Hoorah! Hoorah! For Southern rights hoorah!

[olde_fashioned]

Every Labor Day weekend there is a Civil War Reenactment in a large park, and for three out of the past four years we have driven down and attended.





Picturesque before the battle

While I love the Civil War as well, the big war buff in the family is my brother Spencer, and it's supposed to be kind of a birthday treat for him to get to go. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER!!!) :-D


Closeup of a cannon

Before the afternoon battle, we wandered around the area set up for sutlers and merchants, and I snapped a few shots of the cannons set up on the battlefield. My brother the museum-curator-in-training bought several miscellaneous artifacts, including some really neat bullets and one rather disgusting badger skull. Don't ask me what badgers have to do with the war, but you should see some of the oddities these sutlers sell.

Some of the booths weren't really selling anything, but were more for educational purposes. One in particular had genuine Springfield, Carbine, and Enfield rifles laid out on a table, and two men were excitedly discussing them. I was thrilled to be able to listen in on their conversation, and I learned that the Springfield was the most common weapon in the war, and the imported Enfield the most desireable, since it was a breech loader and therefore more accurate. (hooray for British technology!) Maybe I'm just a dork but listening to that discussion was one of the highlights of the day for me. I got to hold a reproduction that was shockingly heavy at nine pounds. Can you imagine carrying a nine-pound weapon around all day long? Yikes!


Marching Yankees

Battle time approaching, back to the field we go. In an attempt to stay cool and out of the sun (ha. ha.) we sat under the trees, which happened to be behind the Union lines, where their artillery was stationed. It was great being able to watch them load and reload their (beautiful) cannons, and I tried my darndest to get a picture of the smoke pouring out from the muzzle!


Ta-da!

I won't bore you any more than I already have by describing the battle itself, but basically the opposing lines get closer and closer and the firing more and more intense. I can't imagine hundreds of cannons and thousands of rifles spewing smoke. No wonder they couldn't see on the battlefields.


This is what it looked like with all the clouds of smoke,
which smells rather like rotten hardboiled eggs

And a picture of the Rebels, just to be fair! ;-P


Johnny Rebs

To signal the end of the mock-battle, one of the buglers began to play Taps. I didn't recall it from before, and it was one of the most moving moments of the whole day. I cannot help but wonder if the dead veterans would be touched at such a massive display, which surely honours their memory. It really puts into perspective the ultimate sacrifice those soldiers paid all those many years ago for what they believed in. It was a fitting ending.


Salute

It's a very large reenactment, or at least in my opinion, with tents and camps spread out all over a huge sprawling park that's laden with trees. There are plenty of winding paved paths that encompass the entire park, and each bend reveals yet another group of reenactors gathered around their tents or booth. All of them are in costume, some accurate, some not. The women, especially it seems, tend to throw historical accuracy to the wind whilst dressing in the morning. I saw bare feet, sneakers, and even flip flops beneath hoopskirts and period dresses. One girl, though, I saw after the battle had ended, and I was so struck by the way she standing off by herself, adjusting her bonnet (which was in profile to my perspective) that I just had to go up to her and ask if I might take her picture. She was sweet enough to comply, stand sideways for me, and she even told me when I asked, that her name was Kimberley.


I love her slat bonnet and the colors of her dress.
It was my favourite outfit of the entire reenactment.

Despite soaring temperatures, scorching heat, and a roasting pink sunburn on both my arms, we had a good ol' time. Of course I wore a cap sleeved shirt so it's almost all the way up. Yes, I have heard of sunscreen, so please don't rub it in! (whaddaya know, a pun! lol)

Comments

[kailorien.livejournal.com]

the civil war has always interested me :) too bad we don't learn very much about it in Australia

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Well they don't really teach it over here, either! People tend to get the Civil War confused with the Civil Rights movement...*headdesk*

There's a multitude of websites on the subject, though. A simple Google search will yield more results than you'd ever want to see! ;-)

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! The photo of the artillery through the dense smoke is so eerie and atmospheric! Bravo for capturing that moment. And that's a lovely outfit as well. I'm quite jealous of her bonnet. But I did finally acquire a set of hoops recently! Now if only I had the appropriate corsetry and a dress, I'd be all set. :-P

[kungpaokitten.livejournal.com]

Great photos!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I had lots of opportunities to "practice" since they fired every few minutes, and it was obvious when they were going to yank the lanyards and fire.

