The Christian Reenactor's Network presents:

Echoes from the Battlefield: A Critical Review

Chapters 10-14

Chapter 10: Dale--Richmond Burning

Dale C. is a fifty-year old Confederate reenactor, has the role of adjudent, and specializes in heavy artillery. He is a computer afficionado with professional experience in the computer industry. He grew up in the Panama Canal area as a result of his father's employment. Of special note is that the family maintained a housekeeper who practiced voodoo. During a bout with tonsilitis, Dale availed himself of her herbal remedies. Additionally, the housekeeper "prophesied that Dale would either die before thirty or live forever". (p.130) His numerous variety of narrow brushes with death as a youngster was interpreted, by himself, as consistent with this prophesy. Dale also interacted with the Darian Indians of Panama, becoming familiar with their supernatural views and experiences. (p.130) He is a proponent of the "genetic memory" view of reincarnation. The regression experience begins.

The subject finds himself in what is later identified as Richmond, the year is 1865. He relates that he is a civilian who owns two rental properties near his workplace. He is an accountant in a store office identified by "Hodgkiss and Clarke" on the window. He identifies himself as "Sherbrooke Clarke" (p.133). Richmond is in the process of falling to the invading Federals. He describes his wife's attire and physical appearance. He relates in anger that his son "John", called "Jack" or "Jacky", enlisted against his wishes, subsequently being killed near Richmond. (pp.133-134). Dale owned and subsequently freed his slave named "Barney" who remained with the family. The scene moves to a hospital, where Dale recounts that he is parked with his carriage, himself being the driver. He shares his sentiments concerning the sad state of the many "shot-up" men. The scene again changes.

Dale relates how the Yankees enter his town and the resulting fight razes a portion of the city. The Federal soldiers then leave, with the fires still burning. He reviews the scene, dead and dying soldiers all around. He describes a Yankee deserter named "Roger" who shares similar physical characteristics with Dale. Finding transportation, a dead soldier's horse, Dale begins his journey home. Once home, Dale observes that all is deserted except for Barney, who has been caretaking in his absence. Barney assisted in the relocation of Dale's two young girls. Dale then transitions into reminiscing about the years before the war. He relates details about the homestead, his mother, his slave Barney, neighbors, and his father's property. He visits and enters a neighbors home, describing with detail its appearance and past memories of the home's activities. Returning to his own homestead, he encounters Yankee soldiers in his house. A dialogue ensues about Dale's horses, his background, and his servant Barney. A "month" of time elapses in the regression account.

Back again at his homestead, a Union cavalry arrives demanding Dale's walking horse. The situation is resolved with the horse still in Dale's posession. In need of food, Dale departs for Richmond, leaving his wife and two girls in Barney's care. In Richmond he visits his ransacked office, describes the Union-occupied city environs, and relates his subsequent interaction with Yankees at the government house as he seeks money for seed to plant. Disillusioned with the outcome, he is told of seed in Petersburg. Dale borrows a doctor's horse, travels to Petersburg, then discovers that the story was untrue. There is no seed in Petersburg, the town "being destroyed" .(p.143) He find's a "half-burned farmhouse...and it's got seed" (p.144). Located another horse to haul the precious cargo, he heads back to Richmond. Returning to Richmond, the corn is planted and soon the war ends. Dale notes that the neighbor boys returned, having been paroled. Their last name is said to be "Snell". The regression session concludes.

Lane notes that during his regression Dale "was unable to make minor adjustments to the scenes" according to her suggestions (p.145). She relates this outcome to similar results with several of the other regression subjects. She contrasts two opposing views of this phenomenon, citing other past-life researchers. Lane then notes that Dale's regression events chronology was confirmed, and a number of story details were determined to be feasible (p.146). A major detail, the existence of "Hodgkiss and Clarke" was not confirmed after much research. Lane then reviews an extensive number of possible matches for Dale's son "John" and the "Snell brothers". The chapter then concludes with Lane stating that "genetic memory or not, he wove a fascinating story..."(p.148).

Chapter 11: Ed--Food for the Soul

Both parents of Ed E. had ancestors in the Civil War. As his interest in the Civil War developed from childhood, he eventually chose to be a history Major in college, focusing on American and European history (p.150). He has reenacted Confederate for thirteen years. After recounting several reenactment-related personal experiences, Lane states that he felt that "cellular or genetic memory" was his preferred explanation. The regression commences.

