Saturday, April 5, 2008

The Arizona Boys

"Officer in the camp!"

Privates would yell that often this day, as generals and colonels strolled to the 1st Virginia Headquarters tent to express their admiration and appreciation for the thousands of miles we traveled to be a part of the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville. They would admire our clean gray uniforms and marvel at the beauty of the Virginia ladies, not that we weren't good fighting men as well.


One general asked where I was from in Arizona.

"Tucson, sir," I said, with my drawl.

"And you don't talk like that in Arizona," he smiled.

"No sir," I said, stepping out of character for an instant to reassure him.

"You're doing a fine job," he complimented.

Our captain would hear many compliments this day from all over the camp. He would also hear lavish praise from a colonel, who spoke to us personally about how well we had interacted with and educated the children yesterday, something many re-enactors have trouble with or simply don't do.

A comrade and I had the opportunity to talk to General Lee in a remarkable camp meeting.


"I wish you could've been here 145 years ago," he said to our 1st Sergeant.

No comments: