Saturday and Sunday, Civil War wonks and history buffs will descend on Chehalis to reenact parts of the deadliest war in American history to celebrate the end of the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War
According to Chip Duncan, of the Lewis County Veterans Memorial Museum, the event has become a premiere destination for re-enactors throughout the Pacific Northwest in recent years. The farm where the re-enactment takes place also had a motocross track so the ground offers undulations with trees and grass that’s tall and short.
“They love coming to Chehalis. They say it’s one of the best battlefields they ever fought on,” Duncan said. “The battle field is just what they would have experienced during the Civil War.”
An estimated 1,000 actors in period-appropriate regalia will pretend to be in battles with cavalry, artillery and infantry that put brother against brother.
At the same time around 400 people will be on hand to recreate the Mason-Dixon Line. People will have saloons and shops in place where reproduction artifacts and other goods will be on sale.
Everyone will be in character as if it were 1865.
The re-enactors come from the Washington Civil War Association and the Northwest Civil War Council. In order to be involved, each person must invest about $2,000 into his or her uniforms, camping equipment and rifle. Then they must train to march and salute as if it were the mid-1860s.
Everything is as close to history as it gets, but the guns don’t use the traditional style of loading for safety reasons.
“They never use ramrod for the rifles because in the past people would put it in there but forget to take it out then fire and the ramrod would shoot out in the middle of the field,” Duncan said.
The Confederate national flag was red white and blue with a field of blue with 14 stars and six stripes of red and white, but it was confusing on the battlefield. The smoke from the powder obscured the Union and Confederate flag. Then it was utterly confusing. The flags were designed to give you an idea of where the battles were.
That’s when the Confederate battle flag came in, Duncan said.
“It was never intended as a national flag. It was just meant for the national line,” he said.
He said he’s had visitors confuse the actual Confederate national flag with the Texas state flag. During the re-enactment, Duncan said, visitors will see several different types of flags that were flown by different militias and units.
“The Washington Civil War Association has more unit flags, they’ve never fielded with the Confederate battle flag at the mainlines,” he said. “You’re going to see different units flying different flags which is historically accurate. But if a unit didn't fly a flag then they’d fly a confederate battle flag.”
Also on site will be Union and Confederate encampments where re-enactors will live and cook on sight. The public is encouraged to walk through the camps and interact with the re-enactors and ask them questions. They’ll stay in character at all times, unless requested to step out of it.
Each day will finish with a historically accurate portrayal of the Appomattox Surrender when General Robert E. Lee met with General Ulysses S. Grant.
