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LOCAL RE-ENACTORS REVIVE HISTORY

By Wes Clement/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, October 10, 2009 7:44 PM CDT

A line of Confederate Civil War re-enactors practiced quickly firing and reloading their muskets Saturday before the beginning of a mock battle at Sulphur Springs.

The Confederate line (from left) of 1st Sgt. Mike Lewis, Pvt. Jesse Hawkins, Pvt. Tom D’Amore and Pvt. Darryn Brown charges union Army cannons as Lt. Mikah Wisner lays wounded in the grass Saturday afternoon during the annual Fall Camp White Sulphur Springs Civil War living history event at the Confederate cemetery in Sulphur Springs. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald

Civil War enthusiasts from Arkansas and some from surrounding states participated in an annual re-enactment at White Sulphur Springs Historic Cemetery, a place where many Confederate soldiers are buried.

“Fire in the hole,” Hays Swayze said before firing one of a few cannons lined up at the top of a hill.

As soldiers prepared for the battle, others milled around in a camp of canvas tents.

Lisa Wisner and Jessie Derr, clothed in Civil War-era dresses, chopped carrots and celery for vegetable soup and others sat on hay bales around a campfire.

As the battle began, the Confederate re-enactors crossed a small bridge and ascended a hill to face their enemies of the north.

As the battle was going on, one of the cannon teams allowed children to take turns pulling a string to fire the weapon.

Selina Elliot of Conway and three of her children attended the event. Her 10-year-old daughter, Hannah, she said initiated their participation. “She was born in the wrong time period,” Selina Elliot said.

“They’re just living their dreams, and I’m here just being that good parent,” she said.

“When the sun goes down, the guitars come out,” Ron Kelley, a history teacher at St. Joseph Catholic High School, said. “It’s the perfect family hobby.”

Last year Kelley and a handful of St. Joseph students started a group called the Jefferson Guard Historic Preservation Cadet Corps, and several of the students participated in Saturday’s re-enactment.

“I have learned a whole bunch of camping skills and how to use the cannons,” St. Joseph senior Paul Brewer said. Brewer played the role of a Union soldier and was one of several who worked together to fire cannons at Confederate soldiers approaching from a wooded area below.

Jefferson Guard has since grown to include students of other local schools.

“It’s one thing for kids to play video games these days, but quite another to get high school students on the weekends out and off their video games and into the woods doing this stuff,” Kelley said.

“We have some who are real dedicated to this. We have a real good time.”

Members young and old of First Arkansas Light Artillery and First Arkansas Infantry Regiment, both based in Pine Bluff, participated in the re-enactment.

Some of the participants arrived at the cemetery Thursday afternoon to begin setting up camp.

David Taylor said the group planned to include some modern-day conveniences Saturday night and watch Civil War movies, and a memorial service for those buried at the cemetery was to be held today before the participants go home.

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