We have a group of Civil War Reenacters in camp at the Museum this weekend. They filled the grounds around our old engines with army tents, properly stretched tight to repel water and wind.
The opposing factions - North and South - were usually not side-by-side, but they weren't too bothered about being near each other, either. Everyone was here to have a good time and it probably helps to be near others, in case you have to borrow a little something.
Generally speaking, the Northern campgrounds seemed to be a bit more organized and better equipped. That was surely done on purpose, to create a more authentic tableau. Folks walked around to visit their neighbors and friends before going out to "kill" each other.
In one area the Northern troops were drilling their newest recruits. . .
While in another section the South was doing the same. Although the Northern boys had fancier uniforms, the Southern guys were just as focused on learning the proper maneuvers. Good thing - they would do a lot more marching before the battle was over.
I discovered that when you put today's young man in an authentic period uniform, he looks exactly like the old daguerreotypes. The women wear gorgeous period dresses but unless they incorporate the hair trends of the time, the look doesn't translate as well. But the young men don't seem to mind!
When outside, a bonnet or hood does double duty of sun protection and hair constraint, but that is not enough; to pull off the right look, the hair must be controlled. The most common historical method was to wear it in long, smooth curls but since modern hairstyles don't lend themselves to banana curls, most women wore their hair in a knitted snood. And there is a lot of body language to wearing period dresses correctly. For example, elbows should be tucked in.
And unless you are holding a pretty parasol to protect your flawless complexion from the sun (in which case you'd better have a pretty bonnet to do the same job), your hands should be folded modestly in front.
Unless, of course, you are with a man, in which case you always take his arm (while holding your parasol with your other hand and keeping your elbows tucked in). All this is just for standing still. I have no idea how they can actually walk so gracefully...
As the time for the first battle drew near, we spectators gathered near the big field that would serve as the battleground. And I was reminded of the the First Battle of Bull Run (aka Manassas), when the good folks of Washington DC came out in their carriages to watch what they assumed would be the start and end of the fighting. Like them, we were a relaxed, chatty little group, but with much better reason - we knew everyone would be going home safely!
The Vista Civil War battle begins with the Calvary on both sides making sortie dashes into enemy territory, while their troops arrive and take position on opposite sides of the field.
At the start, the South has a lot more soldiers on the field, and they start the rumble. These guys marched the long way around and then crossed the whole field to take their position, so when they arrived they were hot and ready to get something started.
The outnumbered Yankees take position and start firing back.
The Rebels get more aggressive, marching forward and taking position closer to the center of the field. They intersperse their gunshots with loud Rebel yells and insults; the Northern soldiers just march and fire.
About this time the rest of the union troops arrive. Now they have the numbers advantage.
The Union army includes a small Irish division, who wear green uniforms and carry a green flag with a gold harp on it. I learned that at the battle of Bull Run, while the Union army was being whipped, the Irish regiment held its ground. Eventually they had to retreat but they did so in an orderly fashion, instead of a mad dash like the rest of the troops. Throughout the rest of the war the Irish were often in the center of the Union line, carrying their flag with them.
The soldiers stay in groups, controlled by the shouted orders of their leaders and firing their rifles on command. But there is something dramatic about an outstretched arm wielding a pistol, and both sides make use of this. The Calvary on both sides continue to make dashes up near the enemy lines. These horses handled the heat, noise and smoke wonderfully. Both armies have 3 or 4 cannon going off, but even that didn't faze the horses.
As both armies march towards each other, the scrimmage lines get really close. When they fire directly into enemy lines just a few yard away, you expect to see someone fall down and play dead. But nobody dies until the battle is about half over. The prospect of lying motionless in the sun may have something to do with that. I think they start "dying" when they get too hot to march or when they run out of bullets. But gradually the number of casualties grows.
Occasionally North and South Officers alike stopped to tend to a fallen soldier, regardless of the color of their uniform. I hope it was like this for real.
In one battle, the little Union flag bearer got shot. All the spectators gasped as he held the flag up until another guy could grab it, to keep it from hitting the ground. We all grieved for that brave little soldier!
They take turns on who wins the battle: the morning belongs to the North, and the South gets revenge in the afternoon. As the end draws near, more bodies litter the field, and the soldiers have to march over them as they advance and/or retreat.
Sometimes a man gets shot right in front of his buddy, who stops to mourn this tragic turn of events.
Medics sometimes come onto the field behind their army but there isn't much they can do. I guess once you're shot by a reenacter, you stay shot. Some fallen soldiers try to drag themselves to the safety of their retreating troops, but usually they just get shot again. Or, in the case of one unfortunate, get bludgeoned as the enemy marches past.
It could not have been comfortable lying in the blazing sun. They did their best to emulate the fallen soldiers in Matthew Brady's photos, but it was a rare soldier who died face up here.
Most preferred to die face down or with their hat conveniently covering their face. Of course, sometimes it took a few death-throes to get that hat into place.
Eventually one side gets all the way across the field and captures their opponents' cannon, which signals the end of the battle. The victor's bugler plays Taps and everyone left alive on both sides stands motionless at attention and salutes, to honor the fallen. After the last solemn note of Taps fades, the bugler plays a lively tune, which is the signal for the dead and wounded to help each other up and head for the shade. Wouldn't it be great if this was how real wars ended?
But of course it didn't really end like that. So President Lincoln comes out and talks to the spectators about the human cost of war, and how hard it is to tell a family that their loved one isn't coming back. Then he gives the Gettysburg Address.
No comments:
Post a Comment