The 2006 American Heritage Festival

Notes from

Teachers, Students, Families & Living Historians

Hats off to the American Heritage Festival and everyone who worked so hard to put it together!!!

I took 65 students from two different schools to the American Heritage Festival. I heard nothing but terrific comments from students and parents upon our return to school.

We researched the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and many great Americans before we went to the Festival so they had an idea of what they were going to see. It was much more than they expected and helped to make this part of American history more meaningful to them.

The week after our wonderful adventure at the AHF we put our research and our experiences together to write about what we had learned.

George and Martha Washington and three lovely young ladies were gracious enough to visit the students and their parents at our school. What a wonderful finale to our adventure. We hope to do it again next year!

I can’t thank you enough for making history come alive for my students!

Pam

Gifted Teacher

Queen Creek, Arizona

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Dear Scott and Family,

You, your wife and children have once again provided the time, place and opportunity for reenactors and people of like mind to share the wonders of understanding the history of our great country.

In my almost 14 years of reenacting I have yet to find an event equal to it in tolerance, love of people and history such as you have provided these last 4 years.

I hope that I will be able to sustain the integrity and high level of presentation that you and your friends have created. That is my challenge to myself in the future.

May you and yours have a glorious holiday season. God Bless

Your servant,

Don L.

Civil War Reenactor

in the persona of R. E. Lee

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Hello, Genl. George Washington
I had a great time in American Heritage Festival.
I joined the Civil War reenactment two times and WW2 PTO reenactment battle.
Exactly! under the star filled skies of Queen Creek. It was very nice
view. I saw shooting star sometimes. I was lucky.
It became very good commemoration for me. I was very happy.
Thank you very much.
See you next time.

Best greetings from Japan

Taichoh

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My Friend,

Thank you so much for taking HM 20th Regiment of Foote under your wing and showcasing our unit. Hopefully our numbers will grow for future educational opportunities at the AHF. As I've said before, If not for you there really would not be reenacting in the scope that it has now grown to in this state and the naysayers would still be trying to run things here. Your dream has passed to so many people that I see it as a blessing upon all of us that the reenacting and living history community has grown and will continue to touch new people and grow even further. I will always honor you sir, and you have my true felt respect, gratitude and humble obedience in all matters.

I Remain YMO&HS,

Sjt. Dasdard - HM 20th Regiment Of Foote

Commander - 1745 Jacobite Society

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Lord Scott – Without your contributions to reenacting in the last several years, I may have lost interest and stopped all together, and I thank you for that.

May you and your family have a most wonderful and beloved celebration of the birth of our Lord.

Your friend and Humble Servant,

Mike

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Dear Sir & Madame,

I would like to extend a warm thank you for the wonderful time my wife and I had at your recent event. The one theme that stands out in my mind is unselfish service. Balls and events such as the American Heritage Festival are no small feat to accomplish besides providing a source of enjoyment to all who come and an opportunity for service for reenactors. In particular, as I watch the beads of sweat roll off your brow I am reminded of the energy and sacrifice that is required in order to truly serve others and make dreams become a reality. I recently read a section in a book called "The Rhythm of Life" written by Matthew Kelly that described how people today are reduced by minimalism (getting by doing the least they can) rather than asking what is the most they can do. I think minimalism is one of the great tragedies of our "modern" society which unfortunately, seems to have woven itself into the very fabric of our everyday lives. However, you do not complain about the effort that is required to formalize these events and dreams and maintain a sense of virtue rarely seen in this day and age. I am grateful to have been reminded what this is all about by your example and hope that by your example many who will cross your path will continue to be inspired to reconsider the true value in serving others.

Your fellow servants in Christ,

Mr. & Mrs. Steven S.

Gilbert, Arizona

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Dear Lord Scott,

We appreciate your efforts with the American Heritage Festival. The students got a taste of history and enjoyed their time there. Thank you!

Mrs. Jill C.

Glendale, Arizona

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The students had a wonderful time!

Nan V.

Montessori School

Phoenix, Arizona

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Wow, what a GREAT event! Just wanted to thank you for a very well put-together event. It was very impressive, and I'm sure our school will be back.

Josh E.

Gilbert, Arizona

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We attended the We Make History Event last year for the first time. I homeschool my nephew, Luke, who is now seven and a half, and he loved every minute of it! We came back this year and our experience was just the same, fantastic! We brought along, my husband and my brother, Luke's dad. This time, we started 'backwards', and began our tour with World War II. Luke had his picture taken with the Air Force Soldier who was representing the current armed forces of the USA. Luke loves history and all information about vehicles, guns and ammunition. Our day was wonderful and some day we hope that we will be able to participate. We look forward to next year and all that you and your fellow comrades have to show us. You do an awesome service to the community and to children who are home educated.

Thank you and many blessings, Stephanie J,

Mesa, AZ

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We are back in Payson after a wonderful day at The American Heritage Festival. You have truly made history come alive for our homeschool family, and we can still feel the pounding of the cannons in our chests!

Thank you for all of your hard work.

The Arnold Family

Payson, Arizona

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Captain Scott,
I was in attendance at the recent American Heritage festival in Queen Creek and talked with you briefly about your troupe. I have visited both the 1st Virginia Volunteers website and that of We Make History and I was quite impressed with what your group is doing. On the whole they seem more concerned with authenticity and have a better grasp on history than many of the groups I have seen. I was interested in knowing more about your troupe and its activities with an eye toward volunteering. I think this may be a diversionary activity I would thoroughly enjoy. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
David G.

