goldsboro, NC.
The 1st USCT organized in Washington, DC, May-June 1863, then participated in General Butler's James River Operations, the Siege of Vicksburg, battle of the Crater July 30, 1864.
They were also at the battles of Chaffin's Farm, new Market heights and Fair Oaks.
Other Operations:
First Battle of Fort Fisher, NC, December 7-27, 1864
Second Battle of Fort Fisher January 7-15, 1865
Sugar Loaf Hill January 19th
Sugar Loaf Battery February 11th
Fort Anderson February 18-20th
Capture of Wilmington February 20th
Northeast Ferry February 22nd
Campaign of the Carolinas-- March 1-April 25th
Advance on Goldsboro March 6-21st
Occupation of Goldsboro March 22nd
Cox's Bridge March 23-24th
Advance on Raleigh April 9-13th
Occupation of Raleigh April 13
Bennett House (Johnston's Surrender) April 21st
They were mustered out September 29, 1865. During the war, the 1st USCT list 4 officers and 67 enlisted killed or mortally wounded. officer and 113 enlisted died from disease for a total of deaths at 185.
This unit was definitely in the thick of the action, perhaps even more than the 54th Massachusetts. Perhaps someone should make a movie about them.
Quite a History. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
One Really Overdue Library Book-- Part 2
Actually, somebody figured it had been overdue 52,825 days. At 5 cents a day, that would come to $2641.25. BUUUUUT, currently the Leyburn Library charges a buck a day, so that would be $52,825. Maybe it would have been a better idea to hold on to it.
I understand the library was thankful to get it back (I didn't read whether they still had the other three volumes) and waived the fee.
The Union soldier was C.S. Gates, and he took it June 11, 1864 when General David Hunter's army raided the town and looted the college.
A note inscribed by Gates in the book reads: "This book was taken from the Military Institute at Lexington Va. on June 1864 when General Hunter was on his Lynchburg raid. The institution was burned by the order of General Hunter. The remains of General Stonewall Jackson rest at the cemetery at the place."
He still thought it was from VMI even though the name Washington College is handwritten on the title page.
After the war, the book passed down through gates' descendants until it came into the possession of Mike Dau of Lake Forest, Illinois, who arranged to have it returned.
Now, This is the Kind of Story I Put My Cheaters On to Read. --B-R'er
I understand the library was thankful to get it back (I didn't read whether they still had the other three volumes) and waived the fee.
The Union soldier was C.S. Gates, and he took it June 11, 1864 when General David Hunter's army raided the town and looted the college.
A note inscribed by Gates in the book reads: "This book was taken from the Military Institute at Lexington Va. on June 1864 when General Hunter was on his Lynchburg raid. The institution was burned by the order of General Hunter. The remains of General Stonewall Jackson rest at the cemetery at the place."
He still thought it was from VMI even though the name Washington College is handwritten on the title page.
After the war, the book passed down through gates' descendants until it came into the possession of Mike Dau of Lake Forest, Illinois, who arranged to have it returned.
Now, This is the Kind of Story I Put My Cheaters On to Read. --B-R'er
One Really Overdue Library Book
From April 15, 2008, Blue Ridge Now.
A bit old story, but interesting nonetheless. "Library book stolen by Union soldier returned 145 years later." A Union soldier mistook Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, for the adjoining Virginia Military Institute and decided to take a souvenir from he library.
He took the 1842 Vol. 1 of W.F.P. Napier's four-volume "History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814."
It was returned in 2008 by a friend of that soldier's descendants. Only Washington College is now Washington and Lee University and the library is the Leyburn Library.
I wonder if the soldier ever read the book and what would the fine be a 5 cents a day, 365 days a year and 145 years?
It Might Be Cheaper to Buy the Book. --B-R'er
A bit old story, but interesting nonetheless. "Library book stolen by Union soldier returned 145 years later." A Union soldier mistook Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, for the adjoining Virginia Military Institute and decided to take a souvenir from he library.
