"They don't need the police and fire departments. They aren't trying to put their kids though county schools," Campi said. "These are the kind of persons localities want to attract."

A Civil War Preservation Trust study found that tourists at seven battlefields it studied (including Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, Shiloh in Tennessee, and Virginia's New Market and Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania sites) generated nearly $157 million in total visitor expenditures last year, and $22.4 million in local and state tax revenues.

Civil War sites are the destinations of about 11.5 percent of visits to history-rich Virginia, according to a 2003 state tourism study.

State tourism officials are "delighted to see preservation groups seeing tourism as economic development, something we've obviously advocated for many years," Virginia Tourism Corp. director Martha Steger said.

This May, Spotsylvania County spent $250,000 for the restaging of the bloody Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The two weeks of fighting between the troops of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Gen. Robert E. Lee in May 1864 left about 18,000 Union soldiers and about 12,000 Confederates killed, wounded or missing.

The three-day event drew 4,000 re-enactors and 10,000 paying spectators to the area, said Henry "Hap" Connors Jr., vice chairman of the county's board of supervisors.

Doug Barnes, deputy county administrator, said the re-enactment cost $40,000 more than it took in, but sales and meals taxes and merchandise sales have yet to be fully measured. Also, he said, the re-enactment was "more of a future marketing tool," which has translated into visitors' increased interest in the area.

"We are trying to show people that preservation and heritage tourism make for good economic development," Connors said. "We don't need to pave over battlefields to put big-box stores on them -- we need to instead look at these historic and cultural treasures as opportunities to create new economic-development opportunities."

The first-time county sponsorship was a prelude to other events, including plans to commemorate the battle's sesquicentennial in 2014, Connors said.

Connors sees historical preservation as a way to stem sprawl, but added that he and other slow-growth advocates aren't necessarily at odds with developers.

"I'm not opposed to anybody making money, but we are starting to let them know what we want," he said. "We're starting to negotiate from a position of strength. We have tools available to manage this growth and we're starting to use them."

In Kentucky, state officials budgeted $10,000 to host the Battle of Perryville re-enactment on October 9-10, said Kurt Holman, manager of the Perryville Battlefield historical site.

"Port-a-johns are the biggest single bite," Holman said. Musicians, hay for tents and horses, and overtime and lodging for park rangers also were among the expenses.

About 5,900 spectators attended and 800 re-enactors came to Perryville this year, up from about 4,700 last year, state park officials said. Each overnight guest spends nearly $91 in the area; a day visitor about $39, according to Kay Berggren, executive director of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Perryville re-enactors also pay a registration fee, but Holman said that money goes directly to the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association.  Campi said many government officials are starting to realize that "when you preserve a significant portion of the battlefield, people will come and see it. There's been a real upsurge in visits to historic sites like battlefields."

Such "heritage tourists" tend to have more money and are willing to spend it, he said. Many of them are retirement age, and have the time to stay in the community for more than a day.

But the key to preserving history for future generations is making the Civil War relevant or "cool" to young people, said Rob Hodge, a re-enactor and co-founder of Wide Awake Films, which coordinated Spotsylvania's event in May and produces Civil War footage.

"You have to get to the children when you're talking about such a significant event. Even if it's 140 years old you have to look at why it resonates in the 21st century," Hodge said.

The question is "How do you make it viable -- how do you make it a competitor to the addiction to sports or the addiction to survival shows?" he said. "Cutting-edge technology might be the savior of the past."

The nation suffers from "a great cultural amnesia," Hodge said.  "it's our job, our mission, to try to breathe life into some of these things that collect dust."

Lt. Col. Riker wrote..........Just a quick note to say that the reenactors  donated $350.00 toward the purchase of an automatic defibrillator and pulse oximeter.  Then the spectators and Mr. Clay Townsend pitched in another $400.00 to make the total for the weekend $750.  The total raised to date should be enough to purchase the first unit and show corporations that we, the reenacting community are committed to being sure we have this life saving equipment at events.  If you would like to learn more about this interesting, life saving machine click on the link here. 

http://www.medical.philips.com/main/products/resuscitation/assets/docs/FINALOnsite_PR-Rev_2-01.18.05.pdf  My thanks to everyone who helped with all the medical emergencies this weekend.  Several people stepped up and served others very well.  Please remember it is not just me, by myself, there are always very dedicated medical professionals available on both sides in an emergency.  Just yell out medic and they will come running to your aid.  My thanks also go out to my Federal counterparts: Tom, John, Mitch and Mary; the Alabama volunteer staff with Tammie, Judith, and all Hardy's own crew with special thanks to Ruth, Kate, Dani, Roxanne, and all the others who stepped up and joined the cause.

