April 2015 Volume 21, Issue 8 “We are but few in number but formidable.” -Pvt. James Shelton, 7th Md. Co. B

150th Appomattox, Appomattox. VA - Apri l 10 -12

Captain’s Report 3

Paterson’s Musings 4

150th Bentonville 5

Inside this issue:

The 150th Bentonville is a weekend that I will never forget so long as I still have my (admittedly few) wits about me. Shortly after or during our winter meeting, newly elected Cpl. Schwetje

mentioned to me that some reenactors were going to be marching to the event. I immediately set out on an internet excursion to find more and soon found myself registering for the event and march, lured in by promises of whiskey and beer not to

mention the opportunity to try something that I hadn’t yet experienced. For the event we were organized into six companies of the 10th Iowa, part of the XV Corps. I was assigned to Company A, and agreed to their re-

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Remember, there are no walk-ons.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday there will be a one-way loop traffic pat-tern through the event site and onto VA Rt 26 and US Rt 460. There will be plenty of signs and volunteers to

direct you. After the event opens to spectators, only spectator traffic will be al-lowed through the VA Rt 26 entrance. Please be alert to the route change and follow the signage and/or direction

of event workers. During hours the event is

open to the public, unless there is some compelling reason to allow your vehicle on-site, you will be asked to load your gear on a tractor-pulled trailer to transport it to your site. Avoid using

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The Shirker’s Knapsack: A New Experience at Bentonville

By Cpl. Mike Lafferty

President

Abraham Lincoln

April 15th, 1865

7:22 a.m.

“Now he belongs

to the ages.”

—Edwin Stanton

APRIL

April 10-12: Long Road Home, 150th Appomattox,

(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)

April 18-19: Marching Through Time,

Marietta Mansion, Glenn Dale. (COMPANY)

MAY

May 2-3: Carroll County Farm Museum,

Westminster, MD. (Individual)

May 16-17: 151st Battle of New Market,

New Market VA. (COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)

JUNE

June 13-14: Old Bedford Village,

Birney’s Event, Old Bedford, PA

(COMPANY)

JULY

July 3-5th: 152nd Gettysburg,

Pumping Station Rd., Gettysburg, PA

(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)

July 17-19: Funkstown, MD,

(COMPANY)

AUGUST

August 8-9: Renfrew Museum,

Waynesboro (139th PA) (First Regiment Event)

(COMPANY)

August 21-23: 25th Annual 93rd PA event

Old Union Canal Tunnel (First Regiment Event)

(Individual)

SEPTEMBER

September 12-13th: Fall Muster at St. Thomas,

Chambersburg, PA Cavalry Sponsored,

7th Maryland Soiree, Date / location TBA

(COMPANY)

OCTOBER

October 3-4: Maryland Brigade Event,

Baltimore, MD (Individual)

October 17-18:

151st Cedar Creek, Middletown, VA

(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)

both on the field and off.

But where do we go from here? No doubt the events will be smaller, the reenactor attendance numbers dwin-dling. But, it is up to each one of us to keep the memory of our ancestor-soldiers alive in the public eye and mind. Their sacrifices should never be taken lightly, just as our soldiers’ sacri-fices of today.

The FVB plans to redouble our ef-forts to attract new and interested par-ticipants into the hobby by using the

As the sesquicentennial draws to a close with the ending event at Appo-mattox and the Lincoln assassination ceremonies, reenactors need to ask themselves “Why continue in the hobby?”

For most of us, if not all, reenacting is a special bond. Event weekends are special ones, spending time in the field and around camp with so many others who have the same common bond. But it’s much more than that. We honor the men we choose portray with our profes-sionalism, dedication and knowledge

modern-day technology we have available. Through social media, newslet-ters and web-sites, to pro-mote our events

and to strengthen our

bonds, so that we may once again intro-duce another generation to the troubled era that was the 1860’s. And at the same time, welcome them into the family that is the FVB.

PAGE 2 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 21, ISSUE 8

Gen. Jay Henson FVB Commander

VOLUME 21 , ISSUE 8 PAGE 3

A while back we replaced our colors. With great debate and at great expense we had them made to our specifications. A most beautiful sight they are too! We have another piece of silk that is rather tattered now. Our Guide on is looking battle worn. Sometime ago I was leafing through a book I have “ The 1863 Laws of War” it also has extracts of Revised United States Army Regulation of 1861. This little book has been pawed through on many occasions. Curiosity got me wanting to look at the regula-tions on flags and the like and I spent an entire evening searching all of my book cases throughout the house look-ing for this book! We are in luck! The book was found! There is a whole section dedicated to flags, colors, standards and guidons. The following may prove to be interest-ing to many of you. I will only put be-fore you what pertains to infantry items.

