Have you ever visited a cemetery and wondered about the lives of those buried there. All we see are names and dates. Some headstones have an epitaph, but it doesn't tell us much. This is especially true of National Cemeteries, where each headstone is identical and set in regimental alignment. After researching for my book, My Dear Emma, and learning more of my husband's relative buried there, I became intrigued with the idea of learning about the others interred there during the same time frame.
     So I began what has become an almost three year project... researching about 850 Civil War soldiers buried at the Richmond National Cemetery. After spending months researching and reviewing the data, I was intrigued with the stories that I discovered. So many soldiers' lives were impacted by the war, and so many of their family members they left behind as well.  I was saddened to hear of the children of these soldiers and what became of them. Some families were dismantled due to the hardship of the mothers trying to raise a family on their own.  One soldier never made it home due to  missing discharge paperwork. He wallowed in pain in his hospital bed, and begged his wife to help him get home. Sadly, the paperwork never came in time and he perished.
There were two soldiers, from Iowa, who enlisted into different units and managed to survive the war but ended up dying in an unexpected way while marching home. 
     So many stories - so much sadness and yet, so much has been discovered that needs to be shared. The result is my newly published book, Stories Beneath the Stones: Richmond National Cemetery.

Kudos to the folks from Henrico County who spent two long years putting together this wonderful commemoration this weekend of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle for New Market Heights. Over one thousand re-enactors gathered on a farm in the southeast corner of the county to share their knowledge of life during the Civil War and specifically the battle for Fort Harrison and New Market Heights which took place September 26-28. 

These re-enactors came from as far away as California, New York and Ohio to help turn the experience for viewers into one that took my breath away.  The county had made sure the re-enactors as well as the viewing audience were accommodated. They spend months with the landscape to build a mock-up of Fort Harrison and earthworks and fallen tree lines to assist the re-eactors with the battle simulation.  Crowd control is important in events such as these so no one is injured and yet one roped off area allowed viewers to sit so that the battle was on three sides of them as they watched the battle scenario.  Loud speakers announced ahead of time what we were about to witness. 

Nearby an area was set up for the sutlers.  During the war, these were traveling stores so the men could purchase much needed supplies. As a spectator wandering through these areas allows you to see what camp life was all about.  I spoke with a photographer who explained how the process of making the film and taking the photo was during that time. So much different than a simple push of a button to take a digital photo.  I chatted with a map maker who explained the process he used to draw on a piece of fabric.  His finished products were pieces of artwork.  

If you ever have a chance to view a Civil War encampment and simulated battle - please take the time to do so.