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Dear General Washington,

The entire day was wonderful, but the events that stood out were:

- walking among the camps and getting information from the participants. We were especially fascinated with the two men who presented WWI. We just finished studying World War I in our home school and it was the "icing on the cake"

- the cannons and the Civil War re-creations

- the hand-to-hand combat demonstration.

Thank you for all the work you put into this wonderful activity.

Payson, AZ

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My family and I had a wonderful time at the 4th Annual American Heritage Festival. My wife and I were very moved by George Whitefield's sermon on Sunday morning.

Thank you, Jeff P.

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Scott,
Thank you for the AHF event. What a blessing to realize that the interest in and for history still remains! And what a great opportunity for Gen'l Washington to make his lasting impression on students and teachers alike!
Praising God with you ......

Sherry

Scottsdale, Arizona

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Dear Sir,

Attached are a handful of the pictures that I took at the American Heritage Festival. Hope you enjoy the handful of glimpses of our experience :-)

My sister and I truly had a ball as reenactors, especially – surprisingly! – on schoolday. Yes, it was chaotic and taxing, but we had such fun sharing our respective histories with the kids, and answering all their questions. I had a particularly precious moment, when a group of attentive first graders gathered around me and asked if I would tell them about the poetry (of all things!) from my time period. A semi-circle of rapt faces listened as I recited Work When You Work, and Try, Try Again and several other poems that my mother had taught me as a young child, from the McGuffey Readers. The children were captivated, and wanted to hear far more than time permitted. *grin* It made my day.

We love what you and your family do, and remain very grateful for the opportunity to participate in such uplifting and edifying historical reenactments. Thank you again for your gracious and diligent work.

Sincerely,

~ Marian and Abrianna

Gilbert, Arizona

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Capt. Scott:

Thank you for all your hard work and efforts in making this year's American Heritage Festival a success. We truly appreciate your time and sacrifice involved in educating the public about our great American Heritage.

On a personal note, I want to thank you for allowing me the honor and opportunity to share my faith by being part of the service on Sunday morning. I was touched beyond words.

May God continue to Bless you and your family!

Your Servant & Brother in Christ,

Mike V.

Phoenix, Arizona

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Thank you ever so much for your efforts, you work very earnestly at this and so many are blessed with the results.

Many blessings from Sandy and Dave

Mesa, Arizona

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Hello, Genl. George Washington
I'm going to American Heritage Festival again.
I'm so glad to seeing you and other people.
I can't wait!

Best greetings from Japan

Taichoh

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General Washington – I have been up for the past couple of hours editing photos. It was another GREAT event! I loved the people at the AHF, both the reenactors and the spectators. What wonderful people.

Your Friend and loyal Servant,

-Mike C.

Glendale, Arizona

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Dear Captain Scott,

Regarding the American Heritage Festival...

I'd like to thank you and your family for being such a positive and encouraging influence in my life and the lives of soo many others. God blesses you every day I know this, but I still wish all of His blessings on you a hundred fold. Thank you so much for working so hard at putting these events together and for always trying and, I believe, achieving a safe and good cultural atmosphere. I love coming to every event and I believe I will keep coming to them.

This weekend was so wonderful for me. I'm thankful for it. I've been blessed over and over again by these events and the people are phenomenal! I can't believe all the wonderful people God has brought together and has blessed so much. Thank you for all your hard work, and thank you to all four of your lovely ladies for always making me feel at home and safe and welcomed, and well loved. Thank you. :o)

In Him,

"DD"

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Another fine season. The weekend went well. At the end Abe Lincoln, Grant, and Lee and myself sat at a roundtable and interviewed each about the surrender of the war. Seeing old friends also was nice. Saturday night at the officers’ club was like having a time machine. I feel that I am really getting into this.

See you next year if not before.

Scott

Gilbert, Arizona

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Dear Sir:

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for allowing me to portray the role of General Jackson during this year's American Heritage Festival. It was more than an honor and an extreme blessing to do so.

Of special note was the opportunity to speak with Christian spectators and remark of General Jackson's faith.

I look forward, anxiously, to seeing the photos of this year's event.

Respectfully yours;

-David B.

Tucson, Arizona

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Captain Scott,

It was a pleasure working with the 1st Virginia this past weekend. I hope that whenever or wherever, the 1st Virginia takes the field that the 1st Texas Light Artillery has the honor to support our brothers-in-arms. Together we can drive the Yankee invaders from our homeland and defend the cause.

Your men reflect your spirit. They are true living historians who I am honored to call my brothers.

Here is a short clip of the 1st Texas Light Artillery in action last Friday evening during the Civil War Battle.

I am also forwarding a Bio on my Great-Great Grandfather that I shared with the school children and other guest last weekend. The response from the students was great and the follow up questions the students asked displayed good critical thinking skills. It's nice to have an opportunity to educate in a non-traditional format. We all have different learning styles and I know we reached many students of all ages last weekend.

Respectfully,

Mark W.

Private, 1st Texas Light Artillery

"I cannot trust a man to control others who cannot control himself.".......Robert E. Lee

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Thank You Scott!

This event gets better every year and it seems that interest in the Revolutionary war period is taking off too. Glad I could be a part of it. We all know how hard you work to make this event happen. It is deeply appreciated!

