Catching Up!

September 5th
Once again, the 15th Alabama and the Third Maine clashed at the Portland Narrow Gauge Museum. As always The Federals made every attempt to keep the payroll and dispatches from Mosby's men. This included having patrons sit on the dispatch case. One of the runs, we hid ladies under garments in the payroll box while the money stayed in my basket. Imagine the Captain Pratt's face when he opened the box! I did manage to convince him that the paper money in my basket was from the sale of my farm.

September 19th
The Third Maine spent the day at the Willowbrook Museum. It was a beautiful day and there were many visitors. The highlight was when I was accused of following a man. It's my fault of course for going unescorted to the necessary. Thankfully "Uncle Dick and 2 other privates, spoke to the man and he did indeed apologize for the insult.

Happily I have discovered that Nonpareils are period correct chocolate!

Gettysburg 2008 Part 1

The 145th Anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg took place July 4, 5th and 6th 2008. I was honored to be a participant and the next few blog entries will be about those three days.

I actually left Saturday, June 28th and drove to my sister’s in Maryland. Our car was stuff with all sorts of Civil war paraphernalia: Tent, table, crates, blankets, dresses, writing desk, small barrel...as if I was leaving for the real war!

We didn’t actually leave for Gettysburg until Thursday July 3rd. And as luck would have it, we were stuck in traffic and it took longer to get there then we hoped. We set up the RV and I quickly headed to camp arriving at 5pm.




Now finding the right camp was entertaining to say the least. At least I knew where my tent didn’t belong. I wasn’t with the cavalry or the artillery. That narrowed it down to a many acre field of Infantry. I circled the area, several times, and at last I stopped and called "Uncle Dick". Logically he asked to identify my surroundings. "I am near the flags" referring to the regimental flags. "And now you’ll tell me you’re by the white tents too!" he said...For the record, I thought I was quite clear in my directions. He saved me, led me to the Third Maine and helped me set up the tent. Good ol’ Uncle Dick!



Being a "Ramada Ranger" I of course headed back to the RV to sleep.

It's All Relative.....

Being a proper lady of the 1860's requires that I do not go to events with out an escorted.

A difficult problem when I Do go to events with only my children. Decency insists that a male relative accompany me. As a result I have had to create an extended "family" of males from the Third Maine.

My first "elected" relative was Pvt Dick C. He was kind enough to escort me down the main street of Camp Sylvia. Once I learned that the way I was holding my hand on his arm was very "familiar" he became a cousin!

The second relation was at the first Train Robbery. "Cousin" Steve made sure I was safe. Assuring me that we would survive the Rebel raid.When he was "shot" and "killed", Miss Vicky, a lady of succession, presented his revolver to me as his nearest "relative".

At September Storm, I needed a more convincing reason to be in the field. So my husband became an imaginary private. Pvt B is an elusive man. Always on duty...or in trouble.

I had to ask the Sargeant to break up the gambling session (above) in camp so that Pvt B would not gamble all his pay away.

He also doesn't do well with drinking, as a result he is always on picket duty. He always seems to be missing at roll call too....and getting into Mrs Marsha C's Tonic!

What to do with that Man!