He took the 1842 Vol. 1 of W.F.P. Napier's four-volume "History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France From the Year 1807 to the Year 1814."
It was returned in 2008 by a friend of that soldier's descendants. Only Washington College is now Washington and Lee University and the library is the Leyburn Library.
I wonder if the soldier ever read the book and what would the fine be a 5 cents a day, 365 days a year and 145 years?
It Might Be Cheaper to Buy the Book. --B-R'er
Some More on the Mars Bluff, SC, Confederate Naval Yard
From the September 28th Archaeology Blog by Peter Campbell.
I have had several entries on this subject, but always good to brush up on it.
Confederate shipbuilding from 1861 to 1862 was focused on building traditional ships in traditional shipyards. However, after that, Union incursions and occupied areas forced much of the building to be moved inland.
The CSS PeeDee, which got its name from the river flowing by the site, was built at Mars Bluff as well as several steam-powered torpedo boats. I had not heard of the torpedo boats before. I wonder what ever became of them? Were they sunk by the site?
The East Carolina University's summer field school has done a preliminary archaeological dig at the site and found that it was previously used by Indians and also in the Colonial era, Civil War and even logging at the end of the 19th century.
A Brook Rifle cannon and a Dahlgren smoothbore cannon thrown overboard from the PeeDee have also been found in the river.
Never Heard of It Before I Blogged About It. --Old B-Runner
I have had several entries on this subject, but always good to brush up on it.
Confederate shipbuilding from 1861 to 1862 was focused on building traditional ships in traditional shipyards. However, after that, Union incursions and occupied areas forced much of the building to be moved inland.
The CSS PeeDee, which got its name from the river flowing by the site, was built at Mars Bluff as well as several steam-powered torpedo boats. I had not heard of the torpedo boats before. I wonder what ever became of them? Were they sunk by the site?
The East Carolina University's summer field school has done a preliminary archaeological dig at the site and found that it was previously used by Indians and also in the Colonial era, Civil War and even logging at the end of the 19th century.
A Brook Rifle cannon and a Dahlgren smoothbore cannon thrown overboard from the PeeDee have also been found in the river.
Never Heard of It Before I Blogged About It. --Old B-Runner
Monday, October 4, 2010
News From the Front: Lake Villa Civil War Days-- Part 1
I attended the Lake Villa Civil War Days September 18th.
It was a threatening day, but fortunately we did not receive the torrential rains that turned the 2008 encampment into a washout.
As usual, the Camp Douglas Sons of Confederate Veterans had our headquarters camp near the Lehmann Mansion (founder of Chicago's Fair Department Stores, on whose grounds the re-enactment is held). We set up each year the "Further the Colors" and to recruit new members. There is always a laptop on hand with genealogy for folks who wonder if they have Confederate ancestors.
I met our camp's new commander, Dr. Mark Woolfington. He has some great plans for the camp. The former camp commander, John Jeffers is now Illinois Division Commander.
While there, a former member of the camp from the 1980s re-enlisted. Always good to get an old member back. We need all the members we can get.
Several members of the Confederate Rose Society also came by the tent. They portray the roles of gallant Southern women.
More to Come. --B-R'er
It was a threatening day, but fortunately we did not receive the torrential rains that turned the 2008 encampment into a washout.
As usual, the Camp Douglas Sons of Confederate Veterans had our headquarters camp near the Lehmann Mansion (founder of Chicago's Fair Department Stores, on whose grounds the re-enactment is held). We set up each year the "Further the Colors" and to recruit new members. There is always a laptop on hand with genealogy for folks who wonder if they have Confederate ancestors.
I met our camp's new commander, Dr. Mark Woolfington. He has some great plans for the camp. The former camp commander, John Jeffers is now Illinois Division Commander.
While there, a former member of the camp from the 1980s re-enlisted. Always good to get an old member back. We need all the members we can get.
Several members of the Confederate Rose Society also came by the tent. They portray the roles of gallant Southern women.
More to Come. --B-R'er
CSS Neuse II's Builder Dies
ENC Today.com, July 16th.
