(That's me pulling the lanyard as Baltimore Battery of Light Artillery, USA)
Something special about getting ready for another year of reenactments & living history events.
In the fall you've satisfied the reenacting bug that drives your hobby & had your fill of it. But now with spring right around the corner you start to get that itch (probably cus you tried on those wool pants to see if they still fit in the waist).
Oh yeah, you've missed it and can't wait to get another season under way!
It's the travel & catching up with friends you haven't talked to for over 6months & sometimes much longer.
It's the Camaraderie of the encampment & exchanges with the public. It's the smell of the campfire & peaceful relaxing calm at night after the heat of the day is over. Someone plucking slowly on a banjo.
That's all cool... But the thing I miss the most is "playing" on the gun! For us that's a 10lb Parrott our group uses for the reenactments and artillery demos. And the schedule is out full with another season of events! This is an exciting time... It's like the moment the sports fan gets his season tickets in the mail. So much optimism about the season to come!
4th Maryland Light Artillery schedule:
April 8 - 10 Civil War On the Shore
Fort Whaley, Whaleyville, MD
April 23 - 24 Neshaminy State Park
Bensalem, PA
May 14 - 16 152nd Battle of New Market
New Market, VA
July 1 - 3 153rd Battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg, PA
July 22 - 24 155th Battle of Bull Run/Manassas
New Market, VA
August 6 - 7 Pitzer Woods NPS
Gettysburg, PA
September 24 - 25 Pitzer Woods NPS
Gettysburg, PA
October 15 - 16 152nd Battle of Cedar Creek
Middletown, VA
November 19 Remembrance Day
Gettysburg, PA
Our schedule changes from year to year but we do have some mainstays. Of these my favorites are New Market & Cedar Creek in Virginia. I just love the Shenandoah Valley!
So what's your outfit, where you headed & what are you looking forward to the most?
If your not into living history but plan to attend a reenactment which one?
(Again on lanyard, 150th Gettysburg as 4th Maryland Light Artillery, CSA)