Gettysburg 156 Held July 5, 6 GETTYSBURG, Penn.—The weather can be hot, humid, and rainy in Gettysburg during July and this year’s Gettysburg Reenactment experienced all those weather elements. The good news is that the event was able to proceed all three days, b the bad news was the days were hot and humid and on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights the skies opened up with 7 total inch es of rain making turf conditions dicey and demanding additional logistical efforts by the organiz ers. A windstorm accompanied Saturday evening`s rain further frustrating participants and organizers. As usual, event organizer The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee (GAC) provided very good responses and resources, bringing in stone and additional equipment to assist reenactors on deteriorating turf. Registrati
was easy, ice, water, and firewood were in abundance, port-ajohns were cleaned regularly, and there were numerous camp visits by event Security and EMS. By the end of the weekend, event organizers reported very few heat related incidents despite the hig
America’s Monthly Ne niversary Reenactment at Gettysburg Movie Site temperatures. GAC reported that approximately 1,000 pre-registered reenactors, 22 artillery pi es, and approximately 70 cavalry, plus walk-ons attended the event. The Gettysburg Movie Site, just south of Gettysburg, is next to the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic site. It is a f vorite of reenactors and visitors. The views are excellent for looking at the historic Sachs Mill Covered Bridge, The Round Tops, the South Mountain range, and the Longstreet Tower. This year, each army camped on different sides of the battlefield b were still in fairly close proxim ity to the battlefield and sutler There was a nice array of sutlers and the Living History Camp organized by Kirk Davis and his living history crew at Gettysburg is always a crowd pleaser. A larg living history tent was filled to
Period Dress, actor Patrick Falci talking about his role in the mov ie Gettysburg, Civil War music, the Generals, Civil War religion, and even an actual Civil War wedding. A highlight of the Living History Camp was Rev. Alan Farley’s original, restored U.S. Christian Commission coffee wagon. Despite not being hot coffee weather, hundreds of cups were still handed out. Each morning there was a cav-
he spectators troops and t e and persona nce, Friday’s involved two back to back.
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- Buford’s Delay was immediately followed by Portrait of Hell– Barlow’s Knoll. On Saturday the action turned to Stemming The Tide—East Cemetery Hill. On Sunday, Carnage Incarnate Armistead At The Wall, portrayed a segment of Pickett’s Charge. The Federal Volunteer Brigade under General Jay Henson and Longstreet’s Corps under General Terry Shelton commanded the event. All involved seemed to work well together and with the event organizers. There was a bit of an unexpected twist when Henson was called home
cy leaving command to his senior staff. From every report, includ ing Longstreet’s, FVB senior staff performed an exemplary job of rising to the occasion the re of the weekend. This event was the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee’s 25
Inside this issue: 34 – Emerging Civil War 45 – Events Section 20 – The Graphic War 22 – Inspection, ARMS! 41 – Small Talk-Trivia
Year Anniversary and 26th event. GAC Operations Manager Randy Phiel complimented the Schroeder and Shields families for being gracious hosts and al lowing the reenactment on their property. He said that plans fo next year’s event have not been finalized. Before the final battle on Sunday GAC presented donations to the SGT MAC Wreath Project, Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Associati Daniel Lady Farm, the Land Conservancy Adams County, and to Rev. Farley’s Reenactors
restoring one of three remainin boilers on the coffee wagon tha needs put back into full workin order. Last year GAC made a donation for restoring the wago
16 – The Source 10 – The Unfinished Fight 26 – This And That 14 – Through The Lens