Across the Rappahannock (2002)

In December 1863, General Ambrose Burnside's Army of the Potomac fought General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Intense street-to-street fighting and repeated attacks against Confederate forces positioned on higher ground led to significant losses for the Union army, ultimately resulting in a retreat. In November 2001, I observed a small, informal reenactment of the battle. Around a hundred people attempted to recreate the actions of the thousands of young men who fought a century before. The event had an odd theatrical quality that revealed a surprising sincerity in the participants' dedication. Everyone involved performed their roles with remarkable honesty and skill, leaving an unexpected impact on the reenactment itself.