It's nighttime and Ed is charged with delivering some papers to Colonel John's staff (p.152). He identifies himself as "Bob Sanders" of the 1st Maryland. He encounters and is captured by the enemy. His papers are confiscated. The next day he is on a train, presumably bound for prison. While en route, he reveals that he hails from Frederick, Maryland. He shortly arrives at the Federal prison at Elmira, New York. In anger, the subject reacts to the harsh prison surroundings. He complains of hunger, then states that he can't keep down food. Suddenly, he is in the prison hospital, crying and lying in bed. His pain ends as he relates a feeling of weakness, tiredness, darkness. The scene transitions as Lane suggests he "rise up and look down at his body" (p.154) She indicates that he did not respond to this, but upon surfacing from his regression "he told me that the colors he had seen during his death-memory experience had changed from light to dark" (p.154)

Lane cites supportive findings from the research of Dr. Edith Fiore, Dr. Raymond Moody, and psychic readings of Edgar Cayce (p. 155). She explores commonalities and contrasts among other regressed reenactors. In post-script fashion, Lane indicates that Ed E. acted in the motion picture "Andersonville" and she reviews his emotional responses when he later visited the prison site and museum. Also, Lane cited the fact that Ed had indicated while he had chosen to reenact as a Confederate, he "always felt that he saw Pickett's charge through the Union line" (p.156). His personal research supported this unusual experience, attributed to the battlefield location of the 1st Maryland. Next, Ed notes the discovery of a Confederate cavalryman who bore his identical real-life name and was killed in Newtown, Virginia in 1864 (p.157).

Concluding the account of Ed's regression outcomes, Lane submits research which suggested possibilities for the identity of "Bob Saunders" or "Bob Sanders". She notes "strong possible indentities" (p.157) but no matches. Finally, she states that "Whatever the explanation for Ed's recalled life, his humiliation at being caught, his anger at how he was treated as prisoner, and his painful death now seemed to be seared into his twentieth-century emotional makeup" (p.158).

Chapter 12: Tom--An Officer and Gentleman

Coming from a long-time military family, Tom G. at an early age developed a keen interest in military strategies and history. For a time he pursued a history major in college, with a view towards becoming a teacher. He eventually secured a civilian job with the U.S. Army wherein he had twenty-years experience. His interest in the Civil War period was such that he felt that he was "born 150 years too late" (p.160). He noted that his family's genealogical roots extend into the Civil War era. Initially reenacting Confederate with the Stonewall Brigade, Tom has been involved also as a Federal reenactor the last few years. He enjoyed participating in the motion picture "Gettysburg".

Tom indicated that "he trusted in God and in an afterlife and expressed high hopes that he would recall a Civil War past life during the regression" (p.162). The regression begins.

Identifying 1840 as the year, Tom reviews his surroundings and notes that he is anticipating dinner, waiting in line. He speaks of his friend "Nathan" who is nearby. Nathan identifies the year as "1840 or 1846". He is in Lousiana. It has been a long time since the men have been home (p.163). Tom then states that his family resides in "Mary-land" (later noted as "Upper Maryland--Springs")and that his name is "Jonathan Cates" (p.163). At this point in the narration, Tom indicates that he is at attention with the rest of the militia (the "Frederick Rifles"), being informed by officer "John Stewart" of an impending visit by "General Scott". The general arrives and the militia is informed of upcoming military action against Mexico.

Traveling by boat, everyone gets sick en route to Mexico. He arrives, completes his first battle victoriously and describes in its aftermath the sights and sound of the action. He then marches to Mexico City, arriving at Vera Cruz. He soon contracts an illness and is returned to Louisiana by boat. Once in Louisiana, he regains his health. Sadly, he discovers that his friend Nathan was killed. Jonathan chooses to stay in the New Orleans area and soons finds employment as a seaman on a cargo ship. An accident seriously injures his left leg while sailing to England. As a result, he obtains employment, saves some money, and purchases passage back to America, choosing to settle in Pennsylvania rather than Maryland (p.168). He is well enough to enlist with the 71st Pennsylvania and is made a captain. Lane suggests that he move forward to his first major battle. It is revealed as occurring at Gettysburg in the midst of a tremendous cannonade. His brigade is located by a stone wall. The Rebels approaching by the thousands, he takes a hit in the stomach. He then states "That's strange. I just saw Nathan before me. He's beckoning to me. It's getting dark. I hurt so bad. My insides are on fire. I can hear commotion. It's like nobody sees me any more. Nathan is there. I can't see anything anymore. It's very dark" (p.170). Lane suggests he "rise up" and look down at his body. He describes the death scene, the surrounding carnage, a brigade movement by General Webb. He recollects Mexico, sees a "soft light, a candle that's just barely flickering" (p.171). Finally it becomes quiet, Nathan is no longer present, he considers closing his eyes in sleep.

