Cadets help at Battle of Waynesboro Reenactments

Fishburne Military School cadets welcomed every one of the hundreds of observers attending the two-day Civil War reenactment events sponsored by the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation, Inc., on April 11 and 12 at beautiful Locust Isle plantation six miles north of Waynesboro.

While the cannons, horses, tents, campfires, and Confederate and Union Re-enactors were the primary focus of successive-day reenactments of  an 1862 rear-guard action at the Battle of Second Manassas that resulted in the death of local Confederate cavalry commander Major William Patrick and the 1864 Battle of Waynesborough, the Fishburne cadets performed a variety of necessary ceremonial and support functions and earned expressions of gratitude from event organizers, participants, and spectators.

Cadets saw to the parking of hundreds of cars, aided Foundation staff through both eight-hour events, and lent their own unique appearance to the well-attended encampment.  Particular praise was accorded Cadet Cochran, who was at the site by 8 a. m. Sunday morning to provide bagpipe music for a special memorial service for family members at Major Patrick’s grave in the plantation’s family cemetery.

Foundation President Shirley L. Bridgeforth and Vice-President BG (VA) William W. Alexander, retired FMS superintendent, both complimented the military school cadets for their tireless support activities throughout the weekend.

The original Battle of Waynesborough, which saw Union Generals Sheridan and Custer defeat General Early’s Confederate forces on a rainy day in March 1864, took place on and around the hill that in less than two decades became the site of Fishburne Military School.

Other cadets supporting the weekend activities included Kingery, Barat, Nicholson, Pinner, Harrison, Thomas, Whitlow and Cochran.  In addition, history students from the school attended some of the events.