CARTER GOSPEL SINGERS HEADLINE ROSE HILL RAID SCHEDULE

The famed Carter Gospel Singers are a feature of the program of the Rose Hill Raid reenactment scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2013. The program commemorates the capture of Union Colonel Daniel Dulany at the Rose Hill manor house exactly 150 years ago to the day! It will take place at the Rose Hill Elementary School, 6301 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22310. It is being sponsored by the Rose Hill Civic Association and the Franconia Museum and begins at 11 a.m.

In the original raid, Confederate raider Major John Singleton Mosby went to the Rose Hill manor house located on what is now May Boulevard and captured Colonel Daniel Dulany, an aide to the Union appointed governor of the Restored State of Virginia.  One of Mosby's men on the raid was Dulany's son, French.

The actual raid and the taking of Dulany will occur at noon. The party will ride on horseback from the original location of the house, up May Boulevard to the school where a program explaining the raid will take place. Local historian Don Hakenson will tell the story of the raid and introduce re-enactors in period costume who will explain their characters involved in the raid. A reenactor portraying Anne Frobel, who lived at nearby Wilton Hill, will recite passages from Frobel's diary that mentioned her neighbor, Dulany, and the report of the raid.

The Carter singers will cap off the program with selections of period gospel songs. If you have never heard this group, you are in for a treat. In its 44th year, the group is made up of singers from the nearby Woodlawn United Methodist Church. Originally composed entirely of members of the Carter family, today's group includes eight children of the family that began singing in 1969 in a program celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the church's Choir.

Other highlights include an appearance by re-enactors portraying a Confederate Signal Corps using flags to communicate with distant units and commanders. The flag-bearers will give advance notice of the Mosby raiding party's arrival at the school.  Featured performers will be Jimmy Fleming, a living historian whose portrayals of Mosby have highlighted many events about the Civil War, and Susan and David Hillier from the Stuart-Mosby Historical Society. David will play Colonel Dulany while Susan will be cast as Anne Frobel. Susan is the current president of the Stuart-Mosby Historical Society.  After the program, re-enactors will be available to answer questions and pose for pictures with Civil War buffs and other interested parties who attend the event.  Mosby's horses will be quartered in an area across the street for those who wish to see them up close.

The program is FREE - A free will offering will be requested for the singers. The Rose Hill PTA will have concessions available for those seeking food and refreshment.              

Contact Debbi Wilson at debbiwilson@ yahoo.com or 703-309-2182.