150th Manassas Reenactment Photo Blog

As promised, a day late, here is the:

150th Manassas Reenactment Photo Blog

The Federal Command leaves for Battle at the crack of dawn on Saturday.

 Saturday morning, we woke at 4:30 to get to camp and have breakfast prepared so our men could be ready for the 8 am battle. As command, they need to be out earlier than the rest of the army.

Federal camps early Saturday morning.

 We were fortunate to have a really beautiful area for our camp. Sadly, the heat made me realize this after I downloaded my photos.

Faith looking out over the Union camps.

 Faith was particularly fond of the copious amounts of wildfolwers. Faith is able to find wonder and joy with nearly everything...including the crickets and grasshoppers that invaded our tent.

Confederate Marines

 While on our way to the sutlers and battle, the Confederate Army crossed our paths.

Confederate Sharpshooters

 One of the really interesting parts of this reenactment was seeing all the different uniforms that soldiers were wearing. The Confederate Army had yet to issue a uniform so the generals were in blue (as you will note with Jackson, below). Faith often asked about uniforms and neither Teddy and I always had the answers as some articles were literally worn at Manassas and never again. A lot of local militia uniforms could be seen, also, the white cloth over the soldiers' kepi's, called havelocks, were only used here.

Thomas (soon to be) "Stonewall" Jackson, the man of the moment.

 Jackson earned his nickname "Stonewall" at the battle of first Manassas. There is a lot of rumor surrounding the nickname, so let me clear it up.  Southern General Bernard Bee said to his retreating men "There stands Jackson like a damned stonewall" (or something to that effect). HOWEVER! Bee was killed after this, so it is uncertain whether he said this in awe and admiration, or in frustration that Jackson's men weren't retreating so his men couldn't either.

Mobs and mobs of spectators.

Although we couldn't see much, the spectators had only great things to say about the battle. I know first hand how much time and effort went in to planning and executing this event. It was well-deserved praise to all involved.



The one and only, great Julio Zangroniz!



For more and much, much better photos of the 150th First Manassas reenactment, please check out my friend Julio's photos here.