We consider this a must attend event.

Thanks,
Mark D.

Chandler, Arizona

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Dear Scott,

We had a great time at AHF 2006. It was a long drive from Colorado, but we think it was worth it. We met many fine people and had fun with all the activities.

I think you have done a good job with developing AHF, and I am sure that it will only get bigger and better. After each event that we attend, we sit down as a family and write down ideas of how to improve our camp, persona presentation, etc. We also discuss what we liked and disliked about the event. As we discussed the AHF 2006, we would like to be allowed to return next year.

We look forward to next year’s event.

Sincerely,

Wendell S.

Captain, Recreated 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Militia

Colorado

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Hello,

I have attended your local events as a volunteer and have enjoyed my time with your group immensely. The American Heritage Festival was the BEST time! I work full time and go to school as well so I have limited time available but do enjoy participating at your events.

May the year 2007 bless your family and We Make History.

Thank you and sincerely,

Sue C.

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Dear Capt. Scott,

Monday afternoon, one day removed from AHF, I looked again at a couple of rushed photos from the weekend and asked myself, did it actually happen? To say these three days were astounding is an understatement.

Saturday night, under the star-filled skies of Queen Creek, you noted I looked exhausted. Perhaps I was, but likely what you saw was an exhaustion more emotional than physical.

On that day I fought two battles, firing a musket for the first time ever. I met many wonderful people and received generous and enthusiastic offers to join them in future historical pursuits. I heard kind words from one lady who said I helped a nervous young woman emerge from her shell at the recent Ball with a single dance. I answered numerous questions from enthusiastic guests, quickly turning around information – some of which I was learning for the first time from other living historians. Children listened with wide-eyed interest, dispelling many fears I had about being an "amateur." I posed for many pictures with the young ones, even signing a few autographs the previous day.

And on Saturday night, I dined with Mr. S. and his charming family, by his invitation, feasting on lamb and peach cobbler and lemony lemonade. God Bless Him, he even donated a few items for the foundation of a colonial mess kit, something I had not formed yet. This was before the climax of the evening, joining the impromptu concert of carols in the night, a reminder of how blessed we all are... before some dessert with the generous Catalonians.

One day later, my expectations were exceeded again when I joined up with the Union troops through the generous invitation of Mr. C. and a spare uniform and rifle. And oh, the warmth of Miss Kay, with whom I enjoyed many conversations and shared a meal with on Friday evening!

I am not used to a level of such kindness. It's the sort that leaves me asking, "What did I do to deserve such generosity? How can I ever repay it?" At times, it nearly moved me to tears.

When Reverend Whitfield spoke about about the meaning of names Sunday morning, it reminded me of the full first name I have gone back to using now, especially in greeting others. I consider "Christopher" more gentlemanly. I admit I had hardly considered its full meaning in Greek -- "bearer of Christ" -- something I had known for a long time, but never saw in this light until now. I had a personal mission statement from birth.

So yes, I was indeed exhausted when you saw me that evening, humbled greatly by this wonderful family around me and consumed by the beauty of it all under that star-filled sky. It felt like Heaven, having suddenly made so many new friends and broken bread with them like I'd known them all my life. For years, because of work and distance, I have not been able to share Thanksgiving dinner with my relatives. That just made the experience extra special.

My deepest thanks to you and the We Make History family for the American Heritage Festival and for We Make History as a whole. I am eternally grateful for the learning, the love, and the laughter... and the blessings flowing from all three.

Your Friend and Humble Servant,
Pvt. Christopher
Tucson, Arizona

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Dear General Washington,

I appreciated the fact that the AHF was living history, history that you can picture and easily imagine; history that stays with you, that you can remember for a long time. I have a greater appreciation for History. I have always liked this subject (especially living history), but now it has a better meaning.

I enjoyed being able to dress up in historical clothing. I liked seeing all the people dressed in different clothes from many time periods. It was definitely a beautiful array.

I liked the ability to fellowship with many different people.

It was a wonderful experience.

Thank you. You made it possible.

Yours sincerely,

Jessica L.

Phoenix, Arizona

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It was amazing. The benevolence of the reenactors was wonderful. The whole AHF was august. The way the battles were done looked veritable.

I learnt a lot about weaponry: guns, pistols, rifles, cannons and swords.

The highlight of my experience was the battles. To this day, I daydream of being in the battles myself..

Thank you. I'm looking forward to the next AHF.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen L.

Age 11

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Dear Genl. Washington,

Are you surprised at how good this event was? It does not surprise us at all. Do you realize how many lives you have touched with these events? Do not despise the small beginnings. Keep up the good work and in years to come, the return for your efforts will be great.

We look forward to another year of exceptional events.

Yours,

Mr. & Mrs. L.

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Dear General Washington,

We often think and talk about the wonderful time we had at the AHF.

What a wonderful opportunity to be part of the American Heritage Festival. Having been to the Balls and seen some of your work, we expected it to be of quality, when we first heard about it. Once again, you far exceeded our expectations. We thoroughly enjoyed participating in it.

We surely admire your work. So much thought, organization and planning is put into it.

The participants were so natural and friendly, always willing to teach and help. How do you manage to find such extraordinary people?

