WELCOME TO 1865

Every Labor Day weekend Huntington Beach CA puts on a weekend of fun with living history.  A whole mini city seems to pop up from the past for everyone to enjoy.

The highlight of each day is the battle that is reenacted between the North and the South.

If you have never made it to a Civil War reenactment, you must go.  It's like watching a movie being filmed right in front of you.

They dress in actual period clothes, have real guns, flags and speak like they are from that time long ago.

The sounds of the battle taking place sounds like you are stepping right into 1865 as the war was about to be over.

It is very loud and the men (and sometimes women) would get shot and fall down, they would move forward and back depending on who had the upper hand at the time.

The sky was filled with the smell and sight of smoke from the canons.

Once the battle is over, the men go back to their camps.  They have set up camps that they actually live in for the weekend.

Ol' Abe himself even showed up and gave a speech at the end of the war. 

To be honest, I didn't hang around to hear his speech.  But, I happened to be walking towards him and he was more then happy to stop and let me take his picture.  He didn't say a word to me though.  He just nodded his head when I thanked him.

Perhaps his mind was on the war and his upcoming speech.

There were several shops selling just about anything you could think of. 

As I was walking by this one, I felt like I was watching what it would have really been like back then.

They had uniforms for sale (yes both for the North and South).  I guess if anyone wanted to sign up to join right then, they would have gladly taken them to battle. 

There were hats waiting to be purchased by the next brave men to offer up his life for his Country.

There were cans of food (no not real - the cans were actually empty).

Bullets could be purchased.  Yes, these are actual bullets from the real Civil War. 

Dishes could be found and purchased.

I loved the dresses.  Each one was so pretty.  The colors were lovely.  I know, I should have let you seen the colors but then it wouldn't look like real photos from the Civil War.

While they sold the under garments for women, I found myself wondering if they would have really had these on display for everyone to see back then.  After all, is it really proper for men to see these things?

I loved when I turned around and saw these three women just chatting.  I'm sure this would have been a common sight back then.  Women talking about being worried over their men being at war, exchanging recipes or just gossiping about others.

There were hundreds of tents set up.  They were set up to show what camp would have looked like during the winter.

Also, when the men were allowed to have their wife and children come to visit them. 

They would have been set up to still hold down their jobs and do their duty.  A simple desk out front and their guns ready in case they should need them in a hurry.

I found this place to be sort of funny.  Back then one person often held several job titles.  You can see this guy was the Notary, Legal Council and also did embalming.  Oh yes, he also sold games and whiskey and fine ales. 

I really enjoyed the day here.  However, the parts I loved the most was when I would be walking and notice a little scene going on that may or may not have been planned for us to see. 

Like these two ladies just sitting in camp talking to each other.  For some reason it seemed more real to me.  Almost as if I had stumbled upon a camp that I should not have been walking through.

One thing I did learn was how important the ladies who did the laundry were.  It took almost a full week to wash a uniform.  They had to scrub them, soak them to get stains out, boil them to get the lice and bugs off, dry them, iron them and so on.  Each part took hours to do.

The women were so greatly needed that they were paid very well.  In fact they got paid almost as much as the officers.  It was back breaking work but because it was paid so well, many women sought after jobs like this.

Also, many women wanted to take up arms and fight along side the men.  This of course, was not legal.  However, some women cut their hair and put the uniforms on and gave a male name.  No one was asking questions because every body they could get they needed.  So, several women died and several women helped both sides fight in the Civil War.

I love to learn about history and US History is something I really love.  Funny because in High School I hated it more then any other subject.

What about you?  Do you enjoy learning about the history of your country?

A VISIT TO THE CIVIL WAR

Today I went with my sister, Maureen, to watch a Civil War reenactment. It was beautiful day out and it was all free!

There were lots and lots of men and women dressed up in Civil War attire. Many of them had authentic clothes, hats and gear.

The had items you could purchase. Like this pretty dress. It was hand made by one of the women there. Just lovely.

They had a whole town set up through out the park. It was a great way to get a real feel of what it was like in Virginia on that fateful day of the war. The day, the South surrendered and the Union won the war.

They even had their laundry hung up to dry. Like I said, it was as if you stepped back in time and was really walking through the make shift town that was set up.

The guys reminded you that it was not just a camp out, it was during war time. These people were not living through a happy time in History.

A one man tent sits waiting for one of the men who left to go to the battle. I wonder if he would have returned to his tent or if he would have lost his life and this tent would have remained empty.

As we walked through the town, I was thinking about what it was like to live in that time.

I couldn't help but think the people who are doing the reenactment must really have fun doing this.

Some of the men gathered around to play music.

The lady in mourning was a reminder of all the men lost in this War. I had an odd feeling when I was around her. It was almost like she was a ghost from the past. Very eerie. She would walk and would be as if she was gliding just over the surface.

OK, I think I've been doing to much ghost hunting. Let's move on.

Actual items from the Civil War were on display.

I loved watching this guy. He was weaving straw.

This is what it would look like when he finished. Long ropes that were like a tight braid.

All those ropes of straw would then be sewed together to make straw hats. You could purchase the hats.

They were really cute.

I loved watching the kids. They seemed to not even notice they were dressed up and living in a different time period. They were just kids playing.

Families would enjoying the day together.

This little one was just darling!

This little boy was a crack up. He and his dad were running the "Undertakers" shop. He would get in to the coffin and act like he was dead. Then he made sure everyone got a Christian Flier that was a copy of the ones the real undertakers handed out back in the Civil War time.

Why ol' Honest Abe himself was there. Talking with the crowds and handing out his portrait on a little round copper disc called a penny. The kids loved it and some really thought it was the real Abe Lincoln.

Then we gathered for the battle.

Both the North and South were ready for war. The time was April 18, 1865 and we were in Virginia.

It was very real feeling. So sad to see how the men would just line up and start shooting at each other. While the guns weren't that great then, they still managed to hit and kill way to many men.

More Americans lost their life in this War then all the other wars combined.

It was very loud and smoky. I couldn't help but think what it was like for them back then. For years going through this. Wondering if they would ever make it home again.

The cannons were super loud. We happen to be right in front of them. At times they left you with ringing in your ears.

This was how they would look ahead and see how close the enemy was. Wow! We sure have come a long way.

We watched as the Union continued to move forward. Breaking through the lines one by one of the Confederacy. Leaving a long trail of wounded and dead men behind them.

The men were very brave. They didn't run and hide behind trees or try to cover up at all. They just stood together and shot. So sad.

Didn't they know they were more likely then not to have been hit by a bullet? Of course they knew, but they believed in what they were fighting for and stood their ground.

As hard as they fought, the South kept losing ground. They were forced back further and further.

Even though I knew the men on the field were just playing a part, I kept thinking about my own ancestors who really fought in this war.

The things they would have seen. Thankfully, none of my ancestors were killed in this war. They all managed to some how live.

Perhaps it's because they were on the side of the Union they were lucky enough to live to tell their stories.

Once the Confederacy surrendered, the men still standing, stood at attention and saluted their fallen. The war was over.