First of all I would like to congratulate LMU's Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum. I am not certain but I think most of the group I saw on Sunday, September 9 were some of the same reenactors that presented The Battle of Tazewell more than a year ago. I am certain that General Robert E. Lee was portrayed by the same man that presented the program and final salute to arms. He, by far, improved his presentation being more about the pain and suffering that both sides felt. There was a sound system where at the Battle of Tazewell there was none that played music and narratives that also followed the pain and suffering theme. Overall it was, as one would expect, in following with the fine LMU tradition of being a well planned and historically accurate event.

I filmed this event also and will look forward in comparing this with the 2006 Battle of Tazewell to see if General Robert E. Lee was as I suspect, the same man.

WBIR Channel 10 said the following:

Both sides facing each other in straight lines is a realistic representation of Civil War fighting. But there was no actual frontal assault at Cumberland Gap.

"What we're seeing is a representation of a lot of skirmishes that took place all around the Cumberlands," said Tom Mackie, Director of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at LMU.

Cumberland Gap was strategic for both sides because it was a main transportation route.

For WBIR's article with pictures and film you can click here.

Back to Joe Payne's Genealogy Page