from the desk of George Custer

National Civil war historian and lecturer Joseph Topinka of Bedford,Pa.

portraying Lt. Colonel John Cary of Virginia

Joseph Portrays individuals in the civil war on both sides of the struggle from privates, on up to Generals to electrify battle reenactments. For Manassas Joe portrayed J.B. Cary, a Va. artillerist. John Cary had the first 3 slaves of the civil war, confinscated as contraband of war. Joe wore his Cary's duplicate cowboy style hat with a white cloth band wrapped around it.
On the hat cloth he scribbed the same words on it,that the soldiers wore in the original battle in 1861.

Manassas was the best reenactment by far i have ever been to. No complaints anywhere of anykind. Clouds all weekend because of tropical storms from the southeast, kept things cool and nice. Sun kept peeking thru all day. Felt like fall weather on sunday. Joe did reb artillery for Jacksons artillery.

In the lineup of reb artillery were the V.M.I. Cannons called; Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John,

Joe on Stonewall Jacksons Guns

all bronze guns like the originals. Stonewall and his staff were right next to us. Barrels on the cannons were original tubes used in the civil war!
No one was doing the acting skits with Stonewall Jackson during the battle, so i started in with Jackson and he loved it. I said General they are beating us back, and he said i know...and dont you say anything about it. Then i saw the second wave of the attacking men, down the valley, i told him, General i beg to report, we are being reenforced by the trains from Manassas Junction railroad. He said... excellent! we shall soon have then on the run. There will be a video of the battle, released this fall. Much more to report on.
Joe
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