Below is an article by our correspondent, Nick Korolev, concerning a recent Civil War living history event in Virginia:
On Saturday, April 10th a living history of Lee’s Surrender plus the last battle that led up to it was presented at the Clover Hill Village just a mile from the historic site at the McLean House. Though I was not personally at the event due to being on my way back from a visit to friends in Pittsburgh where I plan to relocate, I got a full report from my friend Richard Byrd who participated, plus there are a couple of films on YouTube of the event.
Besides a few Federal troops seven members of the Federal Generals Corps were there to represent the Union side and among them, my friend Richard “Byrdie” Byrd. This time, Byrdie was an aide to our Gen. Grant instead of portraying Gen Crook. From what Byrdie told me, they could not have had better weather – a clear day and chilly nights. All arrived on Friday night. As usual for events in our area the Confederates outnumbered the Union and a few had to “galvinize” to add to the Union ranks for both the battle and surrender. This was the first year for this event and hopefully with the 150th Anniversary years coming up, the turn out will be better. For all who paid the $5 fee there was firewood, water and a great beef bar-b-que dinner. Close to 1000 spectators attended.
The media was there to report and film the event including CNN, Virginia Public Television, FOX News and ESPN. The living history event followed the real accounts of the historic surrender of those fateful days in 1865. Byrdie reported the surrender of Lee to Grant and the subsequent surrendering of arms and flags by the Confederate troops were a highly emotionally charged scenarios with many among both spectators and participants moved to tears. Our own Bob Thomas who portrays his ancestor Gen. George Thomas was one of those so deeply affected that he had to leave for a moment. At the end all shook hands and there were hearty hugs, too, showing the warring factions reuniting in a stronger Union that puts one in mind of a phoenix rising from the ashes of its own burning.
There are plans to present this event only for the next five years with the Federal Generals Corps and Lees Lieutenants living history groups providing the main players, then no more. So next April all of you who were not a part of it this year, mark your 2011 calendar for this battle and living history event or for some year up to 2015 before it, too, becomes history.
Nick Korolev
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