THE POTOMAC LEGION is a battalion-level Civil War living history organization, dedicated to a campaigner-oriented, research-based impression. The Legion was officially organized in January, 2001 and typically portrays Eastern Federal troops, although our impression changes to fit the needs of the event.
The Potomac Legion is comprised of campaigner units with members throughout the eastern United States, from New York to North Carolina, and from Michigan to Maine and Canada. The Legion's impression is dictated by the event and portrayal, and changes from event to event.
The Legion attends approximately three to four high-quality, campaign-oriented events per year. In contrast to large, "mainstream" reenactments where the level of historical accuracy is arguable, the Potomac Legion's events include high-quality reenactments, such as McDowell 2001 and "Burkittsville 1862"; living histories-often on original battlefields; marches, such as the Bentonville 2000 preservation march and Rob Hodge's Loudoun County Preservation Mach 2000; and preservation events.
The Legion stands apart from other Federal battalion-level organizations because we:
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The Potomac Legion drums a deserter from the ranks at the Gettysburg battlefield living history, August, 2000. Photo by Ray Legere. |
While the Potomac Legion realizes that attitude and correct
living history methods are more important than stitch counting,
we nevertheless expect our members to upgrade their uniforms and
equipment in accordance with the Legion's standards and documented
research.
The mission of the Potomac Legion is to portray
Federal soldiers of the Civil War era as accurately as possible.
As such, it is expected that members of the Potomac Legion and
men who fall in with us are interested in an authentic living
history experience. Members of the Legion wear the correct uniforms
and equipment for each event and portrayal, engage in more-accurate
camp life-whether "on campaign" or in garrison, and
foster an atmosphere and attitude conducive to living history.
We invite you to tour our website and learn more
about the Legion and campaign/progressive Civil War reenacting.
Please follow the buttons at the left side of your screen to navigate
our site.
In addition to this site, the websites of our member units contain a great deal of additional valuable information and resources
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The Potomac Legion in a bayonet charge at the Gettysburg battlefield living history, August, 2000. Photo by Ray Legere. |
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The Potomac Legion and its member units typically portray Eastern Federal troops, including the Army of the Potomac, Army of the James, Army of the Shenandoah, Army of Virginia, and other impressions. These armies, especially the Army of the Potomac, suffered the highest casualties of all Federal armies in the Civil War, and made history on fields such as Bull Run, the York/James Peninsula, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, the Shenandoah Valley, Petersburg, Appomattox, and countless other actions, large and small.
For too long, the memory of the brave men of the Army of the Potomac and other Eastern Federal armies was not accurately presented in an historical context by a living history battalion organization--until now."
Contacting the Legion
The Legion is governed by an elected Board of Directors; the 2007 Board is: