Re Enactment

Friday, August 3 1 p.m.: Speaker Dave Frantum of the Loudoun Museum, "First Blood, Loudoun County Men at First Manassas" 2 p.m.-4 p.m.: Horse-drawn artillery competition and cavalry competition 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Napoleonic tactics demonstration 6 p.m.: Speaker Tom Clemens, "Artillery at Manassas" 8 p.m.-midnight: Dance with Southern Horizon 8 p.m.: Candlelight tours; speaker Bob Zeller, "Civil War Stereoviews"; Liaison Committee meeting; living history,...

A young girl kneels on the floor as she shaves soap into a bucket of hot water in her traditional 19th-century servant garments - a white head scarf, a pink bell-sleeved shirt over a white ruffled shirt and a long linen skirt. The kitchen smells of burning wood from the open hearth and sunrays highlight the dust on antique chairs, a large wooden table, pots and a rack used to roast pigeons. "Did you bring the letter?" the girl asks onlookers. "My mother said she would send me a letter."

THOUSANDS OF CIVIL War re-enactors will relive the three-day Battle of Gettysburg this weekend, and Roy Ashe, of Roy's Clock Shop in Hampstead, will be one of them.It's planned as the largest re-enactment to be staged on the Gettysburg fields, with about 15,000 men in uniform for the 135th anniversary of the battle.Ashe will portray his ancestor William Joynes, who served at age 19 as a private in the Confederate infantry, the 3rd Virginia volunteers known as the "Dismal Swamp Rangers."In his portrayal, Ashe will be a member of the 4th Virginia Cavalry, Company A -- but considerably older, somewhat heavier and more fortunate than the typical soldier who rode a horse.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will re-enact an 18th century slave auction for the first time Monday -- a vivid step back into racism the foundation's black history interpreters decided to take themselves."

Visitors to the Union Mills Homestead this weekend can walk into the Civil War.The 26th Volunteer Infantry, a Civil War re-enactment group, will live in history during a two-day encampment to mark the 131st anniversary of the days preceding the Battle of Gettysburg."

In the heat of the midday sun, members of the tribe of Naphtali jostled members of the tribe of Judah. Nearby, banners flapped from tents. Roman soldiers hoisted shields and spears.The scene was interrupted by a man in a long robe, who asked the sons and daughters of Israel to sit down on the grass. "There is more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over 100 [righteous] people," he said. "Go and tell this to everyone in the world.""Bless you, Jesus!" shouted a woman in the crowd.

The 130th anniversary of the Battle of First Manassas, the first major battle of the Civil War, will be marked next Sunday at James S. Long Regional Park in Haymarket, Va.Between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 2,000 uniformed re-enactors representing Confederate and Union troops will present military demonstrations. The first part of the battle will be re-enacted at 10:30 a.m., the second at 2 p.m. Other attractions will include a Civil War-era church service, a band concert, a ladies' fashion show and a re-created army field hospital.

Holiday house tours are popular items on this week's calendar. One of the longest-running takes place today in Marietta, Pa., which celebrates its 30th annual Holiday Home Tour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.In connection with the tour's Civil War theme, President Lincoln, portrayed by James Getty, will travel through town by horse-drawn carriage with Pennsylvania's Civil War Gov. Andrew Curtin, portrayed by another re-enactor. They will take part in the grand parade at 3:30 p.m., along with marching bands, Civil War soldiers and other costumed characters.

An acolyte at Ferndale United Methodist Church last night snuffed out 12 candles representing the apostles as they deserted Jesus."Crucify him!" and "His blood be on us and on our children!", the congregation, portraying the mob shouting to Pontius Pilate, read from a script dramatizing the death of Jesus.Then, in the dimly lighted church, the congregation sang, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord," as they took turns driving nails into a plain wooden cross at the places where Jesus' hands were nailed.

Summer in St. Mary's County is a busy time. Next weekend the St. Maries Citty Militia will hold its annual Militia Muster in the Governor's Field exhibit area of Maryland's first capital at St. Mary's City. Militia members will re-create life as it was in the early days of the settlement. They will engage in swordplay and musket fire around the grounds of the Reconstructed State House of 1676. In addition to several tactical demonstrations there will be demonstrations of hearth cooking, carpentry and other period crafts Saturday and next Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.You can also visit the museum's other exhibits, including the square-rigged Maryland Dove, a 17th century tobacco plantation and the Chesapeake Indian Lifeways Center; dine on Colonial fare at Farthing's Ordinary, the re-created 17th century inn; or watch the archaeological excavations at the St. Maries Chapel site.