by Xinhua writer Chang Yuan
GETTYSBURG, the United States, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Confederate Army Corporal "Johnny Wright" was assigned to serve as General Robert E. Lee's bodyguard and escort, but he seems to be more obsessed with publicity work. "Any questions, Sir and Ma'am? Please feel free to ask."
"Wanna have a chat with General Lee? I can arrange it for you."
Wright, in typical Southern Army attire - a feather-decorated hat, grey uniform and long boots - and holding an Enfield .58 caliber rifle musket, kept inviting passers-by. Just a few feet away, lies a small white 19th century military tent in which he slept overnight, as well as a bonfire he lit himself for cooking and coffee brewing.
From July 4, the American Independence Day, to July 6, Wright and some 1,200 other reenactors from across the country camped on a 200-acre field in the suburbs of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to bring the great Civil War battle fought 151 years ago back to life, before an estimated audience of over 12,000 people.
Wright, whose real name is Bruce Wright, said he was playing the role of his great-great grandfather Johnny, who fought in the Confederate Army's 7th Louisiana Regiment throughout the four-year war.
"Another great-great grandfather of mine fought for the North. And both of them joined the fighting at Gettysburg," he noted.
The July 1-3, 1863 battle between the Union and Confederate forces in the small town of Gettysburg, which even today has only a population of some 7,600, turned out to be the bloodiest in the war, claiming more than 50,000 from both sides. The North's final victory is widely seen as the war's turning point. The town gained even greater and enduring fame following President Abraham Lincoln 's historic Gettysburg Address, delivered in November 1863 at the dedication ceremony for the Soldiers' National Cemetery here.
"Everyone here - including me and 'General Lee' - does a character, just like actors," said Wright. The 57-year-old Louisianian admitted that Johnny Wright was just in his 20s during the Civil War and never got a chance to stand guard for General Lee, but still: "We are just presenting to the public a condensed version of history."
ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION
Each year on the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and during the Independence Day weekend, tens of thousands of reenactors and spectators flock into the small historic town, where hundreds of war monuments and statues scatter across the local crop fields, ranches and rocky hills, to join or celebrate the annual reenactment, a tradition said to start from the late 1980s.
"Many of them are history lovers or military fans, while some others have taken reenactment as a unique hobby," said Andrea DiMartino, media relations officer of the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee (GAC), a local entity that has organized 16 consecutive reenactments since 1998.
Last year for the 150th anniversary, as many as 13,000 reenactors - some from Britain, Canada, Australia and even China - worked together to stage an unprecedented war gala.
"It's always my dream and passion to honor my ancestors this way at this place," said Wright.
Last summer the U.S. National Park Service worker played a foot soldier on the reenactment battlefield, but this year he is doing "living history," which means he always stays at a fixed tent explaining Civil War history to curious visitors. As usual, the three-day reenactment features "one major battle" every afternoon, with cavalry, infantry and artillery units from both sides firing at each other, making tactical maneuvers in knee-high grass, and charging or retreating by flag signal commands.
Under the scorching sun, tightly wrapped in their uniforms, the participating reenactors are truly facing a demanding mission. The organizers also imposed strict rules to guarantee the " authenticity" of the battles restaged. One regarding tobacco use states that it "shall be confined to period products - pipes, cigars, snuff, chew or, in rare cases, filter-less cigarettes."
Moreover, historical reenactment sometimes can be really costly. Wright said except for the hat, a gift from his father which only needs some minor decoration, his entire South Blue costume and weaponry - the musket, bayonet and dagger - had to be purchased from scratch, costing him some 1,500 U.S. dollars.
But most reenactments he took part in, including this one, were without pay. Other reenactors interviewed on site, from "generals" to "foot soldiers", told Xinhua that their spending on costumes and basic equipment varied from several hundred bucks to two to three thousand.
One Maryland couple spent nearly 30,000 dollars on two 19th century cannons for their battalion, and had to drag the cannons to the site with their own trailer.
TIME FOR FUN, TIME TO LEARN
Taking a picture alongside General Lee or General Meade, the top Union commander, watching mortar firing demonstration, touring Civil War military camps, and purchasing souvenirs from camp sutlers... reliving the war at today's Gettysburg won't make anyone feel heavy-hearted.
"It's awesome. I like the way they reenacted. The reenactors are awesome, taking their own time and money into this," said Brian McDonald, a carpenter from a nearby Pennsylvania town, who has come to the Gettysburg event with his 9-year-old nephew several times.
The boy, who was too shy to give his name, said he always "had fun" here and is now very interested in history. "I always read books about the Civil War in library, and I would like to reenact myself one day," he added.
Shelley Stall, a reenactor at one of the Confederate camps, told Xinhua that she and her husband came to Gettysburg with two kids. "The four of us all belong to the same Confederate unit and we are gonna do this together - my husband as a first sergeant," said Stall excitedly.
"It's always fun. You have no cell phones, so your children are actually paying attention to what's happening," she said. "And it' s exciting: you are cooking on an open fire, there's horse, there' s cannon, there's everything outside."
Apart from fun, it's also a good occasion to learn. In one large tent, Union and Confederate "generals" took turns to brief the audience on their war strategies, decision-making details and elements impacting the final outcome of their battles. The tent remained overcrowded throughout the days.
"My wife and I want to know what happened here and why it happened," said David Ciabattoni, a 44-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter. The couple, who drove 3.5 hours to Gettysburg, were happy and attentive even though they had to listen to the tent briefings from outside due to crowds. "It's great to learn about the past and to teach your children, and pass it to the future generations," said Ciabattoni.
KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE
DiMartino, the GAC media officer, said a key purpose of the annual reenactment is to "keep history alive."
On its official website, the Committee says "reenacting this iconic and pivotal battle... is a tribute to the soldiers who gave their all more than 150 years ago."
Participants of the event, both reenactors and spectators, have different or even divided views on the Civil War. Was it slavery or state equality at the core of the war? Which army had stronger warring capabilities and better tactics? Which side made more mistakes at Gettysburg and what were the consequences? There remains much to argue and debate about.
But in Wright's view, the only meaningful thing today is to " learn from history," so that history won't repeat itself.
"Before we go to war and kill innocent people, we should work towards a consensus or compromise through communication. We should not be close-minded, but be open-minded and listen. We should pause instead of taking action or decision in haste, because often times our first thought is wrong," he said earnestly.
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