By Jessica Godart
Speaking with the dead might come off as a little strange for most, but for David Meisky it’s all part of his daily life.
As a living historian portraying Gov. William “Extra Billy” Smith in the organization Lee’s Lieutenants, Meisky, 68, is actually one of the dead that many talk to.
No, he’s not skeletons and bones. His persona, Extra Billy Smith, served as a colonel and a general in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and, more often than not, he can be seen walking and talking at Civil War camp site during numerous Lee’s Lieutenants events.
He will be appearing as Capt. David Meade, the paymaster on July 12 and 13 at the Gray Ghost Vineyard’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.
How long have you been portraying?
Probably close to nine or 10 years. My first event as Extra Billy Smith was with [Chris Godart as Gen. Richard Ewell] up at Bedford Va.
What got you interested in living history?
I was very fortunate in the seventh grade – and let’s just say that was a couple years ago – to have a teacher that made history very interesting. So I’ve always been interested in history, especially in the Civil War. For a number of years I’ve been going to events thinking “Gee, that looks like fun, I’d better get into that reenacting stuff.” Finally about 15 years ago I did. I started [in] Lee Lieutenant’s as Capt. David Meade, the paymaster.
How did you choose who you portray?
I’m looking for the physical resemblance. I pretty much resemble him. His face is a little thinner; I’ve got a square jaw from my Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. There was the resemblance and there were some others, but this was the closest one. I didn’t know much about him I started realizing, “This is an interesting guy.” The other thing is you have people like Bill Frueh, who portrays Jeb Stuart, who is twice his age. I’m fortunate in that right now I am two years older than Extra Billy was at this stage 150 years ago, so the age works in great. [Extra Billy’s and my] birthdays are actually only nine days apart.
Do you identify with Extra Billy in any way?
Yes and no. I’m not going around thinking I’m the reincarnation of Extra Billy Smith, but you start to take an interest in things [as he did]. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In the beginning Dr. Jekyll could control the changes…but then it became that he couldn’t control it, he just slipped back and forth. When I’m speaking about Extra Billy, sometimes I find myself saying, “Well ‘I’ did this,” then suddenly saying, “Well ‘he’ did.”
When you’re not the Governor or Capt. David Meade, what are you doing?
Today, I will be at the Paxton House, a home built in the 1830’s. Two times a week I’m down there; tomorrow there’s a meeting for [the Paxton house]. I’m a member of the Civil War Round Table, I do a lot of speaking engagements. A month or so ago I read “The Three Musketeers.” Now I’m reading a book on German spy efforts in the early years of World War I.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the hobby?
Enjoy reading, and I would say first thing is to start out as a private or infantry or cavalry, that kind of gets you to feel what it was like back in that day. It gets you into the mindset of the period. Do a lot of research, talk to people, visit the sites. You can read all you want about different battlefields, but going out and actually being there as they would have been, gives you a bit of an idea what they were going through. Walk the places they walked.
The living historian will be joined at Gray Ghost Vineyards by members of the 17th VA Infantry Living History Society for artillery demonstrations.
The weekend festivities will include winery tours, vineyard tours, local art and jewelry vendors. Ezra’s Roadside Kitchen food truck will be on-hand and memorabilia from Colonel John Mosby on display. Civil War authors Eric W. Buckland and David Goetz will also be in attendance at the celebration for signings and meet-and-greet.
The vineyard’s name “Gray Ghost” comes from a nickname Mosby adopted while in the war. The vineyard is family-owned and operated, thriving on producing high quality wine.
Visit Meisky this weekend and ask all the history questions you can muster. For example: Where did Governor Smith get the nickname “Extra Billy” from? Only one way to find out.
20th Anniversary Celebration
Gray Ghost Vineyards
14706 Lee Highway
Amissville, 20106