Muskets and Memories

Book excerpt: "The early morning fog surrendered to the rising sun, as we marched into the wilderness. The last vestiges of civilization faded out of our sight, as the sunlight illuminated the woodland canopy and freshly blossomed trees that surrounded us."A quote from a Civil War soldier? A journal entry of a Civil War reenactor? Or both? With that simple statement, Jeffrey Williams begins his journal, and his journey through Civil War reenacting. In the pages that follow, he has skillfully woven historical information with present day reenacting.We are allowed to see moments of grandeur and moments of chaos. We see the realism of a medical demonstration, so well executed that the onlookers are made to realize the horror of war and its aftermath. We see the frustration of vehicles being stuck in the mud, supplies being short, tempers being short, and everything in general going wrong.This is the story of the American Civil War as told through the eyes of a veteran Civil War reenactor and historian. Whether you are a long-time reenactor, a beginner, or just someone who has a great interest in the history of the American Civil War, this book will cause you to laugh loudly sometimes, shake your head in bewilderment at other times, and smile knowingly when you "get the message." In the end, it will strengthen your faith in the overall goodness of mankind.