It was the bonnet that caught my attention at first!

Lucky you re: the hoops!! ;-P Are you planning on making the corset yourself?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[oldfashioned84.livejournal.com]

That really seems like it was a lot of fun. I wish I could have gone with you. :P ::jealous:: lol

I loved seeing all your pics though and reading about it, and I agree that the girl's dress at the end looks very nice.

Maybe one day you and your brother can participate at a reenactment, wouldn't that be fun? :D

[parelle.livejournal.com]

One thing I regret losing from my old computer when its hard drive failed are my pictures from the 140th reenactment at Gettysburg. I had a great panorama shot I built up from two different shots of Union soldiers beginning to charge a Confederate line. Alas!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

It was! I'm sure there must be a lots of reenactments in your general locality, surely more than here. Perhaps contacting city hall or some other sort of organization that deals with these types of events would help?

Thanks!

Yes, it would be fun. Only I guess this stuff requires a great deal of time.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Eeeeek!!!! What a devastating event. I would be truly upset. But you're lucky to even have BEEN to Gettysburg!! I'm almost jealous! ;-P

I tried to get shots of the actual "fighting" but the lines were too far off for my camera. :-( Maybe next year, eh?

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

I'd be more likely to make the dress myself, and leave the corset to someone with more experience. There are some lovely Simplicity historical patterns from the Civil War era after which I've been pining several years. I intend to procure at least one the next time they go on sale. Grad school, alas, will probably prevent me from actually sewing an elaborate gown until at least next summer, or later. I have two others lined up--a 1630s and a Regency--which will precede my Civil War one. Ramble ramble ramble, sorry. :-P

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Don't apoligize -- I'm enjoying it! Ramble away if you wish.

I know the patterns you're referring to! I've drooled over them many a time myself. ;-P

1630s -- do you already have it planned out, or are you copying another gown? It's not as common to hear of a 17th C. gown so I'd love to hear more about it.

Regency -- the Simplicity patterns again? A version of Jennie Chancey's are now available through them.

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

My 1630s gown, if it ever sees the light of day, is intended to be an approximate copy of this: http://www.artrenewal.org/images/artists/D/Dyck_Sir_Anthony_Van/large/Dyck_Anthony_van_William_II_Prince_of_Orange_and_Princess_Henrietta_Mary_Stuart.jpg

I guess I lied--that painting is from 1641. Close enough. :-P I haven't been able to find a satisfactory fabric yet, though. Besides that, I'm actually working with a late Tudor pattern, modifying the sleeves, and adding the lace whisk collar, because pre-Restoration Stuart-era patterns are just hard to come by.

The next Regency gown I make is actually from a pattern intended as a Josephine Bonaparte costume. It's a Butterick: http://www.butterick.com/item/B4890.htm?tab=costumes&page=2

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is gorgeous. I really like that painting, too. Sounds like you have a lot of drafting to do! ;-P But that would make the end result more satisfying, I would think.

Ahh, that one. I remember when I first saw that pattern, I started sputtering furiously because they didn't credit or even mention where they got it from. ;-P I have a bit of a soft spot for it since I spent so long staring at it whilst trying to draw it.

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

Bliss!! I have just ordered fabric for both gowns. I can only pray that they still have ten yards in stock for my 1641 gown. It's gold instead of the silver I originally wanted, but it will look better with my complexion anyway. If I could have found a dark silver, that would have been ideal, but in the absence of that, this will have to do.