Admiring the sunset, what I love most in Arizona, I looked around the camp and traveled in time. Who would not? Everything was so natural, the people, the tents, the setting, the pace, etc. What a wonderful experience. We were not in a hurry to leave, just lingered, even though we had more then an hours drive home. I can still savour those moments. Hollywood cannot reproduce that beauty and yet you and your team were able to do that! Having traveled a bit, those three days stayed in my mind as an experience of another place.

The food was tasty, the package well put together and inexpensive. The service was amiable. You couldn't have found a better team. We hope to see them back next year.

Looking at the many kids that visited, we could only ask, "Is Scott fully aware of the impact he is having in these many lives?"

It's hard to put in words moments lived without sounding exaggerated. Everyone in our house just echoes the joy and pleasure felt at that place. We are the ones who take off our hats to you. Your passion and devotion for this work is clearly seen and admired by us. You may have been too concerned about everything just going right and busy to take in all the beauty and pleasure we were able to enjoy.

All we can say is an honest and sincere THANK YOU!

We are so happy we adventured and went. Being there and enjoying every moment just blessed our family.

Participating in the AHF, the Balls, all the sewing and delightful talk about the last and next Ball and History, has brought new life to our family. God has used you and the work you are doing to bless us. Now you can see why we admire what you do. We do not exaggerate when we say we deeply appreciate what you do. May the Lord richly bless you and your family.

Yours in Christ,

A Family in Phoenix

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Dear Sir & Madame,

Thank you again for hosting a wonderful event. This event always seems to attract participants who are wonderful to work with. I made several new friends, and had the opportunity to at least say hello to many of my other friends. This event was a very timely reminder as to how blessed we all are with good companions and generous acquaintances. For example, there was one camp in particular that not only let me visit frequently, but allowed me to participate in their family prayer service. As always, every camp I visited, no matter what time of day or night it was, offered food, friendship, or at least an interesting conversation and a warm fire. Thank you, and thanks to all the kind people who came.

Sincerely,

Pvt. R.

3rd US Infantry

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Good morning Scott,

Hope this email finds you well and recovered. Debbie & I enjoyed the AHF this year, particularly Friday. The school day seemed to be a strong success, and the Arby’s meals were a huge hit, good food at a great price.

A. V.

California

You guys keep sticking to doing the right thing and treating people right and you will continue to grow!

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Dear Captain Scott:

Congratulations...again!...on yet another successful AHF. Glad Lincoln made it back for another go-around! Likewise the Schoolhouse! I definitely say we DEFINITELY made history on this one, kudos to the 20th Lancashires, 3rd Japanese and the "Merrill's Marauders" GIs who
did the first-ever (!!!) Pacific Theatre battle for AHF and what was the first-ever CBI battle for the ENTIRE Southwest.

Best wishes for an even MORE successful 2007!

Regards from Royal & Imperial Infanterie-Regiment #100,

"Jurgen Kvaternik”

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Lord Scott – Let me tell you how much we appreciate all of your hard work making this event happen. I know that some reenactors from our unit could not make it because of schedule conflicts, but as the others find out how excellent it was, I feel our ranks will swell with strong Union men and patriot volunteers. This was Andrew’s first overnight encampment and he wants more.

Once again, I wish you and your wonderful family a very blessed Thanksgiving full of peace, harmony, and the love of Jesus. I very much look forward to the Victorian Christmas Ball and seeing all of your wonderful guests.

I Remain,

Your Friend and Loyal Servant,

Sgt. C.

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The smell of campfires and the smoke stinging my eyes, visiting with old friends, making new ones, real kettle corn, the deafening sound of cannon fire, the soldiers marching into battle, the tents in the WWII and Vietnam camps, gathering around the table by candlelight and enjoying food, beverage, and a French love song. Waiting at the same table with friends and keeping warm by the fire of the candlelight as the officers visited the camps with gifts. These are my favorite memories of another weekend that my husband and I were privileged to enjoy.

Thank you, Gen. Washington

Mr. & Mrs. R.E. Lee

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Gone For A Soldier

A story of the American Heritage Festival, as told through a recruit of General Washington’s Continental Line.

From the battlefield journals of Pvt. Christopher

A spontaneous cheer arose from the throngs of children as the commandants of His Excellency took the wide, grassy battlefield. Flanked by wind-lifted flags, the troops fell into line with the dignity befitting soldiers: the Continental Line in their red, white and blue uniforms; the allies from Spain in their blue and gold; and a few militia. An ornately dressed French officer accompanied them.

“Today,” General Washington proclaimed to the warriors and spectators, “we have the chance to strike a decisive blow for freedom.”

The redcoats soon marched into place, supported by a few turncoats -- militia urged at the last minute to switch allegiances and even the sides. His Excellency and the Frenchman walked to the center of the theatre of combat in the noonday sun to discuss a possible aversion of hostilities, although everyone understood the hopelessness of such formality.

I stood with the Americans at this parley, a man of four and thirty who had traveled more than a hundred miles, temporarily abandoning my other life as a journalist to serve the noble causes of liberty and education.

Those in my township saw me off at dawn, emerging from my second-story apartment clad in white breeches, puffy shirt and knee-high stockings. Two women at the foot of the stairs halted their coffee-and-cigarette hyphenated conversation as they observed me on the landing, placing a three-cornered hat on my head and smiling at their befuddled gazes.

“I’ll explain in a moment,” I said before descending to them, taking care not to slip in my pewter-buckled shoes.

