Life as a Civil War Soldier

Civil War Ball video

That was the first time I danced the Virginia Reel and I found out it was one of the more easier ones!

Civil War Grand Ball

The A.C.W.A. puts on a ball every November so I was forced to go (I did not want to go because I didn't know dance). So we went early to help out with set up and then checked in at the hotel and had lunch. About four, we drove to the John Muir building at the Sonora fairgrounds. We had dinner and then the first dance started and we had voted that I should take some pictures while the rest of the family was dancing. Well my commander as he was going out to dance said, "Reynolds, what are you doing? Put that camera down private and dance with this young lady over here!". So I started walking out on the floor of doom and thankfully the first dance was only a march and it was fairly simple. By the end of the night I danced so much that my feet were very sore. I admit I had fun and I no longer call it the floor of doom but the floor of fun!

This morning we were all up by nine 'o clock and headed for the Miner's Shack for breakfast then waited for what seemed like hours until they called us in to sit. After we had breakfast, we drove to Columbia to look around for a bit and then we headed home.

Veterans Day Parade

We went to San Jose to march in the Veterans Day Parade that they have there every year. It was very cool! They had the U.S. Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy; Revolutionary War reenactors and World War I reenactors; World War II, Vietnam War, and Korea War veterans. The World War I reenactors brought they're early 20th century automobiles and had a American flag with two color guards on either side in front of the cars. The Revolutionary War reenactors had a banner and three flags with two color guards. Our squad had six soldiers with a band behind and three flags in front. We also had a man dressed up as a Civil War veteran (of course he wasn't a real veteran!) and a lady dressed up in period civillan clothes. Once we got to the judges stand the soldiers marched to the front and fired (now earlier they had told us to load two rounds into the rifles which would be about 150 grains of black powder! That is a lot of powder!! And a big kick!!). 

I now have to figure out how to somewhat clean my rifle without a cleaning kit! My mom should have pictures sooner or later on her blog.

Civil War Trivia Answers

Here are the answers to the Civil War Trivia questions

-What was 'Stonewall' Jackson's first name?

Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson

-Which army won the Battle Of Gettysburg?

The Union army won and the Confederate Army retreated back to Virginia

-Who was the last commander of the Army Of The Potomac?

The one and only General Ulysses S. Grant

-What was the first battle of the Civil War?

The first battle was the Battle Of Fort Sumter

-Who commanded the Army Of Northern Virginia?

The great General Robert E. Lee

Civil War Trivia

Let's see if you know the answers to these questions:

-What was 'Stonewall' Jackson's first name?

-Which army won the Battle Of Gettysburg?

-Who was the last commander of the Army Of the Potomac?

-What was the first battle of the Civil War?

-Who commanded the Army Of Northern Virginia?

Comment if you know any of these questions....

Fresno Reenactment

This was my first reenactment in which I got to shoot back at the rebs! Finally! It was cool to feel the same way that the fresh fish (new recruits) during the war felt like when they went through they're first battle.  

The reenactment was the best one this year! Except there was no ground explosions....and the battles were pretty good...but the weather was really good! It was sunny during the day and nice and warm at night...not like Roaring Camp!! That one was freezing!!

I finally got to go into the meat wagon (hospital wagon). It was very bumpy, but it was really cool!!

I also now have my cap box, gun case, and period wallet and now have to get about four more things then I think I'll be done!!

A year ago at this reenactment I was in my first battle and later that year joined up with the 20th Maine....

More equipment!

As you know by now if you read the last entry yesterday was my birthday....I now have my haversack (Haversack were used to hold your food rations and other personal items). Now all I have to get is my cartridge box, cap pouch, ground cover, and a gun case.

We are now planning to go to a reenactment in Thousand Oaks in Moor Park. The website said that the battlefield has a cornfield and some fences which would be really cool to be in....but we going as spectators......

A special message

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

We hope you have an incredible day! You are a blessing to our lives and we love you very much!

Love,

Dad, Mom, and Kelsey