For 6 months I've been waiting to participate in my first Civil War reenactment and this past weekend it took place at Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem, PA. The anticipation for my first event in Bentonville, NC in March was thwarted by heavy rains in MA that flooded my apartment. So, leading up to Neshaminy I was even more anxious to take the field. At "Nesh" I fell in with my home regiment...the 28th MA Irish Brigade. A great group of guys that enjoy their time at events and have no problem offering help to new guys like me.
As you can imagine, I was excited to get to PA and left at 1am Friday morning to get there as quickly as I could (and to miss traffic in NYC) along the way. Because I would be arriving at Nesh well ahead of everyone else I planned a pitstop along the way in Leavittown, PA at a small village called Fallsington where an old Quaker town still stands (most of the buildings are still inhabited and have not been reserved for museum purposes). I took a stroll around the small village snapping pictures and reading about the historic significance of each building. The village is very unique and my time was well spent (in addition to time it gave me to stretch my legs after being in the car for 5 hours).
Upon leaving Fallsington, I was off to Bensalem and I arrived around 8am. Bensalem is a typical Pennsylvania town with mostly rural roads and the normal sights of 7-11's, small Pizzarias, bars and the one big business complex that employs half of the town. Dressed already in my Blue Wool uniform the townspeople seemed to know why I was there and a few people even commented on my being in town for the reenactment.
I gathered up a few small supplies (toilet paper, ice, etc) and made my way to the state park where the reenactment was being held. It was only 9am and event organizers were still getting set up so I took the time to rest in the car while watching dozens of dog walkers make their way around the park. Neshaminy State Park is a nice place with plenty of space for everyone to carry out the activities of their choice.
After taking a "3 hour nap in the car" my pards from the 28th MA began arriving and we set about getting our camp in order. Setting up tents, gathering wood, settling into our tents, etc. Being new to everything I tried to absorb the set up routines of the other members of the 28th MA while working on my own set up. Friday was a slow day at camp...mostly settling into camp and getting my bearings as to where I was and what I needed to do to be ready for the next day. That night we enjoyed some beverages with the guys in camp and retired for the night.
The week prior to the event news of high temperatures was greeted with enthusiasm as the past six months of cold weather in the Northeast had now turned to warmer months ahead. High temperatures, however, are not a Civil War reenactors friend and Saturday was a prime example of what heat and wool can do to an army. Although I awoke in a shiver in my tent and actually had to warm by the fire in the morning...by 9am it was 75 degrees and well on it's way to be a scorcher.
The day's events called for company drill followed by battalion drill and at 9am we formed to get the day started. We were drilled by our captain in numerous maneuvers we would need to employ in the battalion drill and then later in the day's reenactment. For an hour we worked up a lather as a company...right face, left face, about face...and a run through in the Manual of Arms. From there, after a brief break, it was off to battalion drill and more maneuvers...this time with all 6 companies in camp. By the end of drill, around 1130am...I was soaked in sweat from head to toe and the retreat to camp was a welcome one to cool down and gather my strength for the remaining activities of the day.
Lunch was an activity I was ill prepared for being my first event. In planning what items to bring to camp I figured simple would be better. Lay off the high maintenance cooking items and stick to the basics. That sounded good in the planning...but cheese sticks, bananas and beef jerky for breakfast, lunch and dinner got old quickly...like old quickly by lunch on Saturday.
After lunch it was time for tactical and the reenactment. I was anxious for both as I had never fired my musket or taken part in a live event. Thankfully, our company was filled with some veteran reenactors and they offered to help me along my way.
Tactical began at 1pm and we marched from camp to a wooded location on a dirt road. Unlike the reenactment, tactical is not seen by the spectators. It's more for the reenactors to give them a view into what it might have been like for the actual soldiers in a time of battle. This means marching through woods and brush, over hills and into swamps...anything that is there is maneuverable by the army.
By the time tactical was set to start the temperatures were climbing above 90 degrees. As we entered the woods in anticipation of spotting the Rebs I did not feel the heat beting down on me...this would change later in the battle. We encountered the Rebs and began firing volleys back and forth...all the while continuing our march through dense forest to repel the attack. Although I had never fired my musket the excitement of the battle swept me up and I forgot I had never fired before 5-6 shots were already out of my musket. We kept on for a good hour, driving through the brush and thickets...firing on the Rebs the whole way. Finally, the end point was reached...the Rebs retreated...and the battle was over. Interestingly, at the end of the tactical the Rebs reorganized right in front of us...and we spent a good 10 minutes just staring into their faces. I felt a sense of appreciation for what they were doing...honoring their own past...but also felt a sense of distain...like they were fighting for the wrong side.
Following tactical, I really started to feel the heat that had been lost on me in the excitement of the battle. My body felt like a furnace...with little room for the heat to escape. For a good half hour the Ice Angels (women dressed as civilians) offered ice chips and cold water to us and it was heaven sent. Without that break and refreshment I'm not sure I could have continued to the following reenactment. It was hot...brutally hot.
Thankfully, we had the half hour to rest before the next battle reenactment and by the time it was ready to start I had my wits about me again. The battle commenced, with about 500 spectators watching, and our company engaged the enemy in a wide open field employing the maneuvers we had practiced at battalion drill earlier in the day. As I spent round after round through my musket I could feel the heat in my body reaching the breaking point again and I knew I would need to "take a hit" to be able to endure. As our company approached a small grouping of trees I fired a final shot...then fell to the ground and rested comfortably under the tree for 20-25 minutes..."dead"...until the end of the battle.
The fighting ended and we regrouped to head back to camp...it was a great feeling as my tank was on "E" and I had nothing left to give that day. Camp was noticeably quieter on Saturday night compared to Friday night...guys were tired and most retreated to their tents early Saturday night including me.
Sunday morning I again awoke in a shiver...this time alot earlier since I had gone to bed earlier. At around 4am I was up and went for a walk to warm myself. After time spent back at the tent our camp was up by 7am and we mostly milled around until 10am for dress parade. I was asked to be with the color guard for dress parade and accepted...something new is always a good thing to experience. Dress parade lasted about half an hour and because of the heat from the day before...battalion drill was canceled. Most of our 28th MA guys did not plan to attend the day's reenactment and we instead began packing up camp to head back to MA.
All in all, it was a tremendous weekend filled with alot of firsts. The weekend gave me an opportunity to experience my first event and also gave me a sense of closeness to my Dad who had reenacted for nearly 20 years. I thought alot about him over the weekend and appreciate this gift he gave me...to walk in his shoes and those of our ancestors that fought in the war.
I'm looking forward to upcoming events including the Memorial Day parade in Dorchester, MA with the 28th MA and a drill/encampment with the 149th PA Bucktails the first week in June!
