Civil War re-enactor dies after falling from horse

SALEM, Ore. — A Washington woman died after she fell off her horse while preparing to participate in a Civil War re-enactment.

The Salem Statesman Journal reports that Tammy Stillwell, of Langley, Washington, was preparing to head into the re-enacted battlefield at Willamette Mission State Park when her horse took a turn into the woods.

Scott Ingalls of the Northwest Civil War Council says Stillwell was knocked off her horse by a tree branch and fell to the ground. She was taken to Salem Hospital where she went into emergency surgery Sunday to repair internal bleeding. She died during surgery.

Ingalls says the re-enactors and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will investigate.

Oregon State Police spokesman Lt. Bill Fugate says because Stillwell died at the hospital the agency will not be investigating.