Virginia was the pivotal state in the Civil War. As the mother state of the Union, it was a reluctant addition to the Confederate States of America. Over 60% of the battles in the four year Civil War were fought in Virginia. The Old Dominion suffered more damage in that period than has any other area in the western hemisphere. This documentary concentrates on Virginia's contributions, its sacrifices and the gallantry displayed by citizens at all levels during this nation-molding struggle.

This project is being produced in conjunction with the Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and the Virginia Tech Center for Civil War Studies.  The program is being shot and edited entirely in High Definition. Designed for use in the classroom, the three hour documentary will be broken down into nine 20 minute segments.

August 2008

In late August, we are lucky enough to tape a private re-enactment in Loudon Heights, Virginia, attended by hundreds of soldiers and their families. The theme for the weekend is the re-creation of the Battle of Chancellorsville. Everyone at the event is most accommodating. We are even given access to a four wheel drive pickup by the owner of the property to aid us in getting our camera gear to the to the various battle sites which is a tremendous help. We assemble and use our JIB (camera crane) for the first time with outstanding results. Overall, we get some incredible images for the program.

Perhaps, the most memorable part of the shoot is on Sunday morning as we wait in a clearing nestled up in the woods. We are in place with part of the Confederate infantry, cavalry and artillery. Off in the distance you can hear the drums of the Union forces heading our way. Once both sides clash, the clearing comes alive with noise and action. Being in the midst of such an event really makes you think about what it must have been like for those who were really there!

It is hot and humid

The next day, we move from Petersburg on into Richmond.  Here we visit the White House of the Confederacy and walk the same floors that Jefferson Davis and his family trod.  We talk to experts to learn about the Davis family.  Next door in the Museum of the Confederacy, we interview an authority on publishing during the war and the history of the confederate flag. 

That afternoon, we visit historic Hollywood Cemetery where many Confederate dead are buried.  This cemetery also is the final resting place of famous Virginians including two U.S. Presidents as well as C.S.A. President, Jefferson Davis.

To wrap up the trip the following we day, we spend a rainy morning at Tredegar Iron Works.  This factory turned museum is where over 1,000 cannon where made during the war - almost half of all cannon made in the south.  While at Tredegar we learn about the Commonwealth's wartime industries and the destruction suffering in Virginia during those years.

Our next journey

is back up to Northern Virginia to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. On this trip, we have both program hosts with us, Dr. Robertson and William C. Davis. Among the places we visit at Fredericksburg is Chatham Manor which overlooks the City. The house was visited during the war by President Lincoln. We also stop by the Sunken Road and the rock wall. It was here that the fields turned blue with the bodies of Union Soldiers. We also record at Bloody Angle where some of the worst hand-to-hand fighting of the war took place and at Guinea Station where General Stonewall Jackson died. An unexpected find on this trip is a Confederate Cemetery in Spotsylvania County. This cemetery with it's rows and rows of white stones, really help to drive home just how great the cost in lives.

As we wrap up this trip, we swing back up I-95 for a stop in Richmond to scout out locations for future shoots. We visit the newly remodeled Virginia State Capitol building and visit the room where Virginians actually cast the vote to secede from the Union. It is an awesome experience to be able to walk in the footsteps of many famous Virginias. In addition, we take a look around the historic Hollywood Cemetery where many soldiers were laid to rest.

The following week, we catch up with a variety of Civil War experts at the Campaigning with Lee Seminar which takes place at Virginia Tech.  We recorded interviews at historic Smithfield Plantation, located on the grounds of Virginia Tech.

After a little time back at home base in Roanoke, our next adventure is a high flying one and one we've been looking forward to for a long time. Taking off in a helicopter (with the door off!) from Manassas Regional Airport at dawn, we fly over much of the territory we've seen from the ground in the previous weeks. Manassas, Harpers Ferry, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Richmond all look so different from the air. We also fly down to the coast and Jamestown, Fort Monroe, James River Plantations and more. It's a beautiful sight! It's also amazing to see just how much water there is whether it be streams, ponds, lakes, etc. The clouds reflect nicely on the water.

The week after the re-enactment, we head out again. This time we're with program host, Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. Through the rain, we head up I-81 for several days of recording at Harpers Ferry, Antietam , and Manassas National Parks. Fortunately, the weather clears up in time for us to get some nice shots. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is such a neat place, tucked down inside the mountains on the Shenandoah River. It's at Harpers Ferry, before the war, that explosive events involving the colorful character, John Brown, would set many things in motion. From Harpers Ferry, we go a short distance up the road to Antietam National Battlefield. So many lives were lost during the war on this battlefield. It is a humbling experience to be able to tread the hallowed ground at such landmark points of the battle like Bloody Lane, the cornfield, the Dunker Church, and Burnside Bridge. After we wrap up at Antietam, we head south back into Virginia. At the Manassas National Battlefield Park, it's hard to imagine that spectators came from Washington, D.C. to watch the first Battle of Manassas while having a picnic. While we're there, we walk across the same bridge that the spectators used to flee when fighting got too close.
 

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