ARTICLE L.

FLAGS, COLORS, STANDARDS,

GUIDONS. GARRISON

FLAG. 1464. The garrison flag is the na-tional flag. It is of bunting, thirty-six feet fly, and twenty feet hoist, in thir-teen horizontal stripes of equal breadth, alternately red and white, beginning with red. The upper quarter, next the staff, is the Union, composed of a num-ber of white stars, equal to the number of States, on a blue field, one-third the length of the flag, extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The storm flag is twenty feet by ten feet: the recruiting flag, nine feet nine inches by four feet four inches.

COLORS OF INFANTRY

REGIMENTS. 1466. Each regiment of Infantry shall have two silken colors. The first, or the national color, of stars and stripes, as

described for the garrison flag; the number and name of the regiment to be embroidered with silver on the center stripe. The second, or regimental color, to be blue, with the arms of the United States embroidered in silk on the cen-tre. The name of the regiment in a scroll, underneath the eagle. The size of each color to be six feet six inches fly, and six feet deep on the pike, including the spear and ferrule, to be nine feet ten inches. The fringe yellow; cords and tassels, blue and white silk intermixed.

CAMP COLORS.

1467. The camp colors are bunting, eighteen inches square; white for infan-try, and red for artillery, with the num-ber of the regiment on them. The pole eight feet long.

I found it very interesting that the description of the layout of the national colors were included in the Article. It mentions no guidons for infantry com-panies or regiments either. Guidons are only covered in mounted regiments. What we are calling guidons are camp colors it appears. More research will be needed to verify this and would proba-bly be in regulations prior to the 1861 version. I will continue to do so. I may have the full facts next we meet. See you at the fire.

OUR CAMP JOURNAL

Capt. Jeff Bush Company Commander

Though it was a wet and dreary day, the hardy soles of the 7th Maryland took advantage of the pole barn at Marietta to hone theior skills for the coming sea-son.

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 8 PAGE 4

The Battle of Five Forks: Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered Pickett with his infantry division and Munford’s, W.H.F. Lee’s, and Rosser’s cavalry divi-sions to hold the vital crossroads of Five Forks at all hazard. On April 1, while Sheridan’s cavalry pinned the Confederate force in position, the V Corps under Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren attacked and overwhelmed the Confed-erate left flank, taking many prisoners. Sheridan personally directed the at-tack, which extended Lee’s Petersburg lines to the breaking point. The loss at Five Forks threatened Lee’s last supply line, the South Side Railroad. The next morning, Lee informed Jefferson Davis that Petersburg and Richmond must be evacuated. Union general Winthrop was killed; “Willie” Pegram, beloved Confederate artillery officer, was mor-tally wounded. Dissatisfied with his performance at Five Forks, Sheridan relieved Warren of command of the V Corps. Warren had been replaced by Brigadier General Charles Griffen. The all-out attack the next day, April 2nd, by the II, IX, VI and XXIV Corps’ results in the breakthrough that forces the confederates to abandon their lines and with them Richmond and Peters-burg.

Colonel David T. Bennett of Freder-ick County was again wounded in ac-tion, April 1, 1865, at the battle of Five

Forks, and thereupon Major Mobley continued in command until the muster out.

Lieutenant Jacob Koogle of the 7th Maryland receives the Medal of Honor for capturing enemy colors at this action. (Noted in Ed Bearss’ “The Petersburg Campaign, Vol II,” pg. 490n). He ran with the color guards of the Seventh, into the enemy’s ranks, grabbed the colors and re-turned to the main line amidst a shower of bullets without being harmed.

“But there is a day coming when the old Maryland Line will stand out in bold relief in the rebellion. We are but few in number but formida-ble.” (From the last letter of James W. Shelton, KIA at Five Forks, April 1st, 1865.)

There Seventh Maryland furnished the last man wounded in the Army of the Potomac. His name was Robert N. Weller, Corporal, Company E (Frederick County). He was struck by a piece of shell, fired by the First North Carolina battery, on the 9th of April, 1865, just before the surrender, at Ap-pomattox Court House, Virginia.