“Don’t you look cute, Chris!” said the tenant of the residence below.

“I’m going to Phoenix to educate some children in history,” their Colonial acquaintance offered with pride before strolling off to his modern carriage.

Now I stood silent as the conversation between the commanders deteriorated by the word. The British commander would have none of the rabble standing before him, especially not the Frenchman.

“This froggy,” the redcoat sneered, brushing off the alliance between the General and the Gauls.

Very well then. It would come to blows. I returned with the commanders to the line of patriots and promised myself I would not die this day, even if a bayonet should charge me.

The British carried muskets. I carried a flag.

= = =

Two years ago, I stood behind the safety line, watching the combat unfold before me as a curious spectator. I did the same the next year, and upon the conclusion of those battles, I determined I could not -- and would not -- merely watch again.

The path to the battlefield wound through several social adventures, divergent in time and place. I perceived myself more gentleman than soldier, but I gathered many of my ancestors found themselves in the same situation, taking up arms when confronted by tyranny even though they had never dreamed of shedding another man’s blood. That was provided, of course, they had arms to take up.

In July, four months before battle, I placed an order for a musket and expected it would meet my hands in time for at least a few practice shots. Weeks elapsed, and the French firearm under Indian craftsmanship failed to arrive. The delay frustrated the middleman as much as the buyer. No explanation surfaced for the holdup other than copious holidays in the faraway land.

The possibility of arriving on the battlefield unarmed disturbed me, but surrender was out of the question. I possessed the Continental uniform, tailored to exact dimensions by expert tailors. They required numerous precise measurements, which required me to perform numerous feats of dexterity with a tape measure. But lo, the result: a colorful vesture I could not wait to wear, topped with a black-and-white tricorn hat decorated with a huge cockade.

As for the musket, I found a solution in a Brown Bess I could borrow from a fellow patriot who would arrive later. Yet with hostilities sure to arise long before then, I informed General Washington I held myself open to other ideas: “I’ll chase those wretched redcoats with a pitchfork if I have to!”

= = =

The opening shots from the British immediately felled three of our Spanish allies. Those redcoats made better shots than I realized, even over the sizable distance between the lines.

“They always shoot the flag-bearers,” a colleague had informed me.

My safety and the standard I held now depended on the handful of men under General Washington’s command.

“Fire at will!” he ordered, once the controlled sequence of volleys had loosened.

Musket fire crackled from both sides. Jets of smoke zinged from muzzles -- sans balls, of course -- punctuated by the frightening flashes of flame all along the line… except for the weapon of the French officer next to me. Powder from cartridge after cartridge flowed into the pan and down the barrel with no incendiary result, just a click. Other Continentals soon found themselves plagued by misfires. The British fired and advanced with no sign of weapon troubles.

“Let’s give them a volley,” General Washington commanded.

The troops opened up on their foes with dismal results. Now we had no choice but to surprise them with an unexpected charge. Rushing the redcoats, from front and flank, they surrendered before a bayonet pierced a single ounce of flesh. Hands went up, weapons went down, and the battle ceased. Somehow the patriots won this round, against all odds and all weapons, much to the joy of the children on the sidelines.

“Resurrect!”

Like waking up from a deep sleep, our fallen comrades arose, brushed themselves off, and fell into line again as the young spectators cheered an American victory. Huzzahs for the patriots. A cheer for the redcoats. Honors for the Catalonian allies, the militia and riflemen, and the French officer.

Now another volley hit us: the questions from the children. I soon noticed they preferred one more than others.

“Did you die?”

“I am still standing, no?” the Frenchman replied.

“Not today,” I said. “Some musket balls came close. Tomorrow, I might not be so lucky.”

I made note of a small scab on my right hand. I knew not where it came from, but I could surmise a period guess to convey a sense of danger. “That was from a bayonet.”

Children swarmed around me as my fellow Continentals fell out to leap forward along the timeline for the next skirmish.

“Is that flag heavy?”

“Not really.”

“Are those breeches comfortable?”

“Yes, more than any trousers I’ve ever worn.”

“Are you a redcoat?”

“No. Don’t let the red facings on my coat fool you.”

“Can I wear your hat?”

“Yes, for a moment.”

“Can we take your picture?”

I would pose several times for the wee folk, letting them gather round while smiling and striking a proud pose with the sun in my eyes. I would also sign several autographs. I beamed with happiness to be their hero for this moment, having taught them something about their heritage.

One child had something more in mind.

“I challenge you to a dance-off!”

In the brief showdown between capers of 1776 and 2006, no distinct winner emerged, but my spirited jig left the youngster in stitches.

= = =

I have never seen so many children fascinated at a hole in the ground, I thought as multitudes of children crowded around a work in progress: an 18th Century camp kitchen. The trench still needed three holes in the side and three more in the top -- pits for fire and chimneys for it to rise.

A Connecticut militiaman and his son took turns digging, breaking a sweat early in the morning, but they summoned me for help and a momentary respite from tossing aside shovelfuls of dirt. I jumped into the pit without hesitation and went to war with the soil. Heaving lumps of earth reminded me of back-weary campaigns against driveway snow during many a Missouri winter.

Waves of children crashed into the camp as the Connecticut duo explained the mechanics and use of this six-foot long by two-foot deep hole.

“Is it a grave?” one child asked.

New groups of children arrived and the spiel began again until the militiaman extended an invitation to me.

