Brothers,

The fall campaign season, our 12th, is upon us. In very many ways, the hobby has changed. I see the changes, and I feel the changes in my heart. I remember in the not so distant past having five or six events between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. I remember fields full of men and their sons; glorying in the fall & glorying in their heritage. I remember falling out every other weekend with a grand group of men. Men who I thought I would grow old with.

Yes, the hobby has changed. The events have become fewer. The full companies... Like our forefathers before, had become thin and battle depleted. The richness of fellowship that we enjoyed with other units is diminished as each unit becomes clannish. Many of the friends and comrades who once served our colors have fallen by the wayside.

Indeed, the hobby has changed.

But take heart my brothers. I come here not to lament the death of our lifestyle... And while I note that times have become, for lack of a better term, a little lean. There have been changes that have made things better.

There are fewer events. So what? If you remember back to “the old days". We left a lot of events saying, "Well, that was just okay." How often do we say that now? There isn't an reenactment, drill, or social event that I attend now that does not bring me joy. I love to set up and I hate to leave. Further, the scarcity of events tends to get the entire unit on the ground at the same time. When we were doing 2 to 3 events per month, it was rare to see 50% of the membership.

I look at the dwindling numbers of reenactors as a blessing, a mixed blessing certainly, but a blessing nonetheless. The quality of infantry units that oppose us as certainly suffered. From a tactical point of view, that is not a bad thing. It has allowed us, with a relatively small Battalion, to become a force to be reckoned with on any field we take. Further, the thinning of the ranks has forced many of the true dipstick officers out of the hobby.

To run one better, I will state that, manpower wise, we're in better shape than we were 10 years ago. We are in better shape than we were five years ago. I attribute much of this to the direct grace and blessing of Almighty God. The unique combination of brotherhood, military excellence, fellowship, and personalities has allowed us to attract some really great people. Further, our fellowship with the second North Carolina mounted infantry and the third US artillery have given us a safe haven of like thinking soldiers.

As to empty seats around the fire... Looking at our membership from the first 3 to 4 years of our existence, only Harve, Ritchie, and I remain.  I miss every friend I have lost over the last 12 years. To be honest with you, there isn't a man who is served under our colors that I wouldn't take back – even the ones we would have to give a second (or third) chance. Having said that... I think that for every man who is left the ranks, God has given us another as good or better to replace them. I stated at the beginning of this editorial that I was surrounded by grand men whom I thought I would grow old with. Today, I am surrounded by grand men who I hope to grow old with.

Our fellowship, our brotherhood, to me is a grand gift. The fact that I can sit around a fire with such a splendid group of men remains one of the great blessings in my life.

Yes, the hobby has changed. Yes, it will continue to change. Who cares? Lads, grab your arms; grab your traps; put on your war faces... It is time for a season of grand adventure!

Your Obedient Servant in the Cause We all Hold Dear,

Duke