In her assessment of Tom's regression, she observes that not only was a glimpse of the Mexican-American war seen, but Tom was one of only two Civil War soldiers who were officers. She appeals to research by Helen Wambach, Noel Langley, and Edgar Cayce, stating that it appears to conform to their reincarnation research findings.

Jonathan Cate's actual existence is determined to be inconclusive with no perfect match, however a number of possible name variations are offered. Following the session, Tom's "injured knee" did indeed, he indicated, still feel painful and stiff.

Chapter 13: David--Living Death

A reenactor with fifteen years experience, David M. enjoys both infantry and artillary involvments. He served in the U.S. Army for ten years, including time in Vietnam as a combat photographer. He is now a medical photographer and enjoys having a supportive wife who also participates in reenacting by making period clothing. In 1994, David heard three fellow reenactors describe their individual regression experiences. The interaction with them captivated David's attention to the extent that he felt compelled to pursue his own regression experience, so he contacted Barbara Lane. He had already considered reincarnation a plausible concept. With his family having Samuel Morse as an ancestor, he was interested in finding out more about how Morse taught Matthew Brady photography skills. After David quotes General George Patton, a believer in reincarnation, the regression commences.

David's first session, ninety-minutes in length, has few comments by Lane. David stated that this regression was a venture into the pre-French and Indian War period. He did manifest physical discomfort during, and subsequent to the session.

On his second attempt, he describes "looking out the back of a wagon" (p.177). There is evidently an "explosion" and his hypnotic state is broken.

A week later, Lane attempted a third regression for David. This time, David relates that the date is 1858 and he might be a farmer. Lane encourages him to move forward in time, he notes that he is standing in a town, it's cold, and he visualizes a woman's face. He then abruptly shifts scenes to a large open field. Lane suggests once more that he move forward to the "next significant event". He does so, describing that he is walking (evidently in column formation) by a red clapboard house, muskets have fixed-bayonets, and he notes a few other details. "There's an explosion. Dirt and smoke are flying up in the air" (p.178). He describes this as an artillary barrage. David physically reacts to this scene while under hypnosis and he starts shaking. Eventually, he states that he "can't see or feel anything" (p.179). At this revelation, Lane suggests that David "rise above his body and observe it". At this point in the session, David reveals the character's identity as "George Henderson, Company K, 2nd Rhode Island" (p.179). The session concludes.

Lane explains how David's physical reactions were in keeping with "chain-stoking", a physiological reaction to battle stress that results in a increased heart rate, sweating, convulsions, and possibly death. The author cites previous studies by Dr. Ian Stevenson, Dr. Edith Fiore, and Helen Wambach. Lane notes that in the "lifelike, realistic quality of the reenactor's recalled memories...The vividness, coupled with the emotions, led them to rate their regression experiences an average of eighty-five percent for realism and to raise their belief in the possibility of reincarnation by nearly twenty percent [emphasis mine] (p.181).

Concluding this chapter, Lane explores the historic validity of the experiences related and the identity of George Henderson. Historian Brian Pohanka indicated that there were indeed early engagements by the 2nd Rhode Island. However, as to the subject's identity match in the records, Lane's research does not confirm the name George Henderson from the 2nd Rhode Island. She states: "Despite no firm match in the Civil War records, David's regression experience explained strange feelings he's had in his current life. As a reenactor, he has had an eerie feeling of familiarity in the early battles of the war, but no emotional involvement with the later battles" (p.182).

Chapter 14: Paul--Home to Alexandria

A reenactor with five-years of experience and significant expertise in three different periods (Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War II), Paul J.'s premier enjoyment is the civilian role. When portraying military for the Civil War, he adopts the Union cause. While in college, Paul specialized in fine art, but history was his hobby, as he found "the subject filled with all the drama, adventure, and mystery of life" (p.184). Today he enjoys his hobby with the interest and support of his wife and two children.

