Cedar Creek Incident

[Duffy]

Figured I'd share what information I have about the bomb scare at the Cedar Creek reenactment this past weekend. I was there with the 24th North Carolina and around 4:00 pm Saturday after the battle, there was a "suspicious devise" found in one of the sutler tents. The police closed down the area and determined that it was in fact a pipe bomb. At first we were just instructed to lock down our camps, no cars or civilians were allowed in. First time I've stood a "legit" picket duty... Eventually, seeing as how the Confederate camp was right next to the sutlers, we were all evacuated to the Confederate parking lot.

They eventually bused the Confederates over the the local elementary school while the police investigated the pipe bomb and searched the camps. In the end, two devices were found; one was a soda bottle/can filled with nails, and the other was a pipe bomb with ball bearings. For whatever reason, when the police detonated the pipe bomb, it did not explode. Whether it was faulty wiring or some other reason, I do not know. Not sure what happened with the soda can either but everyone was cleared to reenter camp later Saturday night.

The ATF and FBI were there till Sunday afternoon and initially, everyone was informed that the event was cancelled. Eventually, at the insistence of all the reenactors, the event staff decided to still have the final battle even though the event was closed to the public. It was a battle, not against the Blue and the Gray, but against the cowards that wanted to try and stop us. The "battle" ended with both sides embracing one another, singing Dixie and the Star Spangled Banner, and finally a "USA USA!" chant.


https://www.facebook.com/logan.kline.79/videos/1752338271503241/

I was proud to be a part of this event. Thank God no one was hurt during this ordeal but in the end, we showed that we will not be intimidated by cowards who want to try and erase our history. The cowards that placed these devices placed them in an area with a lot of foot traffic, a child actually found the soda can bomb... I'm not sure if there have been any arrests yet, but I'll be keeping my ears open to hear of any more information.

One final note, while I know that not all of us here are reenactors, I would like to think that we all appreciate this period of history, no matter where you are from. As always I applaud the developers for taking on such a project and for keeping it historically accurate to the best of their abilities. Now more than ever, it is important that we remember the past so we can teach it, and so that mistakes made then, are not made again.

~Sully

[A. P. Hill]

Hmm.

Thanks for this bit of info. Sorry I didn't hear anything about the said incident.
Just makes one wonder what's wrong with people now days.

Glad all are safe, and that things were brought under control before anything serious happened.

[Duffy]

Here's the news that interviewed me after the battle - http://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/virginia-suspicious-device-reportedly-found-at-a-civil-war-reenactment-at-cedar-creek-battlefield/835769400

[Duke Of Longtree]

yah i had some friends up there its crazy

[TrustyJam]

Glad no one got hurt. :O

That is crazy. You don't overcome past issues by trying to forget they were ever a thing (in this case taken to the extreme by wanting to hurt those who do remember).

- Trusty

[JohnDewitt]

I'm glad no one got hurt and that the bombs were duds or fake.

You can't forget history and expect to overcome its hardships and difficulties that way. Especially not by drawing extra attention to it like this. All they're doing is reawakening feelings of distrust and division, among other sentiments. To target living history institutions means they want to subdue history with oppression and revision and not education. This instantly makes them the villains in this story. But there will always be those who want history to be forgotten or revised and will be willing to use oppression to do so. I believe "cultural Marxism" is the popular term for it nowadays.

I fear though that recent events surrounding the ACW history has polarized groups in the US beyond using reason. All these people are interested in now is shouting their opinion the loudest and shutting the other side up. That to me, being a "sober European", means the end of freedom, democracy and intellectual discourse. Without synthesis in reasonable discourse you only have a shouting contest with no winners. Only this cultural Marxism remains.

In their twisted fantasies terrorists always envision planting their explosives as to kill those they hate. They think the explosion will kill only those they wanted to kill. But the reality of non-linear warfare is always different and collateral damage is highest using these means. The aforementioned child picking up the soda bottle, etcetera, being my point in case. This makes them especially vile in their intentions as they take the huge risk of also harming those who aren't their targets for granted.