“You can explain what we’re doing.”

Me? Now?

Uncertainty of all the facts gnawed at me, but I started repeating the ones I picked up moments ago.

“This is an 18th century camp kitchen,” I began. The words labored from my mouth as I checked every one of them for accuracy.

“They’re digging three holes in the side here. That’s where the fire is going to be built. They’ll dig more holes on the top, and the flame will come through there, and you will put your kettle on top to cook. The reason it’s built like this is to protect the fire from the wind and rain.”

After a few rounds with different groups of children, I hit a stride. The youngsters could not tell how green this recruit was in his red, white, and blue.

“The life of a Revolutionary War soldier wasn’t all marching and drilling.”

The militiaman and his son continued their labors as water poured down their foreheads, stopping only to inspect their work and answer a few questions. They reached for their bayonets.

“General Washington doesn’t like us to use these for digging,” the father explained. “But they make excellent vent picks.”

One hour of digging and picking, and the kitchen stood ready for service. But a flint failed to start a suitable fire.

“We’re going to cheat a little,” said the militiaman, turning to an oil lamp.

A fellow Continental observed the process with a teacher friend who had brought her class.

“Hey, I learned something new today,” he said. “You know what the difference between a pot and a kettle is?”

“What?”

“A kettle has straight sides. A pot has a curved side, like a pot belly.”

I had never thought of that, either -- another new fact to pick up and pass on. On this day, the children would learn as much as I.

= = =

“Christophe!” the French commander called to me at sunset, advising I should seek a certain gentleman for some brief instruction in the finer points of the proper firing of a musket.

The lesson took place behind the Confederate encampment. We used a rifle different than the flintlock I would fire the next day, but nearly the same procedure applied.

Set the lock here. Reach for a cartridge. Tear it open with your teeth. Not too deep, or you’ll eat gunpowder. Put a little in the pan. Close the frizzen. Put the rest in the barrel. Set the hammer all the way back.

“Fire in the hole!” I shouted before pulling the trigger, mimicking the warning I had heard my instructor give in the camp.

Click. Thoom! A flash of fire and smoke burst forth from the muzzle.

“Eureka!” I cried, eyes wide and mouth open in joyous satisfaction. “That’s the first time I’ve ever fired a musket.”

“Rifle,” my instructor happily corrected.

= = =

A mist of smoke from cannons and campfires loomed over the twilight battlefield. The commanders had decided on a skirmish at dusk, and the Union forces had invited me into the fray, adding some red and white to their blue even though I was still unarmed.

The public was now gone and the rules and timelines would both bend this evening. Japanese fighters from World War II fell into line with the Confederates. An Allied gunner and his automatic weapon joined with Grant’s forces, and he quickly fell to his stomach, making a long crawl to penetrate enemy lines.

A patriotic boy slipped me a toy musket as I set off behind a mountain man to flank the rebel troops. Both of us knew a lack of cover would doom the operation to failure.

“What do we do?” the mountain man grinned as the men in gray approached.

We decided to keep walking until the 1st Virginia unleashed their opening volley.

“Let’s die,” the leader of the hopeless plot declared, and both of us tumbled to the ground.

The rebels yelled and cannon fire exploded, shaking the ground with every blast. I stared straight into space as stars emerged from the blanket of darkness.

“You really look dead,” an observer pointed out as he passed by the two fallen fighters with a camera in hand.

Yet we had enough life to crack inside jokes as the battle played out, chuckling at the creative anachronism and wondering about mixing and matching soldiers from other eras. Sizable patches of smoke hung over the battlefield when we resurrected ourselves, the fog of war.

“We gotta do this again.”

= = =

The British formed in front of us, always second on the battlefield. We stood as we did before: the Continentals on one side, Catalonians on the other, our French ally in the ranks, and a cannon primed to fire.

The redcoats sent a contingent to the center of the field to discuss terms, but they mainly wanted our surrender.

“Give them our answer from Pennsylvania!” shouted General Washington.

The cannon was lit. Nothing.

Crestfallen, we would have to talk with the lobsterbacks after all.

As the officers ran through the formalities, all I could think about was the loaned Brown Bess on my shoulder and the steps for firing it. Rolled cartridges of black powder waited inside a cartridge box on my hip. My gaze hung on the redcoats in front of me.

A year of exploration and curiosity had culminated in this moment, stoked by travels to Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown, a historic dance every so often, and a determination to conduct life in a manner befitting the better bred. Now the next step laid in front of me, and I reminded myself, even in this predetermined battle, this could be the day that I die.

“Load and prime!”

I pulled back the hammer halfway and opened the musket frizzen. My right hand dug for a powder cartridge. I tore off the paper end with my teeth, making sure I spit the wad out with the gusto of a whole-hearted soldier. My hands trembled, though, as I filled the pan with a touch of powder, snapped down the frizzen and poured the rest of the charge down the barrel.

“Come to the ready!”

I aimed for the nearest redcoat. Any of them would do, whether I could see the whites of their eyes or not.

“Fire!”

My finger pulled the trigger, and to my intense relief and satisfaction, the pan flashed and white smoke exploded from the muzzle.

“Load and prime!”

The process sped up as I repeated it. The redcoats refused to surrender and I couldn’t waste time as I squeezed off more shots, falling behind my brothers in arms but still firing. The others on the line shouted the praises of our French and Spanish allies. In the rush to keep up with the rest of the line, I bit off too much of a charge and ended up spitting powder out of my mouth along with the paper. I did not think I would have enough left for the gun. A click from the trigger confirmed it.