On the 29th of April, the 12th V.R.C. [Veteran’s Reserve Corps] was taken to the Old Penitentiary to guard the pris-oners who were confined there, and who were in the assassination plot. They continued to do duty by detail upon several occasions they even sat between Spangler and Dr. Mudd during court hours, a non-commissioned offi-cer being placed between the prisoners with instructions not to allow them to converse with anyone but their counsel.

A couple of great resources worth not-ing: http://www.beyondthecrater.com. Also, see The Petersburg Campaign, Vols. I & II, Edwin C. Bearss.

One of my favorite stories about the

Appomattox Campaign: Gen. George A. Custer rides up to confront Gen. Longstreet and demand surrender from him. Longstreet stood, raised his voice at Custer and literally chased him off.

Other significant events of April 1865

April 1st - Battle of Five Forks. George Pickett [CS] could not withstand the fed-eral envelopment move around Petersburg that began here.

April 2nd-9th - Battle of Fort Blakely, Alabama. Maj. Gen. Edward Canby's Union forces, the XVI and XIII Corps, moved along the east-ern shore of Mobile Bay, forcing the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrated on

Spanish Fort, Alabama and nearby Fort Blakely.

April 2nd – The Breakthrough. With Confederate defeat at Five Forks on April 1, Grant and Meade ordered a general assault against the Petersburg lines by II, IX, VI and XXIV Corps on April 2. A heroic defense of Fort Gregg by a handful of Confederates prevented the Federals from entering the city that night. Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill was killed trying to reach his troops in the confu-sion. After dark, Lee ordered the evacuation of Petersburg and Rich-mond.

With the Petersburg line crumbling, Lee informs Davis he will abandon his position that evening. The Confederate government evacuates Richmond and Mayor Joseph Mayo surrenders the city to General Godfrey Weitzel.

April 2nd - Battle of Selma, Alabama. Wilson [US] defeats Forrest [CS].

April 3rd - Union troops occupy Peters-burg and Richmond, Virginia.

April 4th - President Lincoln visits Richmond, walking to the Confederate White House among cheering crowds, mostly freed slaves. A detachment of 10 men protected him.

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OUR CAMP JOURNAL

Cpl. Dan Paterson Jr. Vice President

The Final Battle and Surrender: The 7th Maryland, April 1865 Jacob Koogle

Scenes from the trenches at the 150th Bentonville action. From top right, the boys of the 7th Maryland in a pe-riod group photograph, and in the 7th Maryland cul-de-sac awaiting their next ac-tion. Pvt. Schwetje digs in the trencheas as does Pvt. Blum-berg, left.

Top left, Pvt. Schwetje sur-veys the scene as Pvt. Don Miskey rests.

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 8 OUR CAMP JOURNAL PAGE 5

Good Friday by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC.

April 15th - Abraham Lincoln dies in a

boardinghouse opposite Ford's Theater. Andrew Johnson takes the oath of of-fice.

April 18th - Sherman and Johnston reach agreement on the sur-render of all remaining ar-mies in the Confederacy.

April 19th - The nation mourns U. S. President Abra-ham Lincoln at his funeral in Washington, D. C.

April 24th - General William T. Sherman [US] learns of President Johnson's rejection of his surrender terms to Joe Johnston. General Grant, who personally delivered the message, orders Sherman to commence opera-tions against Johnson within 48 hours. Sherman is incensed but obeys orders.

April 26th - P. G. T. Beauregard [CS] surrenders, Durham Station, North Carolina.

April 26th - Joe Johnston surrenders to William Tecumseh Sherman.

April 26th - John Wilkes Booth is shot while fleeing a burning tobacco shed.

April 27th - Carrying former prisoners-of-war the Sultana explodes on the Mis-sissippi River near Memphis.

April 29th - Commercial shipping re-strictions lifted from most Confederate ports.

Friday, April 10, 2015 8:30 a.m. Camps open to public 9:30 – 3:00 Authors and Artists speak and display their wares 10:00 – 3:00 Living History Demonstra-tions – six different and unique “stations” (see separate schedule for details) 4:00 p.m. Battle of Appomattox Station (Cavalry & Artillery action) 8:00 p.m. Outdoor movie showing “April 1865” – Courtesy of A+E Networks ** 9:30 p.m. Cannon night fire

Saturday, April 11, 2015 8:30 a.m. Camps open to public 9:00 a.m. General Grant meets with Staff Officers 10:00 a.m. Fashion Show (produced by the United Daughters of the Confederacy) 10:00 a.m. Last Council with General Lee 11:00 a.m. Battle of Appomattox Court House 2:00 p.m. Meeting of Generals Lee and Grant. 3:00 p.m. Meet the Union and Confederate Generals 4:00 p.m. Widow of the South (Corinne Trimble) 6:30 p.m. Soldiers in Gray (Stan Clardy) 8:00 – 10:30 p.m. Period Dance with 2nd South Carolina String Band 9:00 p.m. Cannon night fire

