Ghosts of Civil War Fight Again at Fort Tejon

Tucked deep in Grapevine Canyon between hills painted in purple and gold poppies, a shot rang out, shattering the morning silence. Another shot was returned, and the battle began.

As many in Southern California prepared for Easter dinner, about 75 men loaded guns and prepared for war. Although they did not use real bullets and faced no threat, the men reenacting a Civil War battle at Fort Tejon Park took the roles seriously.

“Let’s get ‘em, boys!” yelled a Confederate commander, charging toward an advancing line of Union soldiers. “Here we come, Yankees!”

Sunday marked the start of the battle season for many Civil War reenactment groups in Southern California. In Fort Tejon, Confederate and Union soldiers typically meet once a month through October to stage mock battles, give demonstrations and allow visitors to tour recreations of camps. Battles take place every third Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last from 30 to 45 minutes.

The participating groups, which are named after real Civil War units, vary greatly in size and age. Men and women from age 16 and up can take part.

“It’s theater in the open, is what it amounts to,” said Ed Mann, a Thousand Oaks lawyer who portrays a Confederate major. “It’s like putting on a large outdoor play.”

For some soldiers and their families, that play includes spending the weekend at Fort Tejon, sleeping in unit camps and eating Civil War-era rations: franks and beans. Real cannons are fired (using black powder), and the actors often stay in character for most of the day, answering questions in Southern drawls or taking jibes at the sloppily dressed “Rebs.”

Turnout for Sunday’s battles was lower than usual, in part because of Easter. Typically, 100 to 150 soldiers from more than 30 groups participate in the skirmishes. There also are men on hand to portray blacksmiths and physicians. The women reenactors either do battle or provide charity relief for the soldiers, giving them water and food.

Although far away in geography and scope, the war in Iraq also has left its mark. Some unit members had to leave their pretend posts when they were called up to fight in the real war, and some questioned the wisdom of staging battles at a time of war.

“We decided to go ahead because it’s more historic than anything else,” said Chrissy Dougherty, 42, whose husband Jack is a colonel in the Confederate Hampton’s Legion Co. G. “We’re not warmongers, we don’t glorify war at all.”

Spectators seem to appreciate the actors’ efforts at authenticity. Aaron Drake Jr., 19, of Cerritos, like several others Sunday, was watching the battle for the first time to receive extra credit in a history course at Cerritos College. Still, he said he might return to Fort Tejon.

“This allows people to see what happened,” he said. “You can read about it, but when you see it you have a better understanding.”

Rick San Miguel, 41, of Bakersfield, who was attending for the third time with his two children, Lauren, 10, and Ritchie, 6, said he was impressed with the dedication of the performers in bringing history to life.

“It gets a little loud, a little smoky, but it’s entertainment and it’s history,” he said. “I try to keep the kids into history.”