Blue and Gray Clash Again : Civil War Re-Enactment Comes Complete With Battle Dress, Drums and Fifes

The Union private should have known better. When your Civil War sergeant asks what time it is, you don’t look at your Seiko wristwatch.

“Some of the men take our inspections seriously,” said John Campbell, 38, after one of the soldiers in his unit got a dressing-down Saturday. “We’re supposed to hide our wristwatches and carry pocket watches.”

For the day, Campbell joined the Union Army, one of more than 200 Civil War enthusiasts locked in mock battle on a grassy field behind historic Newland House at Beach Boulevard and Adams Avenue.

Confederate cannons roared with loud booms, while volleys of rifle fire sounded between Blue and Gray. Though no bullets were used, men crumpled to the ground as if hit. Lt. Col. Carl Clink, head of the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry and commander of the Blue army on Saturday, barked orders on horseback. When the smoke cleared, the Union forces had the Rebs on the run.

The re-enactments, complete with authentic Civil War battle dress, drums and fifes, will be re-created again today at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Huntington Beach Historical Society Inc., Fort Tejon Historical Assn., Southern California Civil War Assn. and Huntington Beach Community Services, is free to the public.

The idea behind the two-day event was to highlight a turning point in the nation’s history and encourage study of the Civil War, which recently was the subject of the movie “Gettysburg,” said Maureen Rivers, one of the organizers.

“This was the first time we’ve ever had something on this scale in Huntington Beach, or, for that matter, Orange County,” said Rivers, a Huntington Beach resident who is chairwoman of the board of trustees for Newland House. “We’re so happy because we have so many kids here and that’s what we were aiming for.”

She said the event attracted scores of spectators, including history students and their instructors from several local high schools.

Authenticity is a must for enthusiasts such as Campbell, a car salesman from Irvine. He said it took about three years to assemble his 1860s-style field gear, relying mostly on military catalogues specializing in Civil War reproductions.

“Field coats are about $100 to $120, authentic-looking shoes are $90 and my hat was $85,” Campbell said. As he pointed out his back pack, musket, satchel, and cartridge box, he said, “In all, it probably comes to about $1,500.”

With luck, the Civil War enthusiasts hope to plan a second event, possibly next summer, Clink said. On the East Coast, Civil War clubs often stage battle re-enactments with thousands of soldiers.

“I’ve been doing this for 16 years, and it started small back then,” Clink said. “Re-enactments are a hot item right now. You can get a catalogue and one credit card and boom! You can be an instant soldier. In contrast, we’re into living history here, that’s what my group likes. We talk to children, and adults, and we explain the war to them. That’s the fun part.”

And Saturday’s crowd seemed hungry for facts and to talk with the weekend soldiers.

Confederate Pvt. Mark Schoenberger, in real life a 36-year-old high-rise engineer from Downey, said the group attempts to be “as accurate as we can.” The soldiers, some of whom came from as far away as San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield, spent a chilly Saturday night bivouacked in tents. Keeping historical context, they had no electricity--and no TVs.

“For me, it’s reliving history,” Schoenberger said. “It’s experiencing what this country went through. Many people see us and think we’re glorifying war or see the guns and think we’re white supremacists. But a lot of guys in this hobby are in it just to experience part of the investment of what it cost to have freedom in our country.”

While Campbell loaded his musket, several youngsters surrounded him and peppered him with questions.

“How far will a bullet from your rifle go?” asked Sean Young, 8, of Huntington Beach.

Sean’s father, Guy Young, 40, said he and his family were late and missed the battle. But he said it was evident by his son’s curiosity that the boy enjoyed visiting with a Civil War soldier.

“He loves anything like this,” the father said. “Especially when they talk to you and explain things and you can ask questions.”