Explosive Device Found at Cedar Creek During Reenactment
By Joseph Bordonaro · Originally published December 2017 · pp. 28–29
MIDDLETOWN, Va.—Thankfully, the device discovered in a sutler’s tent during the recent reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek did not explode, but nevertheless it caused great concern and caused a scaling back of events following the discovery. This can have a tremendous impact on the entire Shenandoah Valley. “Civil War reenactments and landmarks are a huge force for tourism in the Shenandoah Valley, bringing thousands of people and nearly $300 million overall each year.”1 Prior to the device being found, the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation had received a letter threatening “bodily harm” to participants. The Foundation immediately communicated this threat to the reenacting community as well as the general public. This seems to have reduced attendance at the event, as observed by this reporter, compared to previous years. Many dismissed the letter as an empty threat, but then the device was discovered on site. “On Saturday, the battlefield had to be “temporarily cleared”… The public was not allowed onto the battlefield or into the reenactor camps Sunday, but could watch the battle from a distance.”2 As it turned out, some vendors were not able to return to their tents until Sunday. The reenactors, however, went forward, as best they could with the reenactment, with slightly lower numbers present as some groups decided to leave. Those that stayed, however, “gathered for an impromptu chant of “U.S.A” at the end of the event”3, to show their determination to not back down in the face of what appeared to be the desire on at least one person’s part to damage their ability to continue educating the public about the events of the Civil War. After police were called, around 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, “Virginia State Police determined that the object was safe and no one was hurt…The FBI and its partners are investigating this matter.”4 Before determining that the object was safe, however, a massive disruption of the event occurred due to public safety concerns. “Evacuations of the immediate area began and a safe zone was established…Following the evacuation, a portion of Valley Pike (U.S. 11) near the battlefield was blocked off…Evening events that were supposed to take place on the site, including a reenactor’s ball, were canceled…Many of the reenactors were evacuated to Middletown Elementary School while the site was being investigated by the authorities.”5 As of Monday, Oct. 23, law enforcement and FBI officials have not issued any additional information on the incident. One can only imagine how distressing these events were to participants and their families. Hopefully this will prove to be an isolated incident and authorities will track down and prosecute the perpetrator(s). Meanwhile, we shouldn’t forget that the reenactment did continue to take place despite the event. Reenactors have an abiding love of sharing the history of the Civil War and will not be easily dissuaded from continuing to do so. In fact, it is possible that this incident will only strengthen reenacting by creating a desire to make an even greater effort to reenact and to visit historic sites. As John Buchheiser, of the Maryland Sutler, who was at Cedar Creek, wrote this reporter: “The week following the incident, even though Gettysburg is now in the off tourist season, my store was busy and a few of the local hotels were all booked up for the weekend.”
Other Breaking News Although not connected, there was another bomb incident at a Virginia historical location. One week, almost to the hour, after a “device” was discovered at the Cedar Creek reenactment, an improvised explosive device was detonated in Williamsburg, Va. The bomb went off in a parking lot at the intersection of South Boundary St. and Francis St., just outside Old Colonial Williamsburg, at about 5 p.m. No one was hurt and there was no damage to any vehicles in the parking lot, according to authorities. Stephen Powers, of Gloucester, Va., was arrested by the Williamsburg Police Department. He was charged with “possession of and using an explosive device and committing an act of terrorism.” (Source: WAVY.com, Oct. 19, 2017.)
henrydeeks . com WHSV 3 Harrisonburg, Va., online, Oct. 16, 2017 2. Washington Post, Dan Morse and Michael E. Miller, Oct. 15, 2017 3. IBID 4. WUSA*9, Sheila Wright and Stephanie Ramirez, Oct. 16, 2017 5. Winchester, Va., Star, Josh Janney, Oct. 15, 2017
