Battle Scenes Described for Annual Laurel Hill Reenactment Oct 3-4
September 25, 2009
The Battle scenes have been described for the Annual Living History and Reenactment at Laurel Hill, birthplace of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, CSA, located in Ararat, VA, Oct. 3-4, 2009 (described by Terry Shelton)
19th Annual Living History and Reenactment at Laurel Hill
The JEB Stuart Trust along with the 1st Regiment Kentucky Vol. Co E and 24th Virginia Infantry invite you to attend the 19th Annual Living History and Reenactment at Laurel Hill. Activities include Saturday night dance, music, lectures, Sunday morning church service, and military demonstrations. Amenities include firewood, straw, and water. Confederate and civilian registration is $8 with children 12 and under free. Registration deadline is August 1st. The registration after August 1st and walk-ons is $10. This year’s event will build on the improvements from last year, which resulted in one of the most successful reenactments in the event’s history. A $25 bounty will be paid for the first 4 Federal infantry companies with 20 men. Bounties paid to the first 10 cannons. Battles will include Cloyd's Mountain and Ream's Station.
Call  276-251-1833. Reenactors may contact event coordinator Terry Shelton; OldKentucky@embarqmail.com.
145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain – May 9, 1864
Union General George Crook led his 3 brigades into southwestern Virginia in May of 1864 to destroy the Tennessee and Virginia railroad. The only resistance was southern General Albert G. Jenkins’ scattered command which was deployed along the railroad. Jenkins, who had only assumed command the day before, decided to make a stand at Cloyd’s Mountain. He concentrated his forces there and established a very strong defensive position.
On May 9, the federal force arrived. General Crook decided against a frontal assault and moved his force, under cover of the heavy vegetation, against the confederate right flank. At a designated signal, three cannon shots, the brigade slammed into the confederate right flank. Realizing his flank was under danger of folding, Jenkins sent additional troops to strengthen the position. At the point the other 2 federal brigades struck headlong into the line.
The fighting was desperate and bloody. The right flank was overwhelmed by shear numbers and the rest of the line began to break. Jenkins attempted to rally his men, but was wounded and captured. At first the retreat was orderly but soon turned into confusion when 400 federal cavalry attacked. As the southerners streamed to the rear, the 5th Kentucky arrived from Saltville, moved forward through the retreating forces and held off the federals for an hour, giving the rest of the army the opportunity to escape.
The fight had been brief but very intense. Federal losses were put at 100 dead and 508 wounded. Confederate casualties were 72 killed and 200 captured or missing.
145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Ream’s Station – August 25, 1864
On August 25, 1864 federal troops under the command of Winfield Scott Hancock ordered his II Corps to continue destroying the Weldon railroad tracks near Ream’s Station, south of Petersburg. This vital railroad linked Petersburg to Wilmington, North Carolina the Confederacy’s last major seaport. Hancock’s troops had destroyed 3 miles of the railroad the previous day and intended on destroying the remaining 5 miles.
When Hancock received word that General Wade Hampton’s confederate cavalry was approaching he pulled his troops back into their earthworks. The confederate cavalry quickly pushed back federal cavalry.
Three brigades commanded by General A.P. Hill attacked the Union position twice only to be driven back. Meanwhile Hampton’s cavalry attempted to sweep around the union defense only to be stalemated by federal infantry. While these two engagements were in progress, federal army commander George Meade became concerned that Robert E. Lee was attempting to roll up his left flank. He repositioned troops from the area of the current battle to bolster his flank. Meade’s action thinned his defenses. Confederate artillery poured shot and shell into the federal lines. Confederate reinforcements arrived and the combined force of 6 brigades attacked at 5:30 PM.
Initially holding the southerners to a stand still, a gap was created when 2 federal regiments broke and ran. General Harry Heth personally led the attack. Try as he might, Hancock was unable to rally his men and the situation worsened when Hampton’s cavalry attacked the federal line to the south. At best, Hancock could only muster a brief counter attack that bought enough time to for a federal withdrawal. At this battle, Hancock suffered his greatest defeat as a Corps commander, loosing an estimated 3,000 killed, wounded or missing soldiers, 9 cannons and 12 stands of colors. Confederate loses were set at 700.
