Imagine a war in which nobody dies. It’s just like playing Cops and Robbers with cap guns. You get shot and die, only to bounce back to life by some miracle potion on the level of a cootie shot. But this time you’re no longer a kid, the guns have a little more pop and the cannons give a big, thunderous belch that awakens the world. It catches the masses by surprise, scaring the bejesus out of you. Trust me on this one.
Starting with 2011, the nation will be marking the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. It’s America’s deadliest war, resulting in the death of 620,000 soldiers. And for the next five years, re-enactors will be reliving its most famous battles throughout the country.
Over 3000 re-enactors besieged the little town of Bentonville to re-stage the historic Battle of Bentonville on the 145th anniversary of the fight. The historic three-day battle pitted the army of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston against the army of Gen. William T. Sherman.
Most of the re-enactors came as soldiers of the grey and the blue, while some came as civilians. They camped throughout the historic battlefield and offered the nearly 50,000 spectators a glimpse into the daily life of earlier times.
Short of having arrived by car, the re-enactors tried to forgo modern amenities as much as possible during the re-enactment. Everything was relative to the time period; from their meals and utensils, to their clothes, to their bedding. So much for that Craftmatic adjustable bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment