[VAcourier] Article on Dixie Days

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

Civil War re-enactment draws crowd despite heat

The Mechanicsville Local
http://www.mechlocal.com/index.php/news/article/civil_war_re_enactment_draws_crowd_despite_heat1/
By Ken Odor
Jun 12, 2007

Controversy of years past seems to have waned for now

They usually go to the Ashland Strawberry Faire, said Kathy Gallagher, 
as she and her husband Mark waited for the start of the Battle of 
Gaines' Mill re-enactment last Saturday at "Dixie Days."  But this 
weekend the Ashland couple decided to check out the fourth annual 
staging of the Civil War event at Pole Green Park.
"I stable my horse off 360 near here and saw the sign," said Kathy, " so 
we decided to come," despite the fact that neither she nor her husband 
are Civil War buffs.
There were plenty of Civil War enthusiasts on hand, however, both among 
the spectators and the re-enactors.

<>A new attraction this year was a reproduction of the Confederate 
submarine "Hunley," built largely by John Dangerfield of Charleston, 
S.C. The original Hunley sank a Union ship in Charleston harbor in Feb, 
1864, and then promptly sank itself, killing the eight-man crew. It was 
located and raised in 2000.   Dangerfield, a retired marine machinist, 
said he decide to build the full sized replica after working as a 
volunteer for "Friends of the Hunley."   "I'm spending my retirement on 
the submarine," he said, as he talked to visitors explaining how the 
machine was powered by a hand crank turned by the crew.   He said his 
replica was constructed mostly from scrap metal, with most of the money 
coming out of his own pocket.   But Dangerfield said it's worth it.   
"It's fun. I get to see the country. I've been from Delaware to 
California," he said. He's booked through 2008 and has some appearances 
already scheduled for 2009. 

The current "Dixie Days" re-enactment event seemed to have escaped the 
controversy that dogged it in past years, when Hanover Parks and 
Recreation was a co-sponsor and Hanover Schools sent students on field 
trips to the event. A few parents protested, and newspaper columnists 
chimed in criticizing the event's name.
Now Hanover County and schools have bowed out, merely allowing event 
organizers to use Pole Green Park as the event site.   That's the way 
one of the major organizers, Andy Smith, a member of the Edmund Ruffin 
Fireeaters chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), prefers 
it.  "We're just trying to make it a fun event for everybody," said 
Smith. "It's about the history."   Smith said about 200 re-enactors took 
part this year, with about 50 horses.   "We've established ourselves 
now," said Smith, saying the relationship with Parks and Recreation is 
excellent.

Saturday's battle demonstration focused on the first part of the 1862 
Gaines' Mill battle, part of the Seven Days campaign in which Gen. 
Robert E. Lee eventually turned back Union Gen. George McClellan.   
Initially the Federals repulsed repeated Confederate attacks, but 
finally the southerners prevailed, driving the Union army into retreat, 
thwarting McClellan's drive up the peninsula toward Richmond. Each side 
suffered heavy casualties, but Lee's attacks discouraged McClellan and 
he abandoned the campaign.   Some historians believe a more aggressive 
Union general could have captured the southern capital had he 
persevered, despite the vigorous Southern resistance.

Among the booths was one manned by Keith Morris, of the " Isle of Wight 
Avengers" chapter of SCV.   His mission was to get folks to sign up for 
a Robert E. Lee commemorative DMV license plate. With 309 pre-orders he 
needed 41 more before the July 31 deadline, or else the plate will not 
be manufactured.   With plates for Friends of Tibet and Jimmy Buffet's 
"Parrothead" fans, Morris thinks a Lee plate is highly appropriate.   
"I'm very optimistic," said Morris, "Everyone respects Robert E. Lee," 
he said.   Information on ordering a plate can be found at 
http://www.scvva.org.


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