Alton Stapleford, 78, died July 15th. From 2002 to 2009, when the CSS Neuse II opened to the public, Mr. Stapleford worked tirelessly to transfer a model he made into a full-size 158-foot replica of the Confederate ironclad CSS Neuse.
It was his life-long dream to build the ship.
Stapleford was a Vietnam War veteran and Kinston, North Carolina, businessman. His ship now has a fiberglass replica naval artillery piece.
The boat is his fitting legacy.
A big thanks to Mr. Stapleford for creating the only full-size Confederate ironclad in existence.
Alton Stapleford, 78, died July 15th. From 2002 to 2009, when the CSS Neuse II opened to the public, Mr. Stapleford worked tirelessly to transfer a model he made into a full-size 158-foot replica of the Confederate ironclad CSS Neuse.
It was his life-long dream to build the ship.
Stapleford was a Vietnam War veteran and Kinston, North Carolina, businessman. His ship now has a fiberglass replica naval artillery piece.
The boat is his fitting legacy.
A big thanks to Mr. Stapleford for creating the only full-size Confederate ironclad in existence.
The Last Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah-- Part 2
Continued from October 2nd.
The Shenandoah was badly on need of an overhaul and was considerably slower than its best speed. Had the ship been sighted, it would have had a hard time getting away. So, Waddell avoided regular shopping lanes. Gales and icebergs provided further obstacles.
At one time, the Shenandoah was almost caught by the USS Saranac, but manages to slip away in the darkness.
On November 6, 1865, still flying the Confederate flag, the crew arrived in Liverpool's Mersey River in a thick fog and promptly grounded and had to wait for high tide to float off.
It anchored near the ship-of-the-line HMS Donegal, 101 guns, and surrendered.
During its long raiding cruise and return to Liverpool, the CSS Shenandoah had not lost a man and had captured 38 Union ships, sinking 32 and bonding 6 and a total damage of $1,363,983.
Waddell had collected 36 chronometers as momentos of the captures. I would guess the other two ships didn't have a chronometer or Waddell didn't begin his collection until after the second one.
The US received the Shenandoah and sold it at auction.
I Wonder What Happened to the Chronometer Collection. --Old B-Runner
The Shenandoah was badly on need of an overhaul and was considerably slower than its best speed. Had the ship been sighted, it would have had a hard time getting away. So, Waddell avoided regular shopping lanes. Gales and icebergs provided further obstacles.
At one time, the Shenandoah was almost caught by the USS Saranac, but manages to slip away in the darkness.
On November 6, 1865, still flying the Confederate flag, the crew arrived in Liverpool's Mersey River in a thick fog and promptly grounded and had to wait for high tide to float off.
It anchored near the ship-of-the-line HMS Donegal, 101 guns, and surrendered.
During its long raiding cruise and return to Liverpool, the CSS Shenandoah had not lost a man and had captured 38 Union ships, sinking 32 and bonding 6 and a total damage of $1,363,983.
Waddell had collected 36 chronometers as momentos of the captures. I would guess the other two ships didn't have a chronometer or Waddell didn't begin his collection until after the second one.
The US received the Shenandoah and sold it at auction.
I Wonder What Happened to the Chronometer Collection. --Old B-Runner
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Last Cruise of the CSS Shenandoah-- Part 1
From the July 16th Canada.com. by T. W. Paterson.
It had been three months after Lee's surrender at Appomattox and the commerce raider CSS Shenandoah, under Captain James Waddell was still out on the high seas flying the Confederate flag. They had finally been convinced that the war was over and were no longer destroying Union shipping and had also given up on plans to attack San Francisco.
They also knew the Union navy was searching for them, but they did not know that the British Pacific Squadron was doing the same thing. They were to bring Waddell in or sink him if he resisted. Waddell had no intention of surrender and had decided to make the 17,000 mile run to the Shenandoah's home port of Liverpool.