Sunday, April 12, 2015 (There will be NO gun or cannon firing as this is a day of silent reverence and remembrance) 7:00 a.m. Catholic Church Services 8:00 a.m. Protestant Church Services 9:00 a.m. Camps open to public 11:00 a.m. Stacking of Arms, Crossover and Welcome Back 1:00 p.m. Camps close to public

April 4th - Battle of Jetersville, Vir-ginia. Also called the Battle of Amelia Springs.

April 6th - Battle of Sayler's Creek (Sailor's Creek). George Meade [US] defeats John Gordon [CS], Dick Ewell [CS], and R. H. Anderson [CS]. Ander-son and Ewell accidentally became separated from the main body of Lee's Army. 8,000 Confederate soldiers are forced to surrender.

April 7th - Grant begins communication with Lee known as the "Surrender Let-

ters."

April 8th - Battle of Appomattox Sta-tion. Cavalry under Phillip Sheridan strikes the rail depot south of the Appo-mattox Court House, driving Rebels back and capturing essential supplies.

April 9th - After attempting to break out of the Union envelopment, Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of North-ern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomat-tox Court House.

April 11th - Confederate government withdraws to Danville, Virginia then to North Carolina.

April 14th - United States President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated on

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VOLUME 21, ISSUE 8 OUR CAMP JOURNAL PAGE 6

Al Linton poses at the gravesite of his great grandfa-ther, John Henry Linton (1844 - 1920) who enlisted with the 7th Maryland Vol-unteer Infantry Regiment Co. E August 20, 1962 at Freder-

ick, Maryland; wounded in action May 11, 1864 at Laurel Hill, Virginia; discharged May 31, 1865 at Arlington Heights, Vir-ginia.

Submitted by Al Linton, at Old Hogan Cemetery, Botetourt County, Virginia.

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 8 OUR CAMP JOURNAL PAGE 7

At left is an ap-poximation of the camps and head-quarters for the 150th Appomattox event. Also listed are the tentative sites for wood, water and first aid areas. Please remember that these are (at press time) ap-proximate loca-tions. The FVB staff will be laying out the camps early Thursday morning. Upon arrival, please check with staff as to your company street location. Do not set a tent without checking in first.

quest to fall in a corporal. I set about preparing myself for the event, making rounds, sewing on stripes and a corps badge, and foraging for period correct salt pork at my local grocery store. My final task was the most pleasant. I was advised that I should conduct a practice march on my own to prepare for the daunting 9+ mile march we would con-duct at the event. As the weekend of Ben-tonville got closer, the anticipation grew and I slept fitfully the night before de-parture.

Eric Schwetje, Bill Hart, Patrick Morton, and I all rode down on the af-ternoon of March 20th, happily trading in Maryland’s snowy landscape for the cloudy but snow free terrain of North Carolina. I tearfully (cheerfully in their case) parted ways with the lads after registration, and I set off to find the 10th Iowa’s campsite while my pards set up camp with the FVB. I soon found a clus-ter of men with the same corps badge as me, waiting for a shuttle to our Friday night camp site. After an adventuresome ride through the back roads of North Carolina that included two sets of dogs chasing us, I found the 10th Iowa in our assigned camp, a sandy field on a pig farm that had recently been fertilized with pig excrement. While the stench was initially offensive, we soon adjusted, and my new pards and I set to making our corner of the field as comfortable as possible. After some initial housekeep-ing, we played a bit of baseball to pass the time, and got acquainted with one

(Continued from page 1) another. Our second sergeant issued us our rations and we cooked our dinners on a fire built with branches found in the nearby woods, before bedding down for the night.

While North Carolina certainly was warmer than snowy Maryland on that day, it was not a pleasant evening. The cloud cover had vanished, and a breeze cooled everything off further. My thin wool blanket and greatcoat couldn’t keep me warm enough, and I spent a few fitful hours trying to sleep, interrupted every so often by other men trying to find their compa-nies or a spot to bed down for the night. I eventually gave up on sleep around 1 am, moving up to the fire to brew coffee and cook my breakfast ration. I was soon joined by more men who chose warmth over the fitful sleep they might have gotten, and as we stared into the fire, we commiser-ated about the miserable conditions, and the daunting march ahead of us. Even before musicians call woke those hardy enough to sleep through the cold at 4:15 am, most of Company A was huddled the fire.

