We went to a War

January 20 (Saturday)

When we visited the Yuma Visitor Center a few weeks ago they recommended we come back for the Civil War Re-enactment weekend at the Colorado River State Historic Park. So Saturday, having never seen an event like this before we headed down to see what this was all about. It was cool and windy and that fact seemed to reduce the crowds, but certainly didn't seem to effect the enthusiasm of the participants.

The Union north and Confederate south were staged in their encampments at opposite ends of the field in the Historic Park. Visitors were welcome to visit the camps and the 'actors' would describe (sometimes in the first person) about the artifacts or the battles they were 'involved' in. Quite entertaining.

The Confederate camp on the hill

The Union camp

Tools of the trade at the ready

Union discussing strategy, or....

.....making lunch

Union soldier 'at ease'.

Union camp, cooking a huge rib roast on the fire.

Union Repeating Rifle  c.1860. The pre-gatling gun. Roughly 50 caliber.

The business end of the repeating rifle.

Artifacts of the battlefield. The gentleman below took the time to explain each piece to us.

The bugler. This guy really knew his stuff. he explained the bugler had nearly 200 different tunes to play. Each meaning something different. This was an effective communication tool on the battlefield as it could be heard a long distance. This guy played several tunes later in the battle including the best rendition of Taps I have heard on a bugle.

Why, it Ulysses S Grant himself!

Union soldiers practicing being casualties. Practice makes perfect!

The Confederate camp......

Camp on the hill

The big guns are ready.

Unfortunately they did not fire this gun, at least not when we were there.

You are not going to have a good day if this thing is pointed your way!

Scary!

Aiming mechanism

Twenty pounder ready for action.

Confederate soldier ready for battle.

The Confederate soldiers practicing their 'wounded' poses.

Discussing strategy

They had a Minstrel Show of talented musicians. They told us that during the Civil War both sides would have the same show come to perform for their troops. The travelling minstrels would perform for the North, then cross the battlefield and perform for the South. Bob Hope never pulled that off!

After the entertainment the two sides got down to the business at hand. The two sides lined up across from one another and commenced to shoot the hell out of each other. The cannon fire was fun. Both sides had twenty pounders firing at each other. The Confederates had some homemade cannons of about an inch and a half caliber. Very impressive. Lots of noise and smoke.

The Union (Yankees) getting ready

The Confederates (Rebels) getting ready

Must have had a button undone! Doing pushups.

Opening ceremonies. A few songs and a prayer.

Confederate Band

Commence fire!

A few fallen Rebels

A few fallen Yankees

The Rebels on the offensive

When the 'battle' was over the South chased the North back into retreat. The dead and wounded got back up and both sides went back to their camps while the crowd went to listen to an address by President Lincoln. A recreation of the Gettysburg Address.

The Rebs chasing the damn Yankees in retreat!

Time for the dead and wounded to rise again to fight another day.

The Confederate soldiers explaining life as a soldier to the crowd.

Soldier explaining the workings of his Springfield rifle 

Abe Lincoln himself addresses the crowd. He was a very good Lincoln.

These re-enactors are a passionate bunch and love to talk about the Civil War, the lives of the soldiers and the artifacts of the war. They travel all over the US to Civil War events. They come from all ages and backgrounds and walks of life.

The sunset from Friday night was a dandy. Saturday night not so much. So here is Friday.......and Our View From Here.....