My son portrayed various Union officers, whereas I portrayed a senator’s wife at the First Battle of Manassas.
(My daughter did not participate this time, her choice, since she was busy with college.)
Throughout the presentation these CDs helped us set the mood.
I purchased Hard Times a few years ago when I met these wonderful musicians at a special Battle of Hampton Roads weekend at the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia.
The man playing the banjo is the Colonial Williamsburg historian, Carson Hudson, who wrote the book, Civil War in Williamsburg.
Whereas that book is all about the southern town of Williamsburg which is partially occupied by federal troops and the southern perspective, this CD is all about Stephen Foster’s music, giving us a bit of the northern touch, which we played as background music during “the picnic.”
Bugle calls were used extensively in the history of military engagement.
Because of some unique history of bugles during the Civil War, we decided to showcase it for our presentation.
Hence the other CD of bugle calls was used to announce the change of course in each aspect of the program.
BUGLE CALL – ASSEMBLY
Presenting a Washington DC senator’s wife…
On the morning of July 21, 1861, we received news of a battle in Manassas, the first land battle of the war.
Certain that this battle would result in a quick Union victory, many of the congressmen and their wives joined us in traveling with us by coach on this lovely morning to Manassas for a picnic to watch the excitement.
The travel would be long, about five hours to travel about 30 miles.
We packed plenty of food for our picnic, since we would certainly be hungry after the long ride.
As we passed the sentry into Northern Virginia, we saw many poor homes, boarded up, and a few slaves and slave owners, all poor.
At one point we saw a Pennsylvania regiment marching northward, with whom we chatted about the battle.
While hearing the booming of cannons in the distance, they said they were walking home to Pennsylvania since their enlistment was up.
What a contrast the noise and smoke from the battle was to the otherwise tranquil rolling farmland that met our gaze, set amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains, in shadings of blue and purple against the sky.
Optimistically, one lady exclaimed that we’d be chasing the rebels to Richmond that night.
{{{These details from the account of a British reporter, William Howard Russell, who traveled from DC to view the First Battle of Manassas.}}}
BUGLE – MESS CALL
We recreated the picnic at Manassas for our dinner.
From the British journalist’s account, I learned they picnicked on sandwiches, tea, and wine, and from a smaller account, I read that there was also pie, and that a Washington DC socialite picnic was more upscale than a southern family picnic.
I chose an old quilt I had sewn years ago for the tablecloth.
For the picnic we merely filled a crock with tea and water and allowed it to brew in the back of the coach under the July sun.
Our picnic also included a tomato mozarella black olive lemon salad, lobster salad, rosemary bread, cheese crackers, honey, and peach butter.
The honey was in a sealed jar, and the peach butter (which I had canned last autumn) was in a mason jar.
Apparently, mason jars were invented previous to the Civil War…and apparently at the encouragement of Napoleon who said, “An army travels on its stomach.”
He offered a monetary award for any brilliant ideas to improve preservation techniques.
For dessert we had peach pie.
The flowers represented Decoration Day.
During dinner, Alban Stimers told us his story (although not in exact period costume for a sailor.)
Stimers was chief engineer of the USS Monitor, the infamous ironclad who battled the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) in the Battle of Hampton Roads.
It was fascinating hearing the story of the history of ironclad building…dating back centuries before this!
For his interpretation, my son read Monitor Chronicles, published by the Mariner’s Museum.
Also, when we visited Mariner’s Museum, someone gave him a craft project to recreate the Monitor.
My son also showcased his bosun’s whistle.
BUGLE CALL – RETREAT!
The Confederates are upon us! Flee! One of the congressmen was captured and taken prisoner to Richmond, the capital of the confederacy.
We returned to Washington DC (the family room) in great haste, where we met General Daniel Butterfield.
While he was encamped with his men near Williamsburg at Berkely Plantation, birthplace of President William Henry Harrison, he asked a bugler to help him change the tune of taps.
Although Napoleon liked the original Taps best of all the bugle calls, it did not meet with the approval of Butterfield.
Butterfield whistled a tune for the bugler to play, and together they composed Taps as we know it today.
During the war it was common for the military to fire three volleys at the funeral of their fellow comrades.
However, after the heat of one battle, the officer was concerned that the volleys would call the enemy back to battle, so instead of the volleys he asked the bugler to play the recently revised Taps, which eventually was played at miliary funerals.
Later the playing of Taps and the firing of three volleys became part of the traditional funeral service of a military member…a time-honored tradition that continues on Memorial Day, as well.
BUGLE CALL-CEASE FIRE
Another interesting story about the First Battle of Manassas, is the story of the McClean family whose house was hit by cannon during the battle.
Legend tells that because of that, they moved south, away from the war, to Appomattox Courthouse…where Generals Lee and Grant signed the surrender papers in their parlor!
According to the NPS though, the McLeans would have made the move regardless of the cannon ball hitting their house because of the economy.
Nevertheless, it is an interesting story that comes full circle!
BUGLE CALL-RUFFLES AND FLOURISHES
Although bugles played Ruffles and Flourishes for heads of state in Europe and for generals as early as the 18th century (it’s in General von Steuben’s manual), it wasn’t used for the president until the end of the 19th century for President McKinley.
Nevertheless, we decided to use it for Lincoln, to tell his story which sadly ended in assassination.
Reformation for the south would have been greatly eased if Lincoln had lived.
Malice towards none, charity toward all. -Abraham Lincoln