After roll call, we all tried our best to gather our belongings in the dark, and then fell into line at 5:15 to begin our march. The regiment was an im-pressive sight no doubt, but we could-n’t see anything beyond the next two companies until three horsemen gal-loped down the line. Our leader for the weekend, Colonel Ivan Ingraham, rode up and addressed us. After thanking us, he loudly told his aide that he was going to march with us, and soon took his place at the head of the col-umn. We set off down a darkened dirt road, guided as much by the sounds of the musicians out front, as anything else. We kept going into the dark and onward with the occasional police car blocking traf-fic. The highlight of the dark part of the march was Company B, di-rectly behind us, sing-

ing a period song about the XV corps, set to the music of “Kingdom Coming.” Just like in our company, a few men knew the words to every verse, while many more voices called out the chorus, “The Johnnies run, aha! They'll fight us soon no more, they must have heard that Logan is a-coming, With the Fif-teenth Army Corps.” As the sun rose, we were flanked by three mounted infantry men, just like the bummers who shad-owed Sherman’s columns during their march across the south. They would periodically disappear, and return with bags of plundered foodstuff that we passed along the column. The bounty of the country side greatly improved the boys’ morale.

Our column was halted just 3 times once we got under way. The first two pauses gave us a chance to marvel at our blisters and rest our weary legs, as well as resupply with water. I have never experienced that same sense of camaraderie with such a large group. Everyone was looking out for each other, offering to refill their neighbors’ canteens, asking with real concern how their fellow soldiers were doing. The final pause in our march allowed us to change our formation from the right face we had been marching in, to a col-umn of platoons. As we marched away, our fantastic fife and drum corps struck up patriotic songs that made packs seem lighter, and blisters smaller. Our ser-geant major, marching with the musi-cians, speared a (already dead) chicken on his bayonet, and the weight lifted even more at the sight.

As we neared the event site, we were given the command “to the step,” and the road weary soldiers grudgingly shouldered arms and fell into step. The

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PAGE 8 OUR CAMP JOURNAL ISSUE 21, VOLUME 8

reason for the seemingly cruel aban-donment of the route step became abun-dantly clear, as the division commander we were serving under came riding out to view his ragged regiment. The sight of the General, and the confused looks of hordes of spectators coaxed a second (or hundredth, I lost count) wind out of the boys. Our backs straightened, our chests puffed out, and rifles were held firmer than before. During our march through camp, I never felt prouder. Spectators and other soldiers looked on as our road weary column snaked along the winding trails and roads to our camps. We were greeted in camp by those members of our company who were not up to the march, and we found fires burning, coffee boiling, and bless-edly soft ground awaiting.

Our la-bors were not over yet. After grabbing a quick nap, I was awoken to help dis-tribute rations, and we feasted on cured ham, soft bread, and fresh cheese. After satis-fying our stomachs, we were given a short break, and then formed up for battle. We made the blessedly short march to the battlefield, and proceeded to throw up breast works of an impressive size given our limited materials and time, and commenced our bloody work. The lead flew thick and hot, but thanks to some staunch fighting by a Michigan regi-ment that included several of my old pards, the 10th Iowa was able to emerge on the traitors’ flanks and throw them back in disarray. The rebels reformed, and assaulted our works, but apart from a few brave foes who reached the

(Continued from page 8) trenches, their efforts up and down the line were rebuffed.

After Saturday’s action, I snuck out of the 10th Iowa camp, and made my way to the FVB camp to visit my old pards serving with the 21st Michigan. I was overjoyed to see that all had sur-vived the day’s action, with nary a scratch between them. After catching up, I returned to the 10th Iowa’s camp to find the whole regiment enjoying pies and a few casks of beer, no doubt liberated from a nearby plantation. I quickly succumbed to the weariness inflicted by the busy day, and soon was sound asleep under a large tree. Unlike the first night, nobody was woke up, except when the Colonel shouted at a

rowdy group of soldiers to bed down for the night. Sunday was much less un-eventful. One of my messmates and I visited the sutlers after being issued our 40 rounds, and then we marched off to our second battle in as many days. My company was deployed as skirmishers while the rest of our regiment threw up earth works. We were soon thrown back upon our works, where the line stiff-ened. Once again, the 10th was in close proximity to my former pards, who performed admirably from what little I could see.