 

Mount Dora Townsend Battle

January 28, 29 and 30th 2005

by Jill Wilson

 

Saturday started off sunny in Montverde but chilly in Mt. Dora, what a surprise the event is only 26 miles from home,  so much easier starting off at home base with our four year old daughter Sarah!   Sarah and I were on our own after Dad and Junior, Wesley Wilson Sr. and Jr. with 5th Fl. Co. G. artillery, left early Saturday for Drill, and we attended the ladies tea at 11:00 am in the pavilion.  What a nice group of ladies hosted the event.  They are members of the 37th Alabama Co. H. of Hardy's Brigade group.  They had a beautiful table full of cookies, cakes and breads along with tea.   Sarah was happy she was able to participate in the demonstration of the parlor games the ladies taught the group,  everyone really enjoyed learning about the old time games that we still play today with different names, here is a sample of one of the games we played called The Ribbons    

 

 

 

 

 

  The rules are easy so everyone including small children can participate.  Pictured above are the participants playing the old time version of Simple Simon that kids still play today.

 

Next we caught up with Wesley Jr. manning a cannon for the 5th Fl. Kilcrease artillery and we brought him lunch.  He was full of excitement waiting for that day’s battle to begin.

Wess Wilson Jr. is pictured above with the limber and ammo box of the

5th Fl. Kilcrease artillery (Hardy's Brigade) 3" ordnance rifle

Later my daughter Sarah and I went home for a short rest and to prepare for the Company Dinner and Ball that night.   Dressed for the ball we attended the Company Dinner, what a great group of people with the 5th Fl. Co. G., I., and the Kilcrease artillery!   They are a warm, happy group that really love each other!  It really reminded me of how people must have been back in the 1860's.

Below is a photograph of the cake Sarah and I made during our preparation before the Company dinner.

I was full of joy, to hear how much fun my son Wesley Wilson Jr.  had with the artillery group that day during the battle.   Wesley Sr. said they actually had to push the cannon and rushed forward with the huge full size cannon about 70 yards, I wish I had seen that, that must have looked really dramatic!  Jr. said it was thrilling to see a Confederate Cavalryman and a Union Soldier dramatically fight with gun and pistol, ending with the Confederate leaning down from his horse taking aim and then shooting him.

 

On to the Ball Saturday night, once again hosted by the 37th Alabama Co. H. (Hardy's Brigade) group.  How nice they had this organized with drinks, sodas and water…once again I’m amazed at the generosity at the free Dances with wonderful music that we attend here in Florida!   Sarah was attached at the hip to the beautiful Crystal Niles Pvt. with Florida’s 5th Co. G. Cavalry and wants to dance every dance with Crystal.  Crystal is so accommodating to Sarah.

 

Crystal, Sarah and Jill are pictured above at the ball.

What a joy when General Hardy came by our group and shook hands with his men and then kissed my hand like a true gentleman!   What an honor to have my family fight with him!

 

Sunday started off as a cold day but then turned nice around noon.  Sarah and I dressed in our spectator clothes decided to visit the Flea Market, Antique Mall and Sutlers.  Then it was time for Company pictures the group looked so authentic I couldn’t wait to see the pictures, Photographer Kathy Heitman (The Picture Lady) did a really nice job setting everyone up for the picture.

The Killcrease Artillery with 5th FL.

 

Later that day the second battle started and Junior remarked he was amazed to see Lt. Colonel Niepert actually sword fight on horse back with a Union Calvary soldier WOW that must have really been exciting for both the crowd and the group, Jr. remarked Col. Niepert actually received a standing ovation for this feat!  Another thrilling event was when the 37th Alabama Confederate Officer shot the remaining six including his Color guard when he saw most of his regiment had been wiped out, how sad.  

 

These are just a few of the numerous highlights from this year’s event.   Mount Dora 2005 proved to be a memorable battle for us, showing how reenacting can help us remember our ancestors who fought with such bravery!  If you missed this event this year, plan to attend next year you will be glad you did. 

 

Jill Wilson

United Daughters of the Confederacy

Member with Florence Collier Chapter

Chapter since 1922  

 

Poem.......Wesley Wilson Sr. (5th Florida - Hardy's Brigade) wrote the following poem about the battle at Townsend's Plantation.........

 

May 14 - A flatboat, with 225 bushels of corn, by the Fort Henry.

May 22 - Sloop Isabella, no cargo, by the Fort Henry.

May 24 - Sloop Fashion, 49 bales of cotton, by the Fort Henry.

May 31 - Schooner Echo, 125 bales of cotton, by the Sunflower.

June 1 - A scow, 56 bales of cotton, by Fort Henry.

June 3 - A lighter, 39 bales of cotton, by the Fort Henry and Beauregard.

June 6 - Schooner Statesman, 50 - 75 bales of cotton, by the Tahoma.

June 13 - Pushmatakaha, some loose cotton, by the Sunflower.

"Orderly Sergeant C. Nugent superintended the work with skill and zeal.  On the 11th instant she was manned by 6 of the guard of this vessel and sent in charge of Sergeant Nugent to the Withlacoochee with orders to watch for the appearance of the Frolic."