However, his officers feared they'd be tried as pirates if captured so they wanted to go to Melbourne, Australia, or Cape Town, South Africa to turn the ship over to British authorities. Waddell would hear nothing of it so the officers put it to a vote among the crew. Two/thirds voted to return to Liverpool.
Did Waddell Make It? Next. --B-R'er
It had been three months after Lee's surrender at Appomattox and the commerce raider CSS Shenandoah, under Captain James Waddell was still out on the high seas flying the Confederate flag. They had finally been convinced that the war was over and were no longer destroying Union shipping and had also given up on plans to attack San Francisco.
They also knew the Union navy was searching for them, but they did not know that the British Pacific Squadron was doing the same thing. They were to bring Waddell in or sink him if he resisted. Waddell had no intention of surrender and had decided to make the 17,000 mile run to the Shenandoah's home port of Liverpool.
However, his officers feared they'd be tried as pirates if captured so they wanted to go to Melbourne, Australia, or Cape Town, South Africa to turn the ship over to British authorities. Waddell would hear nothing of it so the officers put it to a vote among the crew. Two/thirds voted to return to Liverpool.
Did Waddell Make It? Next. --B-R'er
Battle of LaFayette, Georgia
The local SCV camp has identified the remains of 18 of 24 Confederate soldiers buried at LaFayette, Georgia's city cemetery after a lot of hard work and research. All 24 were killed at the Battle of LaFayette.
Nearly 300,000 soldiers from both sides remain unknown in their graves.
The Battle of LaFayette was a part of Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and took place June 24, 1864, when 1600 Confederate cavalry under general Gideon Pillow attacked 450 Union Kentucky cavalry encamped around the town's court house. Pillows men were tasked with destroying railroad bridges and disrupting Sherman's supply line.
The Confederates were winning until Union reinforcements arrived and drove them off.
Union forces had 4 killed, 7 wounded and 53 captured. Confederates had 24 killed, 53 wounded and 78 captured.
Never Heard of It. --Old B-Runner
Nearly 300,000 soldiers from both sides remain unknown in their graves.
The Battle of LaFayette was a part of Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and took place June 24, 1864, when 1600 Confederate cavalry under general Gideon Pillow attacked 450 Union Kentucky cavalry encamped around the town's court house. Pillows men were tasked with destroying railroad bridges and disrupting Sherman's supply line.
The Confederates were winning until Union reinforcements arrived and drove them off.
Union forces had 4 killed, 7 wounded and 53 captured. Confederates had 24 killed, 53 wounded and 78 captured.
Never Heard of It. --Old B-Runner
Why Be a Civil War Re-enactor?-- Part 4
Of course, one of the big questions is whether it's spelled "re-enactor" or "reenactor."
To hyphen or not to hyphen, that is the question.
Continuing with the Eric Schultz interview.
IS THERE HISTORICAL TRAINING INVOLVED AS WELL?
"Surprisingly, no. Most reenactors come with a pre-appreciation for the history. It's a mixed bag. We've got a professor of military science from one of the local colleges... . Some are just interested in firearms. Some are more interested in the history of individuals."
IS THERE A SPECIFIC BATTLE YOU'LL BE REENACTING AT THE LAKE VILLA CIVIL WAR DAYS?
'We really aren't going to be doing any particular battle. ...we are going to have infantry, cavalry and artillery out there. So [visitors] are going to get to see how the different services all interact on the battlefield."
They also had the signal corps.
WHAT IS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE THAT YOU HAVE FOUND AT LAKE VILLA COMPARED TO OTHER EVENTS YOU HAVE DONE?
It is a nice setting, plus there are tours of the Lehmann Mansion.
I also like the Lake Villa demonstration because of all the people driving by on Illinois Highway 83. They get a personal and up-close view of the battle. Most times, re-enactments are set off far away from general public viewing.
Imagine driving you car and three cannons fire several hundred feet away. That's got to get your attention.
This interview took up a whole page, so the event got some great advertising.
Not Sure That I Would Want to Be a Re-enactor or is that Reenactor? --Old B-Runner
To hyphen or not to hyphen, that is the question.
