July 05, 2013

I captured these shots back in August 2007 when living historians representing the Fluvanna Virginia Artillery were encamped in Pitzer Woods. Just recently I pulled the photos out and began to study them in depth. One of the things that struck me most on the first photo was the Confederate flag tucked just inside the tent at the bottom right. When I was there, standing right next to it, I never even noticed. I also recently noted the branch that was being used to hold the tent up, a lantern outside the flap, a kerosene lamp, and some old trunks and boxes that were either antique or were definitely doing a good job at fooling people.

Other tents were equally interesting. The one portrayed in the second photo was likely an enlisted man’s tent, with a tapestry bag, a blanket, and a large knapsack. I always enjoy finding little details such as the tin cup hanging alongside the bag. This particular reenactment also had my favorite battlefield feature: a cannon to be touched, gawked at, and otherwise admired. We didn’t stick around for the firing demonstration but stayed long enough to capture this shot of a Southern artillery piece in all its glory.

The “real” Fluvanna Artillery was comprised of artillerists from Fluvanna County, Virginia, and fought in such crucial engagements as Antietam / Sharpsburg and Gettysburg. The re-created Fluvanna Artillery, the community of living historians whose campsite I admired, can be found at www.fluvanna-artillery.org. With a little tongue-in-cheek humor they explain on their website that they wanted to pick a little-known artillery battery and thus chose Huckstep’s First Fluvanna Artillery, which didn’t have a very good reputation during the war. Either way, such “steps back in time” make Gettysburg all the more special.

**HONORED TODAY**

2^ND LT. GEORGE WASHINGTON PEAVINS HURST, JR.

Co. D, 2^ND Georgia Infantry

Born 1837 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 26

Lt. Hurst bid a sad farewell to his parents, two brothers and a sister, and his wife upon enlisting in the 2^ND Georgia. He was destined to fall at Gettysburg. There is a memorial stone for him at Waynesboro Confederate Memorial Cemetery in Waynesboro, Georgia, but this is likely not his actual burial place.


(c) 2013 Skies of Blue and Gray