“Load and prime!”

I went through the motions again, adding more powder to the barrel and the pan… wait. What am I doing? I have put too much in there! I promised my family, my friends, and my colleagues in my other life and time I would return with all ten of my fingers.

“Fire!”

BLAM!

A huge cloud of smoke poured out, but my limbs remained unscathed.

“A double dose for you!” I shouted to the redcoats.

The cannon started working, finally, as we traded shots with the British. But it did not hold them off. They kept advancing, and I could not tell who was living or dying, but I knew this battle -- adapted from an actual skirmish -- was not ours to win.

The General ordered us to retreat, our numbers thinned. I survived to fight again, and His Excellency promised the crowd we would receive drilling from Baron von Steuben before the next battle. The barrel of the borrowed Brown Bess still smoked from firing all but one of my shots, so I declared a personal victory.

We returned to do battle again after a quick lunch, this time with some cunning and misdirection thrown into the plan. Our militia men would fire and fall back, serving as the bait to draw the British forward into a trap, at which time the Continentals and allies would unleash their black-powdered wrath upon them.

It worked beautifully. The second battle found me getting the commands down, and my timing at firing shots with the rest of the line improved. We set off at least two or three good volleys, but I heard talk of running with bayonets.

“Charge!”

We didn’t have time to fix any bayonets. I never heard the order to. I chased after the redcoats with a glorious grunt.

General Washington delivered an insider’s command: “Somebody needs to take a hit.”

A loyalist militiaman knelt with his rifle not fifty feet in front of me. A puff of smoke bloomed from his piece… and down I went.

Death came quick and merciful -- no time to fester on the field of battle and reflect on the price of liberty, facing towards Heaven and consoling myself that the cause of the righteous would not die with me as the life drained from my body.

“Resurrect!”

The crowds of spectators applauded and cheered as I arose, swept the grass from my breeches, and fell back into line with my fellow Continentals. Three cheers for the Spaniards. Three cheers for the French. Three cheers for our worthy adversaries -- small cheers.

Questions followed, and I answered many of them about the musket. The spiel had firmed itself in my mind by now, and although my first official day on the battlefield continued, I spoke with the confidence of a seasoned soldier. A group lingered around me after my fellow linesmen departed for the next battle on the timeline.

= = =

“What are your plans for dinner?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

I had no cooking supplies, no foodstuffs, no mess kit except for a tin cup purchased only that morning. I had no tent, relying on the hospitality of a nearby inn. The realization sunk in that I needed a lot more than just a musket of my own, something I had not wanted to admit around seasoned re-enactors who had been doing this for years.

“We’re having lamb,” the Connecticut militiaman offered. Lamb with asparagus, bread, peach cobbler and lemonade, served in period-correct style. His family was putting the camp kitchen I helped build to use, and he invited me to share in the feast.

That was only the beginning. Before we sat down to dinner, he had donated the beginnings of what I needed: a tin plate, a wooden bowl, a spoon, and a lead mug which came with a warning: “Don’t drink out of it too often. You’ll go stupid.”

Our Catalonian friends soon joined us with Spanish stew, and we all enjoyed a twilight meal next to the well-performing fire trench helmed by its talented chefs. The lamb bathed my mouth in flavor, a welcome surprise having never tasted that delicacy before. I enjoyed every bite while sharing warm conversation and sipping the double-lemony lemonade. The cobbler took longer to cook than we expected, but the wait proved worthy. For a Continental private, I ate like an officer, the generosity of the militiaman’s family catching me by surprise and humbling me beyond words save for the ones of gratitude I spoke with an 18th-century bow and deep appreciation. Thanksgiving dinner had come early. And after this feast, I still had room for pie offered by the gracious Catalonians.

Across the camp, candelabras glistened from a long table and bursts of laughter pierced the night air as the Officers’ Social came to life. Campfires dotted the encampment, bathing the tents in an orange glow as the long day of battles and demonstrations wound down and the soldiers swapped stories of life. Music from a guitar floated through my ears. Capes covered arms as the wind chilled underneath the starry sky. I put some thoughts to paper by the light of an oil lamp, but curiosity would not allow me to sit still the entire night.

As I soaked in some tales of the Wild West from a nearby tent, I noticed the officers approaching, merry from an evening of fine food and drink. General Washington and President Lincoln were in excellent company with General Grant and a host of military leaders from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a collusion of friends in history united in a common mission to enlighten the future.

“Are you a wandering minstrel?” General Washington asked as he caught a glimpse of me.

“A wandering writer,” I smiled.

The gathering halted by the eighteenth-century encampments, where an officer presented His Excellency with a gift: a medallion of General Washington taking command of this troops.

“You have opened the gates and they can’t be closed again,” an officer praised, noting how the work of We Make History marked a fresh and uplifting new start in the future of recreating the past in Arizona.

I heard His Excellency repeat a maxim of service I have often heard: “If we will live a life giving what we have to give, we will not only enrich the lives of others but our own lives as well.”

Others soon gathered around, and an early Christmas celebration manifested itself with caroling and the peace of good will towards all under the stars.

“You look exhausted,” General Washington observed of me in the dim of night.

