Welcome to the world, life, and hobby of Confederate living history aka as civil war reenacting.
The following galleries include many of my proudest moments on this earth whilst portraying the Southron volunteer that between 1861 and 1865 became both a warrior and glorious by defending his home and his rights. The Confederate States of America and the dream that became a cause existed for four years only by the sacrifice, faith, and will of the Southern soldier. The Southern soldier was also my ancestors.
Portraying the Southern soldier wearing and using the most authentic reproduction materials I have labored to find (and pay for) is one part of my attempt to honor who in my opinion was the finest soldier in history and his cause, also the most noble.
I have partipated in many Civil War reenactment encampments, battles, parades, and public presintations. Yet, as you will find here, some of my most treasured memories in living history is visiting Confederate graves, memorials, battlefields, and other landmarks that have stood in testimony to the Southern Soldier's history of glory.
When I visit these places in uniform or when I share the ranks with others who share my passion, I become more alive and filled than ever. Not only am I honoring my family but the Southern soldier stood for, fought for, and died for causes and principals that I personally connect with. Before the uneducated reader charges that I believe in slavery I should define what those causes the Southern soldier fought for and that I believe in. They include family, home, states' rights, the right of self government, a culture and government guided by faith, honor, heritage, and duty.
Part of my heart's daily sorrow is that so little of that spirit that joined the march of the Southern soldier is alive today. Even when not wearing the uniform of a soldier from the 1860s, I have always felt distant and different from this modern era. My heart was born with the Confederacy, where honor, principal, freedom, faith, and romance defined role models. Though it was a tragic, deadly, and even savage time and not all was perfect, there was enough of those things like faith and romance and principal in the Southern culture, certainly compared to today.
As you will see me wearing the uniform of my ancestor and his cause, you shall also be seeing who I truly am.
-Zacharias T.
It was October 19, 1864 and the Confederate Army of the Valley commanded by Lt. General Jubal Early made its final stand against Sheridan's yankee invaders. Out of a failed campaign to capture Washington, Jubal Early's tired and starving veterans gave battle to the well fed and larger Union force near Middleton, Virginia at a spot known by history as Cedar Creek.
Early's Confederates fought hard and brave for two days to defend the Shenadoah Valley from the raiding, destructive, and violent invader from the North just as Stonewall Jackson had done against General Banks two years earlier. However, the laurels of victory were stollen from Early's grasp when Sheridian regrouped his confused force and layed a terrible and deadly charge upon the exhausted Southern troops. It was to be a preview of Hood's failed Tennessee campaign a month later. Most of Early's men, many who were veterans from the start of the war, were killed, wounded or captured in the fight including North Carolinian Tar Heel General Ramsor.
Over the past several years I have visited and revisited the battlefield which is being threatened by a nearby mining operation. I partipated in my first national reenactment upon the field in 2000 and returned again for the 145th annivesary reenactment of the battle in 2004. In 2006 I again took to the field with thousands of other reenacting warriors to reenact the battle of First Manssasses on its 145th annivesary.
The field and the valley surrounding it is part of the most beautiful country in Virginia. Upon visiting this place and to see its natural beauty and experience the feeling of peace there, one does not have to wonder long what exackly those Virginians bled and died for. The battlefield looks very much like it did in 1864 including the awesome structure of Belle Grove Mannor.
REENACTMENT of 145th Annivesary of BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
