DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are Civil War re-enactors. (My husband is a cannon soldier and I am a nurse re-enactor.) We would greatly appreciate it if you would remind your readers that if they come to any of the re-enactments to please not talk to the participants while they are firing weapons in "battle" because it could distract them. Something could go wrong and they could be badly injured. Thank you, Abby. -- CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTOR IN ELMIRA, N.Y.

DEAR RE-ENACTOR: I'm pleased to pass along your important reminder. It would be a shame if someone became a casualty of a war that ended in 1865. People who attend a war re-enactment should realize they are watching a performance, and not participating in "history."

What I am trying to figure out is how are spectators that close to the "battle" where they can talk to a person who should be focused on their role.

I know that even at a small venue like Ridley where the crowd is close enough to hear us and vice versa, we need to ignore them and pay attention to what we are doing.  At the last Ridley event, my son was a spectator and was trying desperately to get my attention because he wanted to tell me something.  I chose to ignore his requests because I had 10 men under my control who I needed to take care of and make sure they were doing their jobs.

Greg,

I saw that post also. I figured it must be a ham and yam event if the spectators are that close to artillery and also since she said her husband was a cannon soldier which is the first time I have ever heard that to describe artillery. I am also trying to figure out nurse re-enactor unless the event is  one of Dorthea Dix's Hospitals, I assume she is an ice angel?