Exhausted, yes, exhausted physically and emotionally. In the course of a single day, I had re-enacted two battles, firing a musket for the first time in my life via the generosity of another. I saw children and adults fascinated and brimming with questions. Several re-enactors offered generous invitations to join up with their units. I broke bread with newfound friends. I heard numerous and fascinating historical accounts, more than I would ever recall. And this day had followed a day of enlightening excited youngsters and taking my first opportunity to teach as a living historian.

“Come with us,” the General offered. “You are family now.”

Oh, how I knew it. How blessed was I. How blessed was this hobby I had chosen and its practitioners, a blessing reaffirmed the next day when The Rev. George Whitefield -- an outstanding clergyman with an unmistakable gift for oratory -- drew us together for morning prayers and hymns in a nearby field. During the course of his sermon, he spoke of the meaning of names and how many were chosen in reverence to God.

I recalled the meaning of mine in Greek: Christopher -- the bearer of Christ.

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

= = =

The fourth and final Revolutionary War skirmish repeated the scenario of using the militia to draw the British into a trap. Again it worked. The final score for the weekend: Patriots 3, Redcoats 1 -- not exactly fair to both sides, but more than fair when the crowds were expecting American victories.

Afterwards, my turn came to leap forward a century on the timeline. The friend who lent me the Brown Bess lent me a Union army uniform, cartridge case, belt, haversack, bayonet, and rifle, and I fell in with Grant’s forces.

I quickly found my manual of arms a comedy of errors. During the commands “shoulder arms” and “present arms” and “support arms,” either my hands or my rifle were not quite in the correct position, so I would manipulate the rifle to the correct position, then manipulate my hands, then eye the soldier next to me and make adjustments.

The recruit on my left helped immensely as we marched onto the field of battle.

“It helps to think of every command as three positions,” he told me and showed me how it worked. It may have helped him, but I don’t think it helped me. I needed to drill more than anything else, looking sloppy as I readjusted my hands with every command.

“I’ll never get the hang of this,” I mumbled during one march.

“It gets easier,” my comrade replied.

I had never fired a Civil War-era rifle before, but I picked up the procedure on the field. In some ways, I found it easier than the Bess, pouring the whole cartridge of powder down the barrel without sparing some for the pan. A percussion cap set it off, something not too dissimilar from the ones I used to shoot off as a kid. But as I would soon find, those caps were a pain… in more ways than one.

During the first volley unleashed with the Yanks, my ears rang and a chill ran through my body. I knew I was in trouble when I saw my comrades sticking plugs into the sides of their heads. The other problem: those metal caps refused to stay on. The helpful recruit recommended squeezing each one together a little. I tried it, and one time I squeezed the cap into an unusable crushed lump. Sometimes I would reach for a cap and dig out two stuck together, or they would fall out of my hands and into the thick grass. I lost two caps in a row that way. Meanwhile, my fellow recruits came to the ready and fired effortlessly.

I was out of step, out of sequence with the rest of the unit and it annoyed me terribly. I thought of what it would mean in actual battle. I would not survive 10 minutes in the ranks of Lee or Grant. But then again, perhaps my historic persona was drafted, no professional soldier by any means, no ace with a rifle nor any overwhelming desire to handle a firearm. I am sure I had more than a few historical brethren in that respect -- good people, poor soldiers, the rifles like butter in their fingers.

Never have I served in any military unit in any capacity. My dexterity with a rifle would incur the wrath of any drill sergeant laced with a sizable earful of spittle. Here, I was lucky to get off with friendly words of advice from fellow re-enactors who have learned their lessons on the battlefield.

“You’re holding your rifle there,” one Union officer informed me as he saw the stock of the rifle slipping into my armpit. “If there would have been a real ball in there, you would’ve felt that kick like a mule.”

I had felt it before, long ago in the Boy Scouts, when I fired a black powder rifle and the recoil stabbed me in the shoulders.

“It backfired!” I cried. The adult leaders laughed about it around the campfire after supper, not minding I was in earshot.

We lost one battle to the rebels, the 1st Virginia even taking one of our cannons and mounting it in victory as we marched into retreat. We would take them out in the next skirmish, one where my borrowed brimmed hat would blow off my head on the battlefield while I ran after a rebel.

I hardly knew what I was doing, and yet my commanders and comrades were glad I was along to fill out the ranks of re-enactors. The crowds did not mind either as they applauded the blue and the gray.

The afternoon dissolved into evening, and I switched back into my eighteenth-century attire for a remaining hour at camp, the spectators leaving and the participants packing up. I made my rounds of goodbyes and thank-yous and see-you-soons and slipped back into my modern-day self-driven carriage.

Three days of living in the past, now concluded. Or maybe not.

I thought my newsroom colleagues would get a kick out of seeing me in the full uniform of the Continental Line, so I made a stop there on the way home, even though I was tired, achy and coughing from residual effects of dust and gunsmoke.

And I wanted them to see it -- wanted them to understand my love for living in the past and what it did for others.

To my surprise, the general manager, the general in my other life and time, had dropped by for a Sunday visit. From across the workplace, he grinned as he saw a figure approaching in red, white and blue, topped with a tricorn hat.

“Mr. Arnold!” I greeted, still in my 18th Century mannerisms as I presented myself to him, a humbled soldier fresh from the battlefield, eager to tell a tale of fighting for liberty.

More from this remarkable weekend at www.americanheritagefestival.com!