More than 70,000 gather at Gettysburg to relive pivotal Civil War battle

Post Gazette ^ | August 11, 2003 | Mark Scolforo

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GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- There were no fire trucks on hand at the Battle of Gettysburg 140 years ago, so the grass fire that broke out yesterday afternoon during the 140th anniversary re-enactment was just going to have to wait.

Organizers decided to let the fire, ignited by pyrotechnics in the lead-up to Pickett's Charge, burn for nearly an hour.

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A Union solder re-enactor loads his musket on the battlefield yesterday in Gettysburg during a re-enactment commemorating the Battle of Gettysburg 140 years ago. The highlight of the day was a recreation of Pickett's Charge, considered to have been the turning point of the Civil War. (Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press)

Confederate soldiers at the front of Pickett's Charge reach the Union line yesterday in Gettysburg during a re-enactment commemorating the Battle of Gettysburg 140 years ago. Pickett's Charge is considered to have been the turning point of the Civil War. (Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press)

 

 

[TexConfederate1861]

Damn...Did we lose it AGAIN this year? :)

[eyespysomething]

Thanks. That's a neat story. Sheesh, what a bloody battle.

Sent to my father-in-law, who loves Civil War history.

Thanks again.

[blackdog]

While I am a real history buff, I find the battle re-enactments of the civil war a very odd phenomenon in american culture. These events are inflamatory toward southerners, yet nobody seems to "care". The civil war was not fought over slavery, by Lincoln's own words.

We don't re-enact WWII battles, or Korean War battles and invite everyone to ceremoniously picnic and swill beer while a bunch of grown men play at death.

Sure, I find the displays of rations, actual hard-tack, displayed munitions, uniforms, and stories of logistics, conditions, medical care, and such to be fascinating, but "Battle Re-enactments" and the celebration that goes with them is macabre and divisive from a national perspective.

[Lazamataz]

Damn...Did we lose it AGAIN this year? :)

Keep trying. The South will Rise Again.

[Lazamataz]

We don't re-enact WWII battles

Untrue. I know of some WWII re-enactors.

[XRdsRev]

Glad to see the reenactment came off well after the initial weather delays in July. I fondly remember donning my traps during the 125th anniversary reenactments back in the late 80s.

I still reenact but only do Revolutionary War stuff now. Although the events are generally much smaller than CW reenactments, I find them to be much more interesting (particularly visually). You ain't seen nothing till you see a horde of lobsterbacks coming at you out of the smoke.

Gettysburg Pennsyvania was the big CW reenactment this year and had a great public turnout. Monmouth New Jersey was the big Revolutionary War event this year and also had a better than expected turnout (about 20,000 spectators). Both events show that American history is still appreciated by some in this country.

[XRdsRev]

In North America, there are reenactments held in the United States and Canada. Rennaisance, F & I (French & Indian War), Revolutionary War and Civil War are the most popular events. There are also small reenactments for WW 1 & WW 2.

There are living history events held for almost all time periods. These are reenactment events that focus more on period life of soldiers & civilians rather than a particular battle.

In Europe there are large reenactments held in several places. The most popular themes seem to be Classic and Napoleanic. The Waterloo reenactment is an example.

There are several European reenactment groups that travel to the United States for Revolutionary War and Civil War events. At the recent Battle of Monmouth NJ reenactment, there were several guys from Britain and Australia who were in the ranks.

[blackdog]

The historical facts of battle records are fine with me. But each year I live in an area where there are a half dozen or so loosely organized battle re-enactments that I attend. I do so more to observe the social behavior of the crowds.

The events(at least as they are held in my area) have very little to do with history, the horriffic death rates, historical accuracy, and more to do with drinking beer, testosterone flow, and celebrating something which is not celebratory by definition.

I wish the fine people who do volunteer their time to stage these events would teach civil war history in our schools instead, where it would do more good.

[blackdog]

Thanks for the "hold still and listen".

What I may be seeing is more a reflection of many of the mannerless booze driven social misfits that dominate the Wisconsin landscape.

[Tallguy]

We don't re-enact WWII battles, or Korean War battles and invite everyone to ceremoniously picnic and swill beer while a bunch of grown men play at death.

They do if you consider what goes on at some air shows. Heck, look at the Confederate Air Force -- or whatever they're calling themselves these days. The centerpiece of many of these airshows is often a mock attack, dogfight, or flyby using vintage aircraft. Even the Radio Control events can be dominated by replicas of that era.

[20yearvet]

I find the battle re-enactments of the civil war a very odd phenomenon in american culture.

In Germany they re-enact thefall of he Heidellburg every year andthat was a batle from the 100 years war.