My experience at Bentonville was one that was unique for me as a reenactor. It was my first time reenacting with a “hardcore” unit, an experience that I had some initial concerns about. What I discovered was that like all blanket labels applied to groups, many of the things I had been told about “hardcores” only applied to certain members of the group. I saw many people in the 10th Iowa, that I would prefer not to reenact with, but by and large, everybody was welcoming. Nobody counted the stitches on my jacket, or even noticed my ma-chine sewed button holes. It was also my first time reenacting with a com-pany that included no members of the 7th Maryland. I will never feel 100% at home anywhere but the 7th, and cer-tainly missed the level of camaraderie and shared experiences I have with the 7th, but I had a fantastic time with the 10th Iowa, and learned quite a bit

about myself and how I can improve my own impres-sion by spending time with reenac-tors I don’t nor-mally interact with at events.

PAGE 9 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 21, ISSUE 8

One such activity set for Saturday at 10:00AM is a ladies fashion show. If anyone desires to participate either by donning period clothing or in other ways, they are encouraged to attend a meeting under the large speakers tent on Friday at 6:00PM. Starting Thursday morning, a number of buses will begin a free shuttle service for any and all persons to various loca-tions/events in the Appomattox area. Those who arrive early and choose to visit the National Park, the Museum of the Confederacy or the many quaint shops and/or other items of interest in downtown Appomattox will have the opportunity to do so prior to the official opening of the event. No weapons will be allowed on any of these vehicles, nor at many of the other locations. A large ice truck will be positioned near the spectator gate and will be dis-pensing bagged ice throughout the event. Additionally “gators” will make ice runs around the site at various times each day. An emergency medical tent will be positioned at the edge of the living history camp and an ambulance will be on site during each battle. Please don’t expect the site map, be-low, to show positions of woodpiles, water buffalos, port-a-johns, etc. Visit the event website at www.appomattoxhistoricalsociety.org for additional info and details.

VA Rt 6 in Nelson County in coming to the event – especially if you’re towing a trailer. The road is not very accommo-dating to such vehicles and should be avoided. The re-enactor entrance gate will be open the following dates and times: Tuesday, April 7th, 12-Noon to 11PM Wednesday, April 8th, 7AM to 11PM Thursday, April 9th, 7AM to 12: Midn. Friday, April 10th, 7AM to 12 : Midn(Closed from 2PM to 6PM – for battle) Saturday, April 11th, 7AM to 11PM (Closed from 9AM to 1PM – for battle) Sunday, April 12th, 7AM to 10AM If you are a registered re-enactor and present yourself at the re-enactor gate during these reasonable times, the or-ganizers will see to it that you get on the field. The spectator gates will open at 8:30AM on Saturday and Sunday with a Tactical commencing around 6:00 AM on Saturday and continuing up to the time of the full battle at 11:00 AM.

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Civil War Re-enactors; America’s Living Historians.

John Wilkes Booth was almost 27 years old when he shot President Lincoln on April 14, 1865 — it was two weeks before Wilkes’ May 10th birthday. John Wilkes Booth was his father’s favorite child (out of 10 children), according to his brother, Edwin. Junius Booth died 9 days before John Wilkes Booth’s 14th birthday in 1853. The spurs John Wilkes Booth was wearing when he assassinated Lin-coln were the same ones Junius Brutus Booth had lent to Edwin Booth for Edwin’s first stage ap-pearance as an actor.

During the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth smuggled quinine, an impor-tant anti-malaria drug, to the south. On November 9th, 1863, President and Mrs. Lincoln attended Ford’s Thea-ter and saw the play The Marble Heart. John Wilkes Booth portrayed the villain in the play. Lincoln was impressed with Booth’s performance, and passed along word that he’d like to meet the actor. Booth refused the invitation. John Wilkes Booth was 5′ 8″ tall. President Lincoln died from his wounds in a bed that John Wilkes Booth once slept in. Thomas “Boston” Corbett, the man who fatally shot John Wilkes Booth, received $1,653.84 as his share of the reward money in Booth’s capture, even though he disobeyed the order to bring Booth in alive. It was less money than John Wilkes Booth was making per week as an actor. John Wilkes Booth witnessed the execution of abolitionist John Brown. Brown had led an attempt to seize the U.S. arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA, (now West Virginia) in October 1859 in the hopes of starting an armed slave revolt. Athough Booth was pro slavery, he told his sister that Brown was “a brave old man” and he felt sorry for him that he had been abandoned by his followers.