2009 Fresno Civil War Revisited

In early October my family travelled to Yosemite National Park. We continued on to Fresno, CA to attend the 19th Civil War Revisited. The union army was camped south of the battlefield and the confederate army to the east. I found my unit along the main street of the union camp. I could see company colors; musket holes, tears, and blood.

Not long after settling in with my company, we received an order to go out and stall the enemy. Our company was to go out and hold the enemy back while the brigade formed up for battle.

The 2nd Wisconsin moved forward into the field. The confederates waited for us to get within 100 yards before they fired on us. Suddenly, a grey line stood and fired into our ranks.

The enemy volley was ineffective. They must have been firing smooth bore muskets. Our return volley hit their line hard and a number of confederates fell. Knowing that we had an advantage of range we continued to fire and repel the enemy host.

As our lead balls did the work of death, confederate cavalry attacked our right flank. 1st Sergeant maneuvered our line into a box to defend against the cavalry.

We rallied into sections and prepared for the confederate cavalry charge. Hot and accurate firing deterred the mounted assault.

As the main confederate force entered the field, our own force arrived.

Seeing our force coming to our rear, our hearts were lifted and we made a charge towards the confederate line.

In response to our charge 2nd Battalion made a charge up the field to protect our right flank.

The 1st Battalion took up a position to our left flank. What was left of our company was holding the union center.

The union quickly took advantage of a lull in confederate cannon fire and the whole line pushed forward.

The right wing of our line retreated and our company spread out to help hold the line.

The fire was hot and the smoke thickened and we were glad to that the right wing had returned.

1st Sergeant Hinton yelled out encouragement as the reb lines swept toward us.

The confederate lines fell upon us and we again found ourselves alone. The right wing had retreated.

The Colonel ordered us hold the line to give the main army time to retreat.

We continued to fire in retreat. We evacuated as many wounded as possible.

It was a long and hot day. We lost many men. When we assembled back at camp our numbers were pathetic.

Early the next morning we lined up for an attack.

The Colonel was impressed with the bravery of company and decided to send us out to repeat the heroic deed.

We advanced as skirmishers and pressed forward.

The grey coats appeared on the field in great numbers. The whole line charged towards us. We fired and loaded and fired again. The confederate line poured over our company. I felt a ball tear into my right shoulder and I fell.

After the battle ended I felt my wounds heal and strength returned to my bones. I was healed and happy to be alive.

Fresno is a larger event with a lot of speeches, crafts, booths, educational demonstrations, and civilian displays. Presidents, Generals, slaves, freemen, and interesting people teach the throngs of spectators. I will be back next year.

Nevada City Civil War Days 2009

The short life of an infantry soldier.
A call went out for reinforcements. Col. Bispo was calling for able bodied men in the region to come to the aid of the union. I was on furlough with my family and decided to heed the call. The union was assembling in the hills of the Sierra Nevadas in a gold mining town called Nevada City.
I found the camp and was mustered into service with 1st company.

I had seen the Colonel in action on previous occasions and knew him to be a good officer and a great tactician. He addressed our ranks and relayed the order given. "Find and remove the enemy!"

The nurse passed out pickles as a last treat for the soldiers.

I was pressed into a platoon of skirmishers and we headed in advance of the union army. I was going to find the enemy and remove it, or die trying.

We came upon a clearing and found that the rebs had set up barricades along the field. We charged toward the barricade and found no one.

We deployed into skirmish lines.

Confederate cannons rolled out of the trees at the end of the field. We had found the enemy or had they found us?

We commenced firing and pressed the reb skirmishers back toward their canons.

In response to seeing the cannons, Col. Bispo sent union canon forward. The union artillery fired upon the reb guns.

The confederate cannons opened up in response. Shells started falling to our front. As we our way back the reb skirmishers advanced toward us. A fast and furious battle ensued.

I stood and fired and continued firing with my file partner. Suddenly, someone swept my right leg out from under me.

A Minnie ball had struck the outside of my gaiters. The ball had scratched my leg, but I kept on firing.

A company of CS marines came out of the woods on our left flank and we were forced to return to the main skirmish line.

We assembled as a skirmish platoon and fired en mass at the marines. Just as quickly as they appeared the marines fled the field.

Again, we deployed out in lines to advance on the enemy canons.

Cannon s ripped into our lines and I was sent to support the left flank. As I loaded my rifle, a lead ball struck me in the left chest. It knocked me over and I rolled away from the line.

I couldn't breath and it felt like someone was standing on my chest. I expected that this was the end. I looked around and the Colonel was standing out in the open. I tried to call to him to tell him to get to the rear, but no breath would come. Then all went dark.

I awoke in the field. Remembering what had happened I pressed my hands to my chest. It felt like fire. Expecting blood to fill my tunic I looked at my hands. No blood. I ripped open my tunic and felt around. No blood. My scriptures! The bullet struck my Book Of Mormon and Bible. I always kept a Bible and Book of Mormon in my tunic pockets. My chest hurt but I survived. I got back up and started firing.

Captain Hess ran up to me and said you're dead! I saw you die! I showed him my book and he sent me to the Surgeon anyway. Not wanting to disobey orders I headed to the rear.

I found the main body or men lined up and formed for battle. I decided to fall in with some of my old company.

The main force was sent out to push the rebs off the field. With the help of superior numbers of cannons the rebs had advanced to our lines.

Keeping tight and together we marched toward the grey line.

"Pour it into them boys!"

The battle field became clouded by smoke from our muskets.

A shell ripped in a struck to my right. I felt immortal! I knew I would not die.

A good friend Pvt. Ed Randall came turned and ran to me. As Pvt. Randall assisted me to my feet he was struck by a ball in his lower leg.

I tried to help him, but he couldn't stand.

He handed me his ammo and told me to get back in line.

The battle raged on and me were falling on both sides.

I continued to fire. My rifle was heating up.

The command was given to charge and so I did. I reached for my bayonet.

I jumped the barricade and was able to detain a reb captain.

Seeing their captain in trouble, a company of rebs made a counter charge.

I was forced back to my lines to continue the fight.

A second charge was made. We took the enemy cannons. The rest of the reb force was captured or rounded up. Feeling exhausted, bruised, and lucky to be alive I headed back to the rear for water and laudanum.

As I reached the rear of our lines my body collapsed. My right leg throbbed. My chest felt like knives were stabbed into it and my head felt like it was going to burst.

As I lay there weak and in pain, Pvt. Frank (Gramps) came to check on me.


I told him I just needed a little rest. I sent him to look for our friend Pvt. Ed Randall.

The Surgeon came by to check on me.

The confederates were in good spirits. They were not happy being prisoners, but they were happy eating union food.

Nevada City was a fun event. Although the battle field is smaller, the battles are still a "blast."