48th Alabama and then some.......

We arrived at the farm in Gettysburg where the reenactment was going to take place about an hour before dark. After pitching our Civil War era tent (remember, everything has to be from that period), unloading the truck and setting up camp, we deserved a long rest. It took us almost 15 hours to make the drive. Of course, we did stop to go site seeing for a couple of hours in Lexington Virginia, and we did stop at every rest stop along the way. You know, my bro shouldn't have let it slip that his six year old son liked to collect brochures and business cards from rest stops they visit. Merry Christmas Seth. Bwaaahaaahaaahaaahaaa!!!!!!!!

OK, now back to the visual stimulation from our camp site and from the reenactment.


This was one of the first observances I made after we got settled in. My new friends from Georgia and Tennessee had pitched their tent directly across from our tent. Just being in a period camp like this is weird enough, with all the period clothing, tents, supplies, and so forth, but when I walked up to this tent, the were discussing Obama running for President, laptop computers and software, and The Dave Matthews Band.
Is that surreal, or what?


We're talking taking period to the extreme. Here, a soldier is writing in his journal about the days activities. They live, eat, and sleep like they were back in 1863.



Every single time the 48th Alabama would line up for inspection before going to the battlefield, it would start raining. And raining. And raining.


And raining. And raining.


It did stop raining at times during each battle and I was beginning to think I was not going to be allowed to shoot. I was told to buy a ticket and shoot from the grandstands. Then I was told to walk back to the barn at the entrance to the campgrounds and get a photographers permit. After being rained on for the quarter mile hike back to the barn, I was told to go to the building where we registered and get a press pass. Huh? Didn't know I needed one of those and it's about a half mile away. In the rain. Luckily, I keep a towel on my monopod, so I covered my 400/2.8 and made the hike to registration. That's where they wanted to see my media credentials before allowing me to get a press pass. Huh? Then the lecture about how the organization is very protective about the image that the Gettysburg Historical Society wants to put out for the public to see. I waited and waited hoping the person assigning press passes would feel sorry for me. Sometimes that works. This time it didn't. I was told if I was caught on the battlefield with a camera, I would be escorted off. Off of where? The battlefield or the site?

Luckily, I have enough experience to know the limits (I think). I made my way along the tree line behind the artillery and got some decent images, but I was too far from the action to make anything decent.

The second day, I changed positions to a grove of trees on the opposite corner of the battlefield. This worked much better, but I was behind the good guys but not quite as far from the action.

Take a look.











And what would a Civil War reenactment be without some beautiful Southern Belles?


Did you ever wonder what they did way back there one hundred and forty-five years ago for fun?
They played frisbee with their hats.

Shootin' Yankees with the Hardee Guard

OK.....this is actually the first post in a trilogy of this past weeks adventures with my brother and some of his friends who are Civil War reenactors.

Before this trilogy is over, I hope everything is in chronological order. Knowing how I am around technology.....well, we'll see.

We traveled to Gettysburg Pennsylvania for the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg where over 35,000 Confederate and Union forces lost their lives. The battle was fought over three days, July 3 - 5, in 1863. We toured the battle field at the Gettysburg National Military Park, with Dewayne acting as our tour guide. Dewayne was fortunate enough, several years ago, to have worked on a documentary that was filmed on this battle field and was the most excellent guide we could have got for free.

Below are some of the images from the 2008 Gettysburg reenactment and our trip to the Gettysburg National Military Park.


The 48th Alabama is ready for inspection, sir!!!!



Captain Mac inspects the 48th Alabama before leading them into battle.




Goin' into battle.



Captain Mac leads the 48th Alabama through the farm towards the field where the reenactment of the 'Gallant Rally at the Klingle Farm' is to be played out.



Matt, DeWayne, and Phill in full dress at the Alabama Memorial at the Gettysburg National Military Park.



Someone earlier in the morning had left a list with the names, companys, and fates of several Alabama soldiers.



