Officers, including Col. Mosby, in Warrenton, Va. for Heritage Day.

After another flood of rain on Friday, Sept. 23, in Gettysburg, I made the trek to Warrenton, Va. for the annual Heritage Day celebration on Saturday with a bit of trepidation.

The forecast didn’t allow me to be very hopeful, but as luck would have it, the day turned out to be perfect — not too hot and no rain at all.

I had a fantastic day signing copies of my historical fiction novel Noble Cause in front of the historic Warren-Green Hotel and met lots of wonderful people. The day included  living historians, lectures, reenactments, tours, entertainment and hands-on demonstrations. The highlight of the event was the Living History Parade that featured re-enactors from the 250 years of Warrenton and Fauquier heritage.

General Lee, ever gracious, tips his hat as he walks by.

Of course, the highlight for me was the appearance of Colonel John S. Mosby who was the impetus for the main character in Noble Cause and Shades of Gray. He lived in Warrenton after the Civil War and practiced law in the courthouse that sat right in front of me. He is buried in the Warrenton Cemetery along with a number of his men.

I was so busy throughout the day that I didn’t get much time to sight-see. Just out of my view during the signing was a building that was a barber shop during the War Between the States. Mosby was supposedly getting a shave there when a Yankee officer walked in and questioned Mosby himself. Because Mosby had shaving cream all over his face, the officer accepted his statement that he was a private in the Union army.

I was lucky that I got to sit beside Mosby historian, author and film maker Don Hakenson, who was a treasure trove of Mosby antecdotes. I purchased a copy of the documentary Mosby’s Combat Operations in Fairfax County, from him, which I highly recommend.

Until next time…
Jessica James