Wah Hoooo! What a weekend; the 145th Antietam is in the books. This was without a doubt a breath of fresh air to the reenacting experience. The weather was beautiful except a shower on Friday night, the site was absolutely awesome, the fights some of the best held lately, and the experience of the no pressure non-spectator format with it's ease of pace along with the great civilian activities combined for a great event.
We heard nothing but raves from the participants all weekend. Many comments like "The best event we have done all year", " Who needs mega events when you can do events like this?" We even got a comment from a commander that has been in the hobby since the sixties in regard to the Sunken Road. "This is the best battle I was ever in!"
Many of the participants took the time allowed from the early conclusion of the second battle on Saturday and went to tour Harper's Ferry, or Antietam battlefield, or went out to a leisurely dinner . There were 20 quality sutlers on site and all amenities were of the highest quality and were plentiful. At the end of the last battle on Sunday morning everyone packed up and was on the road home by 1:00 . The non-spectator event may never replace the other events but it is a great change of pace to do one just for us.
This event was such a rousing success that planning has already begun for a Chancellorsville event and will be held with the same format on the same weekend in September there on the Loudon Heights location in 2008 . Bill Raymond informs us that a unique addition will be added to the property to enhance the flavor of the event. A website should be up very soon . Update will follow as things develop.
Our thanks for everyone's support and we look forward to the next event there. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the hospitality of Bill and Mona Raymond and their hard work along with their staff to provide us all with a wonderful Civil War experience at their reenactors paradise.
Your Servant,
Edward L. Kelley Sr., Major General
Federal First Division
Birney's Division
Commanding
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