Fabric for 1641 dress: http://www.ebestfabric.com/storage/img_3/329_x.gif

Fabric for Empire dress: http://www.ebestfabric.com/storage/img_4/366_x.gif

And as you will no doubt conclude, I'm not going for Josephine with that one. I'm going for Marguerite Blakeney from The Scarlet Pimpernel.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Ah! I think I am in love with the first fabric you chose!! 8-) As for the second, it's very pretty too! I didn't know you were a TSP fan. Is it just an overall "Marguerite" dress or is it from a specific adaptation?

I'd love a pewter gown. Ever since I saw Caroline Bingley's striped morning gown and Charlotte Lucas' pewtery/purpley dress you can see in the scene at Rosings when Lizzy plays the piano, I've wanted one! ;-P Add it to my mile-long list of things to make...

[eve-bluemeadows.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love Civil War Re-enactments! My first experience was selling lemonade in historic Gettysburg during their big event... we sold a glass to a very dignified Union general, and waved at the cartfuls of rowdy soldiers as they went by... I was dressed in costume, but not an accurate period costume, just the closest I could scrape together.

That song in your subject line is one I *love*!! I am a Southern sympathizer myself. ;-)

We also explored Harper's Ferry when we were in Virginia, and I loved that, too. Thanks for the photos!!

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

I'm sort of modeling it after the gown described in chapter 10
"Marguerite alone among the ladies that night had discarded the crossover fichu and broad-lapelled over-dress, which had been in fashion for the last two or three years. She wore the short-waisted classical-shaped gown, which so soon was to become the approved mode in every country in Europe. It suited her graceful, regal figure to perfection, composed as it was of shimmering stuff which seemed a mass of rich gold embroidery."
We learn later that she wears in her hair a sprig of small red flowers made of rubies. I'm employing some artistic license in extending that pattern to the dress, but she does say in an earlier chapter that Pimpernels are the rage in fashion. That fabric was too expensive to make an entire gown, so I'll have a white/cream dress, and the gold with red flowers will be the robe. Hopefully I will have a matching non-ruby decoration for my hair.

[belovedrose85.livejournal.com]

Where was this re-enactment? Some friends of mine were in a reenactment this weekend in Oregon... (Can't say I remember where you live, or even if you have said! :P)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

That looked like a fairly good match to that description. Plus you can make another robe eventually to go with the dress, and wear the dress by itself, and have multiple outfits. ;-) What about Swarovski crystals for your hair? Not period, I know, but they would sparkle and catch the light, and 5 or 6 of them wired into a circle look a lot like flowers. You could do Kiera Knightley's hair at the Netherfield ball but in ruby red.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

That sounds like fun, and I'd love to go to Gettysbug! *is jealous*

;-P I love that song, too! *waves to fellow Rebel!* It's interesting the different opinions you get nowadays as to the reasons for the war, versus the contemporary sources.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

In CA, so a little further south than your friends. I've said before, only not very often. ;-)

[modernmorland.livejournal.com]

Good thought! I'll keep it in mind. This one won't be ready until...maybe next spring, for the George Washington Ball here in Williamsburg. I'll be pushing twenty-four by that point, so just about the right age to be Marguerite. I feel so old. *sigh*

[penguinsrpals.livejournal.com]

A Civil War reenactment?! Awesome! I would love to attend one! I did visit Fort Sumter this past summer I was really cool to be where the first shots of the Civil War were fired! I've also visited Williamsburg, Virginia! They dress in period costume of the Revolution! I would love to go back and work there! But I would probably miss my family to much if I moved to Virginia from Georgia! Lol! I'm an avid lover of history especially American history! I'm majoring in History at college! :) &heart; Tiffany

[iane-grey.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I cannot help imagining what a real Civil War soldier would think if he were to look to his side, and spot a family having a picnic at the edge of the battlefield... :0

I'm glad you had a good time, and I want that girl's dress. I just don't fancy going to fight as an excuse to wear it.