161st Cedar Creek

[LCYingling3rd]

That big dipper pic I'm getting printed myself. I plan on making that a decent size canvas. Here's another stunning night pic a friend just sent me:

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I wish this one was in higher definition:
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If you've been going to Cedar Creek since 1993, you probably saw my father reenact. It was his favorite reenactment. He participated in it all through the 80's & 90's. I believe his last one was 2002. He was always infantry.

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That is another spectacular picture!

Like I said, I did get to participate in 2006, however, one think I would love to do is get to spend the night in camp. I have that on a bucket list. IDK, maybe it is not what I imagine, but I have this idealized vision of hanging by the fire laughing, telling stories, hearing the old tales from the old guys; Maybe partaking in some Bark Juice or O Be Joyful.

I did do the spectator "candlelight tours" a couple times but I know that doesn't count. It's what happens after we spectators are gone that matters. I would actually like doing a non-spectator event - if they even still have them - because I want to get my experience as close to my ancestor's experience as possible. I would like to actually do real reenacting where I do all the hard work things you do and not just my romanticized version of it.

I am sure I did see your father, at least from a distance. Cedar Creek had some massively huge events. 1994 was massive. It was the 130th. Camps went clear over to Belle Grove Plantation, and I remember all sorts of crazy living history. There were women's mourning societies, Sanitary Commission workers, nurses, temperance groups, woodworkers, people making apple butter, people churning butter and demonstrating what cooks did. On and on. I remember walking from in front of the Heater House to the Belle Grove barn through camps. One year we were set up in front of the Heater House and the battle started in front of Belle Grove, so it didn't get to us for nearly an hour! The big anniversaries were always amazing.

Cedar Creek was like a pilgrimage for me because it is the only battle my direct ancestors fought against each other at and I had to go every year. Yes, we missed some. Life sometimes happens and gets in the way. I was so upset with my late wife in 2002. The DC sniper started on October 2nd and she didn't want to go until he was caught... Geesh, that was hundreds of miles away...but noooo. They did end up getting caught at a rest area on I-70 between Hagerstown and Frederick. LOL...but come on...

Cedar Creek did slow down and get pretty small for a while. But it has always been my favorite too. The 150th in 2014 was absolutely phenomenal and remains my best experience. I attended the reenactment on Saturday and toured the battlefield, stopping at all the sites my ancestors fought, when they fought, on 10/19/2014. That was amazing. At one point I was where my ancestor was 150 years to the minute he was there!

Thanks again and keep at it! We do appreciate it!

PS There was a young person in your unit who has been reenacting since age three. I was actually very pleased to see quite a few younger folks participating. I was getting worried that it was all older folks and they would be aging out and it would all end. But I was happy to see young people!