Nevada City September 2008

Following the great experience of Virginia City I did not want to believe that the year was over. Sure enough I found an event in Nevada City, CA only two weeks away. I called up Pvt. Edwards and we headed to Nevada City.

We formed up with the 79th New York Cameron Highlanders Company "C" Volunteer Infantry.
This event was larger than what I had seen yet. It was close to 100 union infantry and 4 cannon crews. The Rebs had about 80 infantry and about a dozen cannons.

Marching en mass was great. As the whole battalion marched in unison it made quite a thunder.
The first battle ended quickly and I was unable to dispatch one rebel.

During the second battle battle I felt heat hit my left arm. The pain was bearable. The surgeon patched my arm and I was back in with my company. We advanced down the battle field and I felt a Mine' ball tear through the flesh of my right lower leg. I found myself face down. The pain was great but I found that I could still move my toes and ankle. I crawled back to my company. It was slow and painful, but I made it back in line. Finally, back with my company I raised my rifle and fired. They always say three times the charm. A third ball hit me square in the chest. Everything went white.


At the end of the second battle we formed a line and gave a final salute. A moment of silence was held for the active military of today. The names of the active and deceased servicemen were read aloud. A great event in a nice location.

Virginia City Civil War Days 2008

The Comstock Civil War Reenactors Association presented the Virginia City Civil War Days on August 30 - September 1, 2008. The event was home to many sights and scenes from 1863.

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The event features three days of civilian and military camp demonstrations, battle train action, parade, followed by a street battle. everything is close-up and personal.

Our company has been assigned escort for the Union silver coming out of the mining camps in the Nevada territory. We boarded the train. As the train leaves the station the cloud of steam and smoke that bathes us is a reminder of the true danger that may lay ahead. Surveying the countryside I made the remark to our captain, "Where are all the animals? It's a little too quiet Captain."
Ambush! Canon fire signals ambush and the train came to a halt. Our artillery returned fire from canons loaded on flat cars of the train. Then our company peeled out of the cars to protect the civilians and the silver.

We were met with stiff resistance. We formed three lines along the length of the train and returned musket volleys.


We made forward progress and repelled the rebels to their rear positions. The battle is chaotic and harsh! As we closed in on the shaken rebel lines I saw the canons too late and they fired upon us.







We were ordered back to form up with what is left of our decimated company. The rebels appeared like apparitions and somehow we were totally surrounded. Our captain told us to, "Give it up boys." I gave up my rifle. They ordered us to go to our knees and pray to God.

A man next to me screamed, jumped to his feet and ran like a deer. The reb next to me raised his rifle and shot him in the back. I tried to grab the Johnny Rebs arm but it was too late. We all knew that we were going to die. The captain sent word to make a run for it on his command. "Long live the Union!" shouted the captain. I was up and running as hard as I ever had in my life. We all screamed and it sounded like a horrible howl. I heard the boom of the infantry rifles and then the hot poker to my back. Instantly I could not feel my legs. I fell hard to my side and front. My battle was over.
Recall was ordered. We returned to the train.

The next morning we marched into Virginia City to occupy the town. The towns folk were displeased with our presence. The Colonel sent word that if any woman showed us disrespect by dumping chamber pots on us as we marched or exclaimed any hostile words, he would allow us to exact our own justice on the offending woman. Fortunately as we paraded into town we experience no ill manners.

Cries came out from down the street. The 14th Virginia advanced on the town. "Brigade, on me!" shouted the Colonel. I hastily got into formation. We moved toward the rebs.
Just as I thought we might be dominant in our pursuit. Like jack rabbits there numbers doubled. We were forced back until...

I fired my rifle as fast as I could. It sounded like angry bees flying around my head until I realized that those sounds were not angry bees but deadly Mine' ball...

After recall I was told that only a private and the Colonel were spared all the rest were slaughtered.

I am not sure if it was the close up battle or the outcome of the battle that caused such a joyous cheer in the town. In response made a final salute. A soldiers life consists of long periods of boredom punctuated by short periods of extreme terror.

"private, are you looking at my bad eye?"

With a face like this, I don't think I can wait 362 days until the next Virginia City event.

Graeagle Event July 2008

The Graeagle event was the first event I participated in. I arrived early and was suited up. The wool uniforms are heavy and very warm. At the onset of the civil war the regulars customarily dawned the longer and more formal frock coat, navy blue pants and Hardee hat. The uniform was a little snug but the pants were a 50 waist. I was thankful for the suspenders.

The uniforms in our company varies a little. The 81st Pennsylvania Company "K" merged with our Regulars Company and the coats and pants vary from soldier to soldier.

Throughout the war the Regulars received new uniforms including sack coats and sky blue pants. The veterans would only wear the more formal frock coat before a major battle. The veterans preferred to be buried in the formal coat if they fell in battle.

I experienced company formation, rifle drill, company drill, and marching.

The first battle was in a large clearing. The rebels had cannons in position to our west. We emerged from the east from the tree line and walked in formation toward the rebel line. The southern rifles opened up on our line and we returned fire. Two good union boys were hit by Minnie balls and went down crying for their mothers. The field was filled with smoke, rifle and cannon fire, and cries from the wounded.

After what seemed like a long time of returning fire by company and maneuvering around the battle field we advanced close enough for a charge on the southerns 4th Virginia infantry line.

On orders of the Captain we made a charge for the Virginia line. As we approached in a run their cannons fired and a cannon ball struck just inches from my feet. I felt a thrust from the ground and I was hurled into the air up and backwards. Everything went dark.

"Recall" was given and I woke to the cheers of the crowd. I opened my eyes, checked for holes in my body. I was not aware of the great pyrotechnics at the event and when we ventured a little to close to a "pot" and it went off right under our feet. Boom! It must have looked real to the crowd watching. Most of our company was wiped from this earth with that cannon ball.

All infantry lined up in a single line facing the crowd to the north and Mrs. Isabella recited the Gettysburg address. Then all infantry fired one final volley. That was fantastic!

During the second battle I died dramatically. After being hit by a Mine' ball in the chest I tensed up and grabbed Pvt. Edwards to my right pulled him to the ground with me. The last thing I heard before entering mortal sleep was, "Private Edwards get back in line!"

At the end of the day I looked at my calender to see how many days before the next event.

Carson City Rendezvous

My first ever look at a civil war reenactment. Earlier that day my patient had mentioned a CW reenactment is Carson City. I got home from work and we headed down to Carson City.

Below are a few pictures from the reenactment.






After talking with the Union Commander, Col. Ehrman, I decided to suit up and participate in the next event rather than watch it.