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[John Cooley]

Shameful ...
You don't build strength of muscle by lifting light loads nor strength of character by hiding our faults.
It is through adversity and past experience that we shrug off capricious boyhood and become men of Honor.

[David Dire]

A sickening act, whether politics are involved or not. I hope those who did this and any who want to do this are locked up.

[Duffy]

Shameful ...
You don't build strength of muscle by lifting light loads nor strength of character by hiding our faults.
It is through adversity and past experience that we shrug off capricious boyhood and become men of Honor.

Absolutely, the atmosphere at the event on Sunday was definitely one of defiance towards those who wished to scare us away.

[Extracrispi]

We had a similar bomb scare at Huntington Beach this year. Someone walked into the Confederate camp with a backpack and didn't have it on when they left. Thankfully nothing came of it.

mfw have to actually pay attention on guard duty now instead of getting drunk and telling gross stories to buddies.

7458

[Duffy]

They were supposed to be searching bags that were being brought in by the spectators. They had the Boy Scouts at some gates and other gates were not even being watched...

[A. P. Hill]

Got an Email today, from Regimental Quartermaster regarding this. (Here's a cut and paste hopefully.)

Hoax Device temporarily Halts Reenactment
On Saturday, October 14th, at 4p.m. a suspicious device was reported in Sutler Row shortly after the completion of the day's battle reenactment. Local authorities were called and quickly responded, evacuating all personnel from the area. The device was disrupted in a controlled method by authorities. No additional devices were found. While it did disrupt activities for the day, it was not successful in deterring reenactors, living historians or sutlers who had traveled so far to enjoy this annual event sponsored by the not for profit Cedar Creek Foundation.

We wanted to Send a Message... (Photo, [in article,] by Matt McClain/The Washington Post) (From the Washington Post) (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/we-wanted-to-send-a-message-reenactors-stage-civil-war-battle-despite-threat/2017/10/15/77dd0348-b1c4-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html?utm_term=.004d6d745555): Late Sunday morning, hundreds of Civil War reenactors concluded their battle on a rolling patch of grass 80 miles west of Washington.
In normal years, taps would be played and each side would march back to its tent encampments. But this was hardly a normal year. Last week, organizers announced they had received a letter threatening "bodily harm" to attendees. And Saturday, the battlefield had to be temporarily cleared because a suspicious device, possibly a pipe bomb, was found.

"U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" the reenactors began shouting, underscoring not just their sense of patriotism but the umbrage many felt at having their hobby dragged into the national debate over race and Confederate-era symbolism.

"We wanted to send a message," said Keith MacGregor, 56, from Lebanon, Pa., who was playing the role of a Union infantry captain for the reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek, held not far from here. "We wanted to show the U.S. that we aren't going to let some terrorist, or some nut, stop the event. I was never prouder of people in our hobby."
Before and after the minute-long "U.S.A." chant, the two sides who acted out the battle came together and thanked each other for coming - and for staying. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played and sung. So was "Dixie."

Perseverance
One takeaway we, and many of the participants we spoke with, took away from this weekend is that America's grit and determination remains strong. This will not deter us from continuing to bring history alive for Americans across this great nation. We have learned from this event and feel that we are stronger for it. Our thanks and congratulations to the reenacting and living history communities for helping to educate and keep our nation's history alive and relevant. May God continue to bless the United States of America and those who strive to keep us safe and secure.

Remembrance Day 2017
We hope that you will all join us in Gettysburg, on 18 November at 1p.m., to honor the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the American Civil War. The parade will step off at 1:00pm from LeFever Street and follow the traditional route to Liberty Street, turning left onto Middle Street, left again onto Baltimore, and finally onto Steinwehr Avenue. The parade will end at the Gettysburg National Military Park. The annual event is sponsored by the Sons of Veterans Reserve, the Military Department of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Military units and civilians interested in participating in the parade should contact Brig. Gen. Henry E. Shaw, Jr., Deputy Commander SVR by calling 740-369-3722 or email hshaw@columbus.rr.com..

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
- George Santayana

www.regtqm.com

[Oleander]

When I first heard about it I figured the bombs were fake, but I'm glad to see the police treated it seriously.