Battle brings history to life

Re-enactors portraying Confederate and Union soldiers fight on horseback at the Skirmish of Zollicoffer on Sunday in Bluff City, Tenn.

By: Amy Hunter | TriCities.com
Published: November 03, 2008

BLUFF CITY, Tenn. – The generous crowd was enthralled by a spectacle of blasting cannonballs, booming gunfire and galloping horses, but behind the scenes of a civil war reenactment is a different story.
“It’s practice, practice, practice. And a lot of preparation,” said Goldia Scott, of Elizabethton, who was a spectator at the fourth-annual Skirmish of Zollicoffer held over the weekend, but who participates in several similar events each year.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, about 125 Civil War re-enactors met for battle on a 10-acre field on a farm in Bluff City. It was the second day of a weekend battle full of excitement for teems of spectators who arrived to witness the modest glimpse of live history.
“I like to think of it as kind of a theater in the round,” said John “Pappy” Hawthorne, who organized the event hosted by his unit, the 61st Tennessee Co. K Reenactment Group and James Keeling Camp 52 S.C.V. of Bristol, Tenn. “How better to learn history than to live it.”
But the fun and excitement is only the product of a lot of hard work, money and dedication, said many who participated.
“It does take a lot of work,” Hawthorne said. “Each re-enactor furnishes his own personal gear. ... The average soldier has close to $1,000 in gear. For example, a musket right now costs $450.”
On top of the expense of the hobby, re-enactors must practice a great deal – drills are held first thing in the morning of every battle and in between battles, participants work to accrue gear, train their horses and learn the history of the events they portray, Hawthorne said.
“If you want to make ’em mad at you, come out half dressed,” he said.
As he was speaking, Hank Harvey, who played a Confederate cavalry solider Sunday, rode up on his quarter horse, Rebel.
“It takes time. What most of us do is loan a lot of gear out. It takes a lot of money,” he said, before pulling out his rifle. “This is an exact replica of a Sharp’s Carbine. It cost about $700.”
Later, Harvey said being a cavalry soldier is even more expensive. On top of the soldier’s personal gear, a cavalry man must outfit his horse – not to mention the cost of buying the animal and its upkeep.
“Complete cavalry costs between $2,000 and $2,500,” he said.
But it’s all worth it, the men agreed.
“After you’ve done this for a while, you become like a family,” Hawthorne said. “You get a camaraderie, and when you lose one it’s like losing a member of your family.”
ahunter@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531

Battle brings history to life

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