As Walter has mentioned, our family and a few families from church visited Buchanan for their 2nd Annual Civil War Reenactment. It was such a blast!
Buchanan was the sight of a small battle where Union troops lead by General Hunter strove to capture the town – an engagement also known as “Hunter’s Raid”. The Confederate forces (lead mostly by calvary general McCausland) pushed them out of the town, and drove them eventually to Salem where Hunter was defeated.
From my point of view the Buchanan reenactment felt accurate! The added “coolness” of having calvary amidst the skirmishes was breathtaking! And of course having “General Lee” there was inspiring, if not accurate 
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I had worn a simple Victorian-ish dress for the first day, because I wanted to save my green civil war dress for the “big day” 
. We arrived at Buchanan early to attend a “Civil War Fashion Show” in a period inn/tea-room. We squished in with our friends, ate our colossal muffins, and enjoyed the show. In fact, we enjoyed it so much… we forgot to take many pictures . But E.M., Kasie and I kept nudging each other “Oooh! I like that!” “hey that looks like your dress…”
Jason with some of the kids, and another family from church arrived, so we grouped together and watched parade, and a town skirmish. It just so happened, that the side that was prohibited to bystanders, was the side with all the shade! That was the first time in 2 years that I got sunburn . Everyone kept asking me how I was “surviving” in my dress, but I felt just as cool (or hot) that I would have in normal clothes. I was pleasantly surprised how my hoop skirt kept me cool, and did fit through door ways
After the town skirmish, the troops headed to the river where the calvary and artillery had more freedom to “fight”. It was rather impressive to see them draw their horses into lines, and then charge into each other. They only smacked their sabers together to make a noise, but it was impressive all the same!
Yet after the battle, dark clouds threatened to storm, and we decided it was time to head home. Though not after we had first walked across the perilous suspension foot bridge! The bridge wasn’t at really dangerous, it just felt like the entire body was swaying at every step Kasie remarked that it felt like we were at sea!
We topped off the day with a BBQ and fellowship back at home. Although disappointed we couldn’t make it to the Confederate ball that evening, we had fun teaching each other English Country Dances on the deck! (That is, until the rain drove us inside 
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What an awesome weekend it was!
