The town of Rowlesburg, WV played host to the annual WVRA School of the soldier again this year, on the weekend of May 1st. This was a small event with probably no more than fifteen to a side. There was a small spectated reenactment of the Battle of Rowlesburg on Saturday, which was probably more accurate than usual according to the number of combatants, since both sides fought nearly the entire affair as skirmishers. I have always thought that battle lines of no more than twenty riflemen must look strange to the average spectator. With small numbers, skirmish drill makes more obvious sense.
We actually spent a good deal more time drilling than we did in the battle. This should be the case with this type of event, of course. Even experienced reenactors gather a good deal of rust in the off-season. I haven’t gotten that hot and tired at an event for a while, but I feel that it was time and effort well spent.
That evening the town put on an impressive dinner as part of the event and featured featured a historian who gave a power point presentation on the military objectives of the Confederate attack on the town, which was of course, the B&O Railroad bridge and viatduct located here. The presentation illustrated why Lee and his officers saw this area as a prime target for such a raid. Had the raid been successful in its objectives, the Northern war effort could have suffered.
The Town of Rowlesburg helped the WVRA sponsor the event in return for putting on the battle. Once again we were treated to a sumptuous breakfast at the VFW in town. This meal is in and of itself, enough justify the trip over the mountain. Many small communities are eager to have such events in order to create interest in their communities, but Rowlesburg does a particularly fine job. My hat is off to them. Now I can hardly wait for the WWII event in June!
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