[Lazamataz]

The events(at least as they are held in my area) have very little to do with history, the horriffic death rates, historical accuracy, and more to do with drinking beer, testosterone flow, and celebrating something which is not celebratory by definition.

Beer, testosterone, and celebration is an okay set of things, y'know.

Even if people do play cowboys and indians when they are doing it.

[XRdsRev]

Reenactments can be viewed as macabre or silly but they do serve an important purpose for the study and perpetuation of history.

We live in a society that thrives on visual stimuli. Most people don't read books anymore and even if they do, many history books are not written to enthrall a general audience. Reenactments combine theatrics with a genuine history lesson. The visual attracts the audience and then it is up to the reenactors to try to teach them. If people want to have an idea of what 18th or 19th century warfare looked like, period paintings or reenactments are the only place they can really obtain the visual element. There is no "file footage" of actual battle before World War 1. The smoke and noise opf battle is what attracts visitors who then can be taught about other elements of period life. I doubt very much that you could attract 70,000 spectators to a demonstration about the contents of a Union soldier's knapsack.

Secondly, reenacting or living history are important experimental learning tools for historians themselves. Actually donning the trappings and falling into the ranks in a reenactment does wonders for expanding understanding of what happened and why it happened. It doesn't give the same perspective as that of the original participants but it gives a much closer perspective than just sitting behind a desk.

Finally, I believe that most reenactors look upon their hobby as paying some sort of homage to those whom they portray. 99.9% of people never give a thought to the American Revolution or the Civil War. Reenactors in their own way try to keep the stories and spirit of those times (and others) alive. I think that is a good thing.

[Lazamataz]

What I may be seeing is more a reflection of many of the mannerless booze driven social misfits that dominate the Wisconsin landscape.

Oh, WISCONSIN.

Why didn't you tell me? That explains everything.

[XRdsRev]

"The events(at least as they are held in my area) have very little to do with history, the horriffic death rates, historical accuracy, and more to do with drinking beer, testosterone flow, and celebrating something which is not celebratory by definition."

You bring up a good point. Some units and events have very lax discipline and poor authenticity. The quality of reenacting depends on the quality of the reenactors themselves. They can be poor teachers or excellent ones.

Event organizers also dictate whether their event will be quality or just a glorified party. At Monmouth NJ (Revolutionary War) this year, the organizers required a good amount of military order in the camps at all times. The camps themselves were laid out in proper military formation. Sentries were posted at all camps and followed customary 18th century rules (saluting officers, inspecting passes etc.). While the camps were open to the public, NO modern articles of clothing or equipment were allowed to be in view. The troops themselves were inspected and drilled at regular intervals during the weekend. Since the actual battle took place in 1778, units which did not have proper uniforms for that particular time period (no Continental light infantry) were not allowed to participate unless they came in time appropriate attire.

[Kozak]

Taken my kids to Gettysburg twice. Both times we we were on the battlefield on July 3rd. The first time we took part in a Park service tour where we walked the route of Picketts charge. Starting in the exact position of the 9th Virginia. The rangers did a great job with historical letters, etc giving you a feeling for the desparate situation of those men. We then walked the whole charge ending at the Bloody Angle. To traverse that mile, knowing you were under fire the entire way is sobering. You wonder at the abiliy to get men to do it.

The next time we were also there on the 3rd, this time we RODE the entire battlefield on horseback. Also cool.

[nathanbedford]

"They still feel the South was right," he said, adding that a good number of the Rebels were motivated by reliving the experience of direct ancestors.

Walk softly on this ground, they are listening.

[warchild9]

Actually, you're wrong about WWII battles not being reenacted. There are many groups who research and play out World War II scenarios in the U.S. and Europe; there just isn't 11,000 of them getting together at one time. It was exposure to one of these groups back in the 70's (in which I played a Waffen SS trooper and got to shoot a genuine Sturmgewehr44) which led me to my present quixotic pursuit of a PhD in Modern European history.

[nutmeg]

We were there this weekend... it was fabulous! It was the first time we've attended a HUGE reenactment like this (well, actually we've seen several smaller Revolutionary War reenactment-type events in New England).

Mega kudos to all reenactors - men, women, children and those beautiful horses - who kept in character and wore historically-accurate HOT clothing in this weekend's terrible heat and humidity. It was amazing to attend this event... it must've been no small feat to pull this off.

For more information about the 140th Annual Gettysburg Reenactment, go here: 140th Annual Gettysburg Reenactment

Order the commemorative video of the reenactment and merchandise here: 140th Annual Gettysburg Reenactment - Merchandise