In researching his family's genealogy, Paul discovered a Union soldier as well as a connection to Samuel B. Morse (however, Paul did not know the previous subject David. M.).

Philosophically, Paul "considered the theory of reincarnation implausible" (p.185) and was scientifically predisposed to the idea of genetic memory. He appealed to the migration patterns of animals as a possible evidence for this. Lane then begins the regression activity.

Paul immediately relates that he is in a field "lying down, looking up...I feel dead" (p.185). Lane quickly seeks character identification before he "dies". He states his name as "Henry", the year as "1889" and his location "Connecticut". He is told by Lane to move to another scene. He quickly does, stating that he is on a hill near Pennsylvania harbor in 1941, gazing upon the town and a docked battleship. Again, Lane suggests a time shift. Paul arrives in 1840. The subject says his name "begins with a "C" and his location is "Bedford" (p.186). He sees a black sewing machine in a shop. After describing a few other details, and due to the length of the regression session, Paul becomes tired and Lane concludes the interaction with him. He returns the following week.

Once under hypnosis, Paul speaks of being with his sister "in the hallway of a train station...We're waiting for the president" (p.187). Shortly, he changes his purpose to that of picking up an unidentified person who, he believes, he may have met previously. The subject notes that he works and lives at the hotel to which he will transport the individual. A description of the surroundings is given, along with a correction of being at a business location near the tracks rather than at the station. He points to his geographical location as "Alexandria". A camp of soldiers is "up the street". The scene changes.

Now alone and on the other side the tracks, he observes the Federals constructing a wall or gate across the tracks. "King Street" is nearby. Finally, his understanding clarifies. He is waiting for President Lincoln's funeral car. As the war is seemingly over and Paul appears frustrated at his regression outcome, Lane and the subject terminate the session.

Lane then shifts the remainder of the book's chapter to a discussion of regression-related research with regards to metaphysics (defined by Webster's New World Dictionary as "the branch of philosophy that deals with first principles and seeks to explain the nature of being or reality and of the origin and structure of the world."). This researcher considers the following material pivotal to understanding the reincarnationist's paradigm. It is the key presupposition and point of crescendo for both practioner and believer in the "regression" concept.

Stating that something she has found "particularly intriguing" common to the reenactors' regression accounts was "the concept of continuing where you left off..." (p.189). This is then surmised by Lane to be connected with the"law of karma" (p.189) later described as "the law of cause and effect" (p.191). Could Yankees and Rebels switch both geographical and philosophical experiences in the "next life"? She develops her hypothesis referencing the regression experience of Paul J. as well as other subjects of this study. Lane also notes in international draw of Civil War reenacting, arguing against the likelihood of genetic or race memory theories. She appeals to a work by Helen Wambach in Researching Past Lives: The Evidence Under Hypnosis. In this foundational volume, Helen Wambach surmises that a distribution of geographical reference points is not unusal, i.e., an American subject might indicate a past-life in another country. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that Non-Americans could regress as American in a past life (p.190). She then explores the relationship of the reenactor's choice of idealogical sides, then moves into developing her reincarnationist foundations. She posits that the following research outcomes support her findings:

Using a number of reincarnationist research findings from "Fiore, Lucas, Goldberg and Netherton" in addition to Gina Cerminara, Dr. Fred Rheinhold, Dr. Ian Stevenson, Edgar Cayce, and Lynn Sparrow" (p.191), Lane explores the concept of karma, implying that somewhere among the varied rearch existed support for the karmic model. While she does not commit to a definitive analyses of the Paul J. regression account, Lane concludes this chapter with particular focus on a quote from Edgar Cayce, drawn from the Lynn Sparrow work, regarding Cayce's position on the "law of continuation":

"The karmic law of cause and effect reflects our tendency to carry on in a new setting and under new circumstances, much the same old things" (p.192).

Finally, with reference to the validity of some of the Paul J. regression information, Lane states that his was a "vivid view of the layout of 1865 Alexandria". Lincoln's funeral car, it turns out, was built on "Duke Street", indeed in Alexandria. Lane notes that Paul J. had was not consciously aware" that it was built there (p.192). Also, a reference to a "black sewing machine" in his 1840's episode is deemed possible by historian Brian Pohanka.

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