Wow, that's awesome, and I am sorry to hear he has moved on.
Save and cherish those tapes! I'm sure when the time comes and you feel it is right you will donate them to help better educate the future generations of the last great war!! Glad to hear it.
Civil War is a blast! My last reenactment was a grand old time!
My mess unit was portraying the 12th NJ at the battle of Hatcher's run - 1865. Small event with just us guys and the rebs...
We had to eneter the snow covered woods mind you with only what Civil War soldiers would have, period close, rations of bread, some rotten cheese and water. The Rebs were dug in off in the woods in some nice rifle pits. WE had to go locate them. Since it was late war tactics were improving and we spreaded out into 2 squads. Well, we finally located them when they challenged us with the password (this was all done in 1st person) and we had no answer, they let a few rounds off and we pulled back a bit. We immediately started to dig in with our period trenches.
1st problem - Cold, wet, muddy
2nd problem - our period tools broke
We then abandoned the rifle pits started to pile tree limbs between trees as our outposts. We had line with copper and tin cups hanging from it, 2 hour patrol shifts. IT WAS A BLAST!
We ended up encountering the Rebs in a few skirmishes also. Both lines jawing back and forth - and 1st person makes it feel as you were there.
^^this is why i do it... our group does this individual events that make the civil war experience much more enjoyable.
I can understand where you are coming from with not liking it that much. The F.A.R.B.S. who roll to events in their mobile homes take away from the whole experience.
Anyways, I'm glad to hear you have acquired those items, and maybe get a pic up or 2 of them and your Grandfather!
Regards,
Graham