Battle of Lewisburg – Report

The following is a report from our correspondents, Bill and Linda Donegan in Southern West Virginia:

Report of the 147^th 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 200^th Birthday.

This was my experience at the 2009 event. Linda and I have been attending this living history/re-enactment since it was restarted by Darlene Fife several years ago. In fact, at the first event there were only three Union privates; Steve Allen, Charles Stewart, and myself. This year the reenactment almost rivaled New Market in the number and quality of re-enactors. Before I go much further I want to express gratitude to Colonel Edward A. Craun, over-all military commander, for generously offering a pound of powder for each Confederate who galvanized with the Union to even the numbers. Thank you, Ed, not only for the gunpowder, but also for your company at the Irish Pub and your kindness to my wife, Linda.

Linda and I were asked to perform a Civil War Musical program for kids’ day on Friday (all day!). To accomplish this we had to check into our room on Thursday night. Special thanks to Ross Weisinger who arranged for our accommodations at the Rose Hill Bed and Breakfast at 317 Church Street, which was just a few blocks away from all activities. Extra special thanks go out to Richard and Lorraine Byrd our inn-keepers, and now friends, who not only created wonderful breakfasts but spent much time entertaining us above the call of duty. True hospitality!

We met Harold (Hari) Jones, the Curator/Asst. Director of the African-American Civil War Museum, Washington, D.C., who was also a guest at the Rose Hill B&B. We learned that Hari was going to do a presentation that night so we decided to attend. It was fantastic. Hari’s topic was “Lincoln’s Loyal Legal League”, which was the single most important source of military intelligence for the Union Army during the Civil War. The League was comprised of African Americans who sought to end the tyranny of slavery through the provisions of the constitution. Hari identified the African roots of the organization, its ideology (which was Christian) and the champions of the “light and liberty” movement. One of the heroes , Major Martin R. Delany, had been born in my hometown, Charleston, West Virginia. Hari described the origin of phrases such as massa, siree, etc. and revealed their Timbuktu origin. These words are not the bastardization of English as some suppose. Massa comes from the Fulani word Masser which means “Egypt” or “captor.” Siree (this spelling may be incorrect) is the Fulani word for “devil.” So, “Yes, siree Massa” could be translated, “Yes, devil captor.” He also pointed out that the two classes of slaves were not the field hands and house servants, as is usuually taught. The two classes were the artisans, who were educated and paid for their work, and the uneducated, who were not paid. The artisans viewed themselves as captives who could be owned by God alone. The unpaid slaves viewed themselves as the property of the

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plantation owner. We did not ask any questions of Hari at the presentation or reception following, but spoke with him a length at the B&B. It was a very informative occasion.

By the way, Hari was a Captain in the USMC. I got to speak with him about some of his special operations, and I redirected the subject by asking whether or not any Marines had fought in the European theatre during World War II. Are you ready for this? His reply was “ANGLICO;” Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. During the Anzio invasion, there were highly skilled personnel with specialized knowledge of Naval Ordnance, familiarity with Aircraft, who could call in close air support, and naval gunfire on targets as small as a moving tiger tank, who were recognized by joint and combined forces, Army, Navy, Air force, and who could patrol, observe, and locate targets on the front lines. Who were these mystery people? The United States Marines, and yes,  they were at Anzio. Hari explained that the reason this group is not well-known is due to the fact that their missions had to be kept secret. Only now are you reading about this because most of the people involved in these WWII missions have passed away.

The big day for Linda and I was Friday when we presented “Music of the Civil War” to approximately one thousand students from neighboring schools. We began speaking and singing at 9:30 AM and continued until 3:00 PM.

Following our musical presentation, I donned my General’s uniform and escorted Linda to the Greenbrier Court House for a living “fantasy history.” I say fantasy because this event never occurred at any time in history as we know it. The United States Supreme Court was to meet to hear evidence pro and con regarding the issue of “the constitutionality of secession.” Five Supreme Court judges heard several witnesses and attorneys argue both for and against secession. After a time of deliberation, he judges rendered their decision: “It is unconstitutional for a state to secede from the Union.” This almost caused a riot in the courtroom!

On Saturday May 16^th, I made my debut as General William Starke Rosencrans. I had not planned to make a presentation with the “Meet the Union Generals” group. I had only walked over to General Grant’s tent to meet and greet the other generals. The next thing I knew we (the Generals) were standing before a crowd, praising President Lincoln for his commitment to the Constitution and the Union. Linda and I had dined with Mr. Lincoln earlier in the day, so it was not difficult to tell some interesting anecdotes about him to the crowd. I presented a selection of some of Rosencrans’ stories which seemed to please the crowd. I wonder if it would have gone over so well if I had actually prepared?

I had an obligation to drink a Guinness at the Irish Pub so that the Ladies Temperance League could “haul me out of the pub in disgrace.” (We had no difficulty getting volunteers for this bit of history.) So, I had to take my leave of Mr. Lincoln and the Generals. Following the “Pub Crawl”. I had to resume a more familiar role, that of a Union Private and join the troops in an attack against a numerically superior confederate force defending the town. Our Union Captain was Steve Allen. Yes, the one who had been a Private for the past ten years. Steve did a marvelous job teaching the new recruits the nuances of “rolling thunder” which we perpetrated on the confederates, surprising them so much that we almost won the battle. We were scripted to lose, so Steve took a hit and went down. Another Private and I then attacked the Rebs and led the company. The result was defeat at the hands of the numerically superior force. I was killed by my “drinking buddy”, Ed Craun.

Sunday was our last day at Lewisburg and we were so tired that we decided not to return to camp. We remained at the B&B and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with Hari and Stewart and Priscilla Harris, (Stewart portrayed one of the Supreme Court judges). He and Priscilla are both Law Professors at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia.

After packing to leave, we bid our gracious host and hostess adieu. Richard and Lorraine Byrd, our hosts, are an exceptional couple. Our stay at the Rose Hill Bed and Breakfast was very special time. We will not forget the Spring of 2009 spent in Lewisburg.

Linda and I then drove to Philippi to rehearse with the Blue Gray Choir in preparation for our next event, which we will report on later this month.