Continuing with the Eric Schultz interview.
IS THERE HISTORICAL TRAINING INVOLVED AS WELL?
"Surprisingly, no. Most reenactors come with a pre-appreciation for the history. It's a mixed bag. We've got a professor of military science from one of the local colleges... . Some are just interested in firearms. Some are more interested in the history of individuals."
IS THERE A SPECIFIC BATTLE YOU'LL BE REENACTING AT THE LAKE VILLA CIVIL WAR DAYS?
'We really aren't going to be doing any particular battle. ...we are going to have infantry, cavalry and artillery out there. So [visitors] are going to get to see how the different services all interact on the battlefield."
They also had the signal corps.
WHAT IS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE THAT YOU HAVE FOUND AT LAKE VILLA COMPARED TO OTHER EVENTS YOU HAVE DONE?
It is a nice setting, plus there are tours of the Lehmann Mansion.
I also like the Lake Villa demonstration because of all the people driving by on Illinois Highway 83. They get a personal and up-close view of the battle. Most times, re-enactments are set off far away from general public viewing.
Imagine driving you car and three cannons fire several hundred feet away. That's got to get your attention.
This interview took up a whole page, so the event got some great advertising.
Not Sure That I Would Want to Be a Re-enactor or is that Reenactor? --Old B-Runner
Friday, October 1, 2010
Confederate Fort Clifton
From April 14th HMdb.
Fort Clifton was built by the Confederates to protect Petersburg, Virginia, from naval attack. It is located down river of Petersburg on the northwest side of the Appomattox River.
May 9, 1864, it was attacked by Union gunboats under command of Major General Charles K. Graham. The USS Samuel L. Brewster was disabled and scuttled by its crew. In May and June it was attacked five different times.
The fort was evacuated April 2, 1865, along with the rest of the Petersburg defenses..
The marker is located in front of Tussing Elementary School at the intersection of Conduit Road and Brockwell Lane.
Never Heard of This Fort Before. --B-R'er
Fort Clifton was built by the Confederates to protect Petersburg, Virginia, from naval attack. It is located down river of Petersburg on the northwest side of the Appomattox River.
May 9, 1864, it was attacked by Union gunboats under command of Major General Charles K. Graham. The USS Samuel L. Brewster was disabled and scuttled by its crew. In May and June it was attacked five different times.
The fort was evacuated April 2, 1865, along with the rest of the Petersburg defenses..
The marker is located in front of Tussing Elementary School at the intersection of Conduit Road and Brockwell Lane.
Never Heard of This Fort Before. --B-R'er
Why Be a Civil War Re-enactor?-- Part 3
Continuing with the September 22nd Lake County (Il)Journal interview with Eric Schultz.
HOW REAL DO THESE EVENTS GET COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING THE CIVIL WAR?
"...you really can't show what the real horror of war is like. You can put on the shoes, you can put on the wool uniforms, you can march around in the 90-degree day with 100 percent humidity wearing wool. You can get a little appreciation for the hardship. But at the end of the day, you are going to pack up and drive in an air-conditioned car back to an air-conditioned house."
It's really more for the younger people to see history come to life.
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO BECOME A REENACTOR?
"The first thing you want to do is join an organization....Each individual unit trains its members." One big thing is gun safety so there are a few rules you wouldn't have found during the war.
One More Part to Come. --Old B-Runner
HOW REAL DO THESE EVENTS GET COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS LIKE DURING THE CIVIL WAR?
"...you really can't show what the real horror of war is like. You can put on the shoes, you can put on the wool uniforms, you can march around in the 90-degree day with 100 percent humidity wearing wool. You can get a little appreciation for the hardship. But at the end of the day, you are going to pack up and drive in an air-conditioned car back to an air-conditioned house."
It's really more for the younger people to see history come to life.
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO BECOME A REENACTOR?
"The first thing you want to do is join an organization....Each individual unit trains its members." One big thing is gun safety so there are a few rules you wouldn't have found during the war.
One More Part to Come. --Old B-Runner
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