Marie Leifeit’s interest in the Civil War was sparked by a historical novel about Abraham Lincoln & Mary Todd. Painting miniatures and sewing costumes led to becoming a member of the Muskets & Memories Civil War Era Reenactment Committee. She has served as chairman for the past 15 years. 8 years ago Marie became a civilian Civil War reenactor, Elizabeth VanLew, then a Civil War military reenactor with an artillery unit to better understand the role of a Civil War reenactor and an event.