Since this event was so monumental, members who attended were asked to each provide a few paragraphs describing what made it special to them.

For those who did not attend, you truly missed the experience of a life-time. The weather was close to perfect, the organization was adequate, the site was a nice piece of ground, and the company was the best! The PLA camped campaign style which made it easier to move camp when required, and also easier to leave at the end.

It is rare that any unit gets to portray themselves at any national event, but that is exactly what we did on Sunday for "Pickett's Charge". As most of you know, Þve guns went forward in support of the assault, and one of those guns was a 12 pdr. Þeld howitzer from the PLA. Not only did we get to portray that gun, but we had the opportunity to do it horsedrawn. Lt. F---- hitched his horses to our limber and pulled Sweet Caroline forward to Þre in support of the assault.

I'm sure that all of us will always remember the moment when the galloping horses pulled our gun around the corner of the barn and we all ran behind. When we saw the view of the full battleÞeld, most of us just stopped as if hit by a brick wall. The most special moment for me, however, was when we had unlimbered and were Þring. Since I was portraying Lt. McQueen, the time came for me to be wounded, and I went down. As I was kneeling there looking across the battleÞeld and thinking of all those brave men who were there 135 years ago, my eyes were so full of tears that I could not even see. Sunday afternoon was truly the high point of my reenacting career, and I doubt if another such moment will come for a long time, if ever.

All of us who went to Gettysburg have something special to share. I could tell you about being (probably) the only female soldier in "hardcore camp". Judging from the many men relieving themselves in close proximity to my dog-tent, my presence was, in general, unsuspected. It's not that the disguise was that good, it's just that few would have thought a woman crazy enough to camp amongst these fanatics.

I could write about Pickett's Charge. To participate as we did was an experience none of us will forget. Amidst the thundering of horse teams and the roar of cannon, I let out a deep-from-with-inside whoop such as seldom passes these staid and somber lips.

Yet for me, perhaps the most meaningful experience of all occurred on the way home. A simple act of devotion, repeated by thousands across a period of time spanning more than a century: I laid a rose at Lee's tomb.

Anyone traveling through Virginia on I-81 should realise that the remains of Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and their beloved horses, are just a few miles off the highway in Lexington, VA. Coming home from Gettysburg I had to stop.

"I'm sorry, General Lee. We've failed once again. But we did our very best... and we'd do it again."

There were a few moments for me.

While we were in support of the infantry advance up Little Round Top; watching the infantry in line marching up the hill the disappear into the tree line then. Then with a fury gun Þre starts that was continuous for 40 minutes. You could not see the troops, just the smoke from hundreds of riþes Þring at once rising through the trees . I could only imagine what was happening.

The part of Gettysburg I will remember for the rest of my life: arriving just before our gun was pulled into position by horse and seeing the entire battleÞeld before me. Large tears formed in my eyes at the site. I could not describe it, you would have to see it for yourself.

Looking on the Þeld seeing bodies all over, troops scattered. In the middle of the Þeld stood two Confederate regiments, standing in formations and Þring volley after volley. Thinking back to when times were real, thinking of the courage it would have taken. That is the part of Gettysburg I will always remember.

The only word to describe this event is huge! Everything was massive. From the camps that seemed to go on forever, to the battles that involved thousands of troops. I think I can speak for each member of the PLA and say that the climax of the event was when we were able to reenact the PLA's role in the Picket-Trimble-Pettigrew assault. As our crew and horse-drawn gun rounded a barn and began our advance with the infantry, the sight we beheld will not soon be forgotten by any of us. The only way I can describe the view, is that I felt as if I was entering a painting of the assault. For a few moments, I was there. The view was at the same time beautiful and frightening.

Another highlight of the event was our campaign style camp in the woods near the battle Þeld. We were joined by the 4th Virginia and the 10th Texas. These guys are really hard-core so our little wooded area was probably the most realistic campsite of all. The only canvas to be seen was our gun tarp and Lee's dog tent. It's too bad the spectators didn't have an opportunity to see how the troops really camped.