Captain Mac is portraying the Andrew O'Sullivan images of 'Confederate Sharpshooter.
I can't believe he laid down in the mud to do this!!!



Private tour guide DeWayne describing how the good guys advanced across the open fields and how the Union troops got their advantage as Matt and Phill look on. The rock wall behind them is where the Confederate forces breached the Union lines before being overwhelmed. 12,000 Confederate forces from the 'Army of Northen Virginia' started across the open field, but only about 200 made it to this point.



A camera pointing crew was at the reenactment all weekend filming the events for an upcoming movie. Here one of the camera pointers is filming the Hardee Guard Batallion, which the 48th Alabama is a part of.



The 48th Alabama had the honor of being host to a couple of Australian reenactors who had decendants that fought for the south at Gettysburg. Here, the 48th Alabam is awarded an Australian flag by the Aussie reenactors.



The Aussie flag with the Hardee Guard.



Here are the Hardee Guard officers with the Aussie flag.

Sorry for the delay.......

OK, I know it's been a long time since my last post, but i've had something I had to do. I've been bizzy, bizzy, bizzy, bizzy, bizzy.......OH KAY?

I did not intend for it to go this long between post, it just happened that way.

Get over it. I'm still here and I ain't goin' nowhere.

Here is just a little visual taste of this past weekend.


We started the weekend off at a fine local dining establishment in Jacksonville named 'JEFFERSONS' for the wings and maybe a few LandSharks with Michael, Paula, and Auburn. One of the first things you notice when you walk in JEFFERSONS is all of the signed, painted, and redesigned U.S. currency that is tacked on every square inch of every wall and most of the ceiling.


Wings.....uummmmmmm


Auburn learned quickly.......


This was actually on Sunday when we went to see the other babies. There might me just a touch of sibling rivilery going on.


Now I am doubleteamed. They think I should wear their daddy's Army hat he wore when he was deployed in Afgahnistan. I don't think I'm worthy of that honor.


Which brings me to Saturday's activities. Me and a friend went to the WERA motorcycle race at the Talladega Grand Prix track a few miles from here. He had never shot bikes before and I went to give him a few pointers and to keep my skills up. This here is one of the bikes sponsered by the owners of the track.


just a shot I liked.....nothin' special.


i'm not sure he's following the rest of the crowd........


just an artsy type image I was trying to get.......not bad!

ditto......


everyone loves a winner


just another random bike image


After the motorcycle races during the middle of the day, me and momma had weekend and VIP passes for the annual Birmingham street festival or CITY STAGES. I noticed this sunset while waiting for adult beverages in the VIP area. Too bad we didn't get there earlier, they quit serving food at 6 pm. MAJOR BUMMER!!!!!


The only good thang to come out of missing the free food was this image I shot while making friends and waiting in line at one of the consession trailors.


I like it...for some reason, it just appeals to me.


Because we were late and had to find greasy nourishment, this is as close to the stage as we could get. That's Motown star Al Green on stage on the bottom right. You do see him, right? You don't? We didn't either. Thats why we left. We couldn't even see the video screens.


just another shot of borred people that can't see the stage


street venders selling all kinds of shit


Birmingham officials had to be proud because of the very large attendance of this years CITY STAGES. We were frustrated because there were too many drunks, people running into and over you as you stood watching the bands, and people joined at the lips (get a room)!


After we left the area where Al Green was performing, we went to another stage where blues artist Buddy Guy was playing. WOW!!!!!! This old man can wear a guitar out!!!!And it's pretty cool when he would talk about how Jimmie Hendrix would 'borrow' his songs. We stuck around at this stage the longest, and we did get to see him on stage, but we had a better view of him on the video screen.

Oh well, that was my weekend. Do you think you could keep up? I can still handle most of it, but i'm getting too old to fight the crowds at places like CITY STAGES.

I promise you I will not go that long again between post.