"Caught up in the moment"

AKA:

“Seeing the elephant ”

A Reenactors' Tale from

An Infantryman’s perspective

Original composition by Dan Landers, 40th PVI, 11th Res., USV 1st Reg., 5th Co.

Re-written with revisions added by Michael S. Gherrity Reenactor, Living Historian

It's the middle of summer and it’s hot. As a soldier, you are wearing wool from head to toe and shoes that absolutely kill your feet. You are tired of standing around waiting for the action to start, wondering ...”why am I here doing this?”… The order to fall in and form up finally comes and soon you are marching out into a battlefield. The drums and fifes are playing, flags are flying and cannon are booming in the distance. The adrenalin begins to rush up. And although it’s drastically hot out, you have chills running up your spine. As you march past the camp sites, the smell of wood smoke hits you as the civilians come out to bid you farewell. The women, dressed in layers from head to toe also, wave handkerchiefs and toss flowers at you, sometimes weeping and sometimes stealing a small kiss on the cheek from you.

They too wonder, "why am I here doing this ?"

You march up behind your artillery cannons and the thumping boom they make is something that is hard to describe. You look out across the field at both sides and see as many as 12,000 soldiers. With Cavalry and pyrotechnics, it’s impressive to see, hear and feel the rattle of a thousand muskets as they fire a volley into your lines, and horses with riders firing musketoons and pistols running around you. The smoke from the cannon and muskets fill the air and some of the guys you marched out with drop to the ground. The men in the back row step up and fill their places. Officers are shouting orders, “Dress right!” a sergeant grabs you by the arm and throws you into position as you are just trying to keep in formation. The Rebs fall back and you push them. “Ready, Aim, FIRE!” as a hundred muskets fire together. Through the smoke you see a few Confederates fall to the ground. “Shoulder Arms!” and you are on the move again. “Halt! Load! Ready, Aim, FIRE! At the quickstep MARCH!” As you taste and spit black powder you now are stepping over wounded Confederates and more men are dropping from another volley.... Meanwhile back at camp, the civilians busy themselves with tending to the camp fire, preparing meals and helping at the field hospital. As wounded soldiers come pouring into it, they watch and help the Surgeon deal with all the commotion. They comfort the wounded, giving them water and shade or a kind word and face. Bandages need to be made or washed out, water needs to be boiled. Soldiers need to be tended to, the Chaplain needs assistance. They smell and hear the sounds of the battle all around them.....

Back at the battle, smoke fills the air and the battlefield becomes difficult to see across. Sweat is running down your face, but you don't have time for that. Confusion is abundant. More orders are shouted over the rattle of thousands of guns. “Right Oblique, FIRE!” Too late, you have been outflanked, and another volley from 30 yards away pours into your line. More of your regiment drops to the ground. Just over the rise of the field to your left is a battery of Confederate field artillery and you feel the concussion thump in your chest. BOOM! Then two more quick ones, BOOM! BOOM! Hundreds of Rebels are coming out of nowhere with a determined hate in their eyes and the deafening cry of the Rebel Yell. Fear grips your very soul as what was looking like a victory is now turning into a rout and your company retreats.

You run for your life as the Rebs chase you down. 

No time to load or return fire, just fear and desperation to get away......

You are now “caught up in the moment” and have “seen the elephant “…

After the guns go silent and the smoke clears, the dead rise and all on the field remove their hats. Taps is sounded in honor of the men you are trying to portray. The battle is over for now, but you can try it again in a few hours. A long hot march back to camp awaits you. The civilians once again come out to welcome you home. The women wave and cheer, handing out flowers and vegetables. You think to yourself, "was this what it was really like for those people ?, and I'm living it now ! "

You have studied history, about a certain event or battle of the Civil War. You have always wondered what it was actually like to be there. Then the day comes when you get a chance to reenact that very situation or battle event. This is what you dreamed of. This is the day and battle you have studied and learned so much about for so long.

This is what you have been living for…..

.....and it is then you realize why you are all here doing this.

Sound like fun ?

If you have an interest in history and would like to experience it first hand,

maybe we have a place for you.

We are now accepting applicants to fill our ranks.

You can try out being a reenactor for a weekend

and experience the thrill of battle and camp life for yourself.