Minooka, IL - 20 to 22 Oct 2006

This was us at our first event that we did together as family in period dress. This was taken near the 26th North Carolina Co. G camp at Dollinger Farms near Minooka, Illinois. Don't we all look great?! Bethany made all that you see us wearing except my uniform and her dress. And that rifle is an actual Civil War relic that one of the guys brought to the event that day.

This is a neat blog header that Bethany made up for her blog shortly after the event.

Tom and Joe dressed and ready for their first event that cold Saturday morning!

Jake looks pretty good in his outfit here. It is funny to see his clothes because all that remains a year later is his shirt and haversack! Uncle Fan is in the background, playing catch up to reinforce his buttons on his shell jacket.

Wow, look at how little Jimmy is here?! But he, too, was looking good for his first event, even if he wasn't too sure of what he was doing!

And here I am, doing what I did a lot this weekend...reinforce buttons on outfits. I'm trying to get Nathaniel's suspenders all ready to wear. There is a lot of force on those buttons as you go about the day.

And here is my sweet Eme. Actually, she got to dress up at Lockport in September. But she is wearing her first homemade dress. Doesn't she look great?!

Here we are lined up for drill. Nathaniel and I are next to Capt. Paul, the big tall guy next to the tree.

Here we are, still waiting to go out to drill. Jake is waiting for his first taste of the action.

This is a very nice pic of Jake here. I'm not sure if he really is excited to go out, or if would rather be back at camp messing around.

This is a real nice pic of the guys just lounging around prior to battle. It is easy for me to imagine what the boys must have looked like back in the day!

And here are some of the boys of Co. G, 26th NC. You'll note Bill standing there on the left, and next Darrel, Rich, Daniel and Layton

Here is little Joe during the battle on the sidelines. I guess when you are short, it is tough to enjoy the battle. I think he is contemplating his escape. Just after this, he decided to walk back to camp on his own after the battle was over. Well, there were several hundred spectators here, and everyone was streaming back down the hill. After 20 minutes or so, he was found in one of the other camps. Phew...what a scare for Mom & Dad at their first family event!

Here is Eme being a good big sister to Jimmy.

Won't be long, Tom, and you'll be able to get in on the action too!

Here is a good example of an artillery crew. Typically, there are 2-4 pieces a side at an event, especially one as large as Minooka.

Here is an nice pic of the brigade. You can see the public is close to the action at Minooka. In reality, there aren't as close as it looks here, but still, people get to see the actions, the smoke, the rumble of the cavalry riding by and the huge booms of the artillery. It hooked me at my first time out!

The signal tower...it looked pretty rickety to me, but it sure looked cool.

Jake running message from Captain Paul to the colonel on the field.

This is one of my favorite civil war pics. Jake is calmly walking in front of the dismounted cavalry skirmishers. Of course, I doubt during the real War Between the States, that this would have been a common sight! But nonetheless, I like the layout of this pic alot, with the smoke floating above the skirmishers.

Here is George, back at camp on Sunday, cleaning his rifle. Much of what I know of cleaning the rifle is what he taught me this weekend. George was one of our families favorite guys from the Co. G of the 26th. Thanks much, George, for all your kindness to our family!

Here is Bethany being a real trooper on a cold, wet October day in Northern Illinois. She had to hold little Jimmy here much of the day. She is working hard to make the most of it. Not too many wives would enjoy doing this, let alone put up with all the hassle. I admire your dedication to teaching the kids right on American history (and the public). And of course, I appreciate all your support of me to do this great hobby!

Here is another nice pic of Jake waiting to go out on the field. He is borrowing Lt. Matt's shell jacket here to stay warm. It was quite cold that day!

Here is a pic of Lt. Matt trying to blow some heat back into his hands that frosty morning prior to drill. I am just to his left, looking forward.

Here is Matt's wife, reading a story to one of our little ones (Joe it appears). She was a great help to Bethany that weekend with a bit of respite here and there with the kids so they weren't all hanging off Mom!

Little Eme...always having fun!

Little Jimmy likes to smile and have fun, too!

Again, here is Bethany holding that turkey Jim! He was still heavy back then, even though he was only 14 months old!

There is a goofy Jacob face!

Here Nathaniel and I are at the end of the event. This is a nice pic I think. Too bad Nathaniel didn't make it to any of the events that we went to in Illinois in 2007. This was only his second event. And he didn't get to fire the rifle because he was the color guard. That and the Yankees changed the plans during the battle so he didn't even get to defend the colors as was scripted. Dern Yankees!

The gallant soldiers!

Here I am with Joe, Nathaniel and Tom in front of General Price's flag, otherwise known as the Missouri Battle Flag. I didn't know you could buy it at this point. A few months later, I would buy my own. Joe (Joseph Guild Harty) and Nathaniel (Joseph) are both named after our ggGreat Grandfather, Joseph Guild Lewis who fought for Missouri and the Confederacy during the War Between the States. He was the 2nd Lieutenant of Cos. A & B of the 8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment. He and other veterans of the War are one of the chief reasons why we do re-enacting in the first place.

Here is one of my favorite pics of me...standing proudly in front of the unfurled Missouri Battle Flag!