The Honored Dead

I would like to pause a moment and address an issue some people may have with this blog or with reenacting in general. We are not intending to "glorify" war and destruction. What we are trying to do in part is to bring attention to those who came before us.

Is it fun to reenact the American Civil War? Jade and myself as well as all reenactors of all eras would have to admit that it is. If it weren't fun, we wouldn't be doing it in the first place.  That being said, we try to never lose sight of what we are actually portraying. 



Confederate Dead, Rose Woods, Gettysburg

The soldiers who fought and died are the ones we try to honor.  In reenacting, we are able to bring a small piece of their existence back to life and explain to the present day spectator (or reader) the sacrifices that were made by these soldiers. Our weapons may only fire blanks and the "dead" rise after the battle is over, but seeing the "casualties" on the field can give pause.

Confederate and Union "Dead", Cascades Civil War Muster, Jackson MI, 2015

We like to post about museums and monuments that we find along the way. Entire books exist detailing monuments or grave locations.  In a small way, this blog can be taken as a monument to those who came before us. It is all about remembering. I would like to add in here a monument only recently installed in White Pigeon, Michigan. Part of a memorial park that will be detailed here sometime in the future, it lists the names of those who lost their lives in the Civil War from Saint Joseph County, Michigan.

The Gettysburg Address, in stone

Right hand side, as referenced from the front

Left Side, as referenced from the front

Rear

These names, listed in stone, are just a tiny fraction of the between six hundred thousand (600,000) and seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000) soldiers who lost their lives during the American Civil War from both sides combined.


On a personal note, I have been reenacting for a little over a decade as of this writing.  In that time, I have participated in several grave dedications, honoring of veteran ceremonies, and Memorial Day observances including parades.  I can not speak for others, but I consider it my duty to participate when it is at all possible.  Personally I consider it important to honor and salute those who served.


Until next time,

DETAIL!

ATTENTION! 

PRESENT ARMS!

 

To those who came before us and to those who come after us... we salute you.

 

-Corporal

O'Sullivan, Timothy H, photographer. [Gettysburg, Pa. Confederate dead gathered for burial at the southwestern edge of the Rose woods, July 5, 1863]. Gettysburg Pennsylvania United States, 1863. [July 5] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/cwp2003000200/PP/. (Accessed February 04, 2018.)