Little Fork Rangers (4th VA Cavalry, Co D)
“FIGHT THE BATTLE”
Introducing the Little Fork Rangers, a new Civil War reenactment group that I have begun. This is based on the real Little Fork Rangers, who became the 4th Virginia Cavalry, Company D.
We are actively recruiting cavalry reenactors and also dismounted cavalry reenactors (i.e. you don’t have a horse!). If this is something that you would like to try, please get in touch.
The “FIGHT THE BATTLE” motto that I have started using is an attempt to get away from cavalry reenactors who simply sit on their horses, and do not take advantage of the reenactment to fight as cavalry would have fought. Although these reenactments follow a rough script (unless they don’t and there is a only a very limited plan!) then there are plenty of opportunities to conduct the battle as it would have been fought. Also, there is a thing called a ‘tactical’ where it is not a reenactment but a battle that can be won depending on what action you take.
As a cavalryman you will be armed with a carbine, a revolver(s) and a saber. You will take part in active saber fights with the opposing side.
I have created a website (https://littleforkrangers.com/), and also a FB and IG pages.
Little Fork Rangers were a 19th-century volunteer cavalry company from Culpeper County, Virginia. Formed in 1859 and mustered in 1861 at the historic Little Fork Episcopal Church in Rixeyville, Virginia, the unit later became Company D of the 4th Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War. The church is just up the road from where we live. Created around the time of John Brown’s raid and the onset of the Civil War. The Little Fork Rangers used the grounds of the colonial Little Fork Episcopal Church to train before heading to combat. They fought as part of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.
At the end of the war, they rode home and disbanded rather than formally surrendering at Appomattox in 1865.
Memorial and Legacy: A large marble memorial was erected on the south lawn of the Little Fork Episcopal Church and dedicated on May 25, 1904. Their history is chronicled in the regional military book “The Little Fork Rangers: A Sketch of Company ‘D’ Fourth Virginia Cavalry.”
It is true that the reenactment world has been shrinking. I got myself and my two eldest boys into it. There are plenty of youth who are reenacting. Yes, it is true that the other end of the scale is guys who are ageing out, but it’s important to keep this great hobby alive.
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