Tony Fischer Photography / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

I have been to many Civil War reenactments in my time, and have a particular fondness for the details that are attended to in such events. The characters play their parts thoroughly even when it is apparent others are not watching. I have even interviewed the characters to get their “Story”.

My book, An Unexpected Performance, is filled with some of my research done at Civil War reenactments.

If you get a chance to check out a reenactment this summer, do it. You will learn a lot of living history.

Here are a few this month:
May 17-18
Tennessee
Reenactment, “Affair at Travisville,” at the Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park. Camps and living history. Battles each day. http://affairattravisville.com/

Virginia
Anniversary commemoration of the last major attacks on the Spotsylvania battlefield near Fredericksburg. http://www.nps.gov/frsp/sesquicentennial.htm

Michigan
“Branch County Civil War Days,” at Heritage Park in Coldwater. Living history camps, tours and demonstrations, train rides, music and a Saturday evening ball. Free for camp activities, fee for train rides. Complete details: http://www.cwcwmi.com/civil-war-days.html