Muster 2010-The Valley

SATURDAY June 19, 2010
Lexington
It is said that no town in America retains the spirit of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson quite like Lexington. Virginia. Our highly anticipated day in Lexington was planned by the Lexington Visitor’s center so as to make the best use of our time in the land of Lee & Jackson. We will be guided by our very own, Richard (Zolli) Lewis. Michael Aubrecht and possibly a friend of Michael’s, Richard Williams, will accompany our group and add valuable commentary. Our tours for the day included Stonewall Jackson’s Lexington home, the Lexington Cemetery, VMI, and Washington and Lee Chapel museum and mausoleum.

The evening festivities will include our annual Mustering Out banquet in the Mountain Shadows Room of the Holiday Inn Express catered by Tbone’s Grill. Michael Aubrecht, chatroom member and speaker for the evening, plans to address the topic of "Jackson's Journey: Stonewall in the Valley". A special treat for musterers will be an Exclusive preview of the documentary movie, The Angel of Marye's Heights, which Michael has co-produced. Other events will be the annual Book Exchange, the awarding of the GGoOG* for 2010-2011, announcement of next year’s muster destination and Bluelady presenting her original musical composition, The Whippoorwill’s Lament.

Itinerary Shenandoah 2010 Pictures Soon to Follow
THURSDAY June 17, 2010 Cross Keys and Port Republic Those mustering in the Upper Shenandoah met in the Muster HQ parking lot at 8:00 AM to leave for Harrisonburg, VA. Our first stop was at Chestnut Ridge and the Turner Ashby memorial. (Follow the map and directions in your packet compiled by “Lincoln Fan”) From there we headed to Cross Keys Battlefield, a few miles down the road.We stopped at the Union Church, which marked the approximate location of the Confederate left and Union Right. Here we saw and discussed the events of June 8, 1862 as Ewell and Fremont squared off against each other as part of Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign against numerous Union armies. Lunch was in Harrisonburg. After Lunch we headed to Port Republic to see and discuss Stonewall’s final victory of the 1862 Valley Campaign. At the Lewiston Coaling we see the site of, and discuss the Battle of Port Republic on 9 June 1862 between Jackson’s Confederates and Brig. Gen. Erastus Tyler’s Federals. We then followed in the footsteps of Brig. Gen. Richard Taylor’s Louisiania Brigade by storming the Coaling to take in the excellent view of the battlefield it provides. On our return to Lexington and Muster HQ there was a tailgate party in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn (Muster HQ) starting at 6:30. The Menu for the Tailgate party included hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken breasts all grilled and with the appropriate condiments, baked beans, deviled eggs, fruit salad, veggie platter and potato salad. A BYOB event. Our packets also included places to see and visit in Lexington wanting to explore the town further.
FRIDAY June 18, 2010 New Market Our esteemed group left Muster HQ at 8:00 AM to head to New Market, VA to visit the battlefield now run by the Virginia Military Institute. This is the battle where Boy Cadets from VMI helped secure a Confederate victory on May 15, 1864. It was also the last Confederate victory in the Valley. We visited the Hall of Valor Museum, their small book store, viewed the movie Field of Lost Shoes, toured the Bushong farm and house, participated in an interactive program and toured the battlefield under the guidance of New Market Park guides. Exploration of the town and the rest of the battlefield was done by a few members, while the rest headed back to our HQ's. Lunch was a picnic at the Community park in the city of New Market. The menu for lunch included Lunchmeat and cheese for sandwiches with condiments, fruit salad, veggie tray, yogurt, chips, water and soda. The evening found us meeting together to discuss what we had seen that day.
SATURDAY June 19, 2010 Lexington It is said that no town in America retains the spirit of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson quite like Lexington. Virginia. Our highly anticipated day in Lexington was planned by the Lexington Visitor’s center so as to make the best use of our time in the land of Lee & Jackson. We will be guided by our very own, Richard (Zolli) Lewis. Michael Aubrecht and possibly a friend of Michael’s, Richard Williams, will accompany our group and add valuable commentary. Our tours for the day included Stonewall Jackson’s Lexington home, the Lexington Cemetery, VMI, and Washington and Lee Chapel museum and mausoleum. The evening festivities will include our annual Mustering Out banquet in the Mountain Shadows Room of the Holiday Inn Express catered by Tbone’s Grill. Michael Aubrecht, chatroom member and speaker for the evening, plans to address the topic of *"Jackson's Journey: Stonewall in the Valley". A special treat for musterers will be an Exclusive preview of the documentary movie, The Angel of Marye's Heights, which Michael has co-produced. Other events will be the annual Book Exchange, the awarding of the GGoOG for 2010-2011, announcement of next year’s muster destination and Bluelady presenting her original musical composition, The Whippoorwill’s Lament. *General Grant's Oil of Gladness Award, or HUG Award