Wilson’s Creek 150th: My thoughts…
The family and I attended the 150th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Wilson’s Creek (Oak Hills) this past Saturday, August 13th 2011, and I thought I would give my take of the sights and sounds of the day from at least my perspective.
First off, it should be noted that the event took place NOT on the actual battlefield, but just north of it but still along Wilson’s Creek. Now while I understand some of the rationale behind this I have to say I think it was a big mistake.
I have come across people who attended the event who thought that the size of the battlefield area and it’s location was the actual site of the battle and the extent of it. I had to explain to my wife and kids that this isn’t where the battle took place and that it was much more involved than simply facing off across an open field with a little cornfield in the middle. I also believe that many who knew little of the battle have now come away with a false understanding of what happened.
I drove my wife through the actual National Battlefield and explained along the way, with a map, the significance that the creek played in splitting the battlefield, the actual breadth of the entire site and how the movement of Sigel and Lyon both could not be portrayed across a small field. I also explained the details of the Ray house, his cornfield, the location of the Pulaski Battery, Bloody Hill, and how the landscape played a role in the events. None of this can be explained in an open field reenactment. So needless to say I was disappointed with that.
Next up was how rude some of the reenactors were. Mind you, the majority that I talked to and overheard, where not only polite but in character and very interested in teaching those around them what it was like to be a soldier during this time and at this battle. However, I overheard some cursing, ignoring people in the crowd, and generally being jerks. These were the minority, but it was uncalled for.
Next was the nonchalant attitude of some of the reenactors. I saw some smoking modern cigarettes, drinking out of water bottles (I even saw one guy in the Confederate camp drinking out of his tin cup…except it had a beer can in it!) and even on guy texting on his cell phone! The term that is used by reenactors for this behavior is “farb” which is a derogatory term used in the hobby of historical reenacting in reference to participants who exhibit indifference to historical authenticity, either from a material-cultural standpoint or in action. It can also refer to the inauthentic materials used by those reenactors. I understand it was hot, I understand you don’t get paid, but for the $25 entrance fee I was expecting a bit more in realism. Again, how can anyone expect to truly get into the spirit of things if those involved are not in it completely?
Now, what I DID enjoy was the use of pretend currency of the time and that you had to go to a “bank” to exchange, dollar for dollar mind you, your modern money for this period money. Clever in a lot of ways, but a way to involve the spectator in the events. I also enjoyed seeing a large number of young boys and girls involved as well as a lot of folks playing civilian roles. I also enjoyed when the battle was over, as the Union soldiers were retreating across the bridge the crowd cheered and applauded them. Very cool. And finally, when we visited the actual battlefield it was a “fee free day” and we could take the driving tour, free of charge. Again, very cool.
150 years has come and gone, and this battle had major importance. I think everyone involved in the event knew this, however I think having it off-site was the biggest mistake and a lot of people are going to go away with a incorrect understanding of the events of that day that having seen the men on the actual field would have really been something to take away as a memory.
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Comments
I think holding the reenactment on the actual battlefield and having everything else (sutlers, programs, etc) elsewhere would have been a better option. You’re right Tom, they are worried about damage to the actual battlefield, and rightly so, however we are talking about a significant milestone and the opportunity to educate fell to the wayside. I can also see one other reason that they may not have held it on the actual battlefield and that is like I stated: the breadth of the actual battlefield probably would be less condusive for a reenactment. Spectators would scattered all over the park. to see certain key events and missing others in the process. I suppose you can’t have your cake and eat it too!
The National Park system does not allow reenactments on their property under any circumstance. They will allow only living history camps but there can be no battles, hostile actions or representaions on their properties. Until the National Park system changes this rule, we can only do the battles off property.
I am a reenactor who participated in the 150th Wilson Creek event and on behalf of my fellow comrades I apologize to Notch for the rudeness he encountered from others. It would be impossible to not run into a few out of a few thousand that might not be to standards but these are all wonderful people to do what they do under the conditions. Not only is the cost of equipment, travel and transport of cannons, horses,and everthing seen that day out of our own individual pockets to present this and teach the public about it because we want to, we were fortunate to have only been charged $20 each to participate. So please allow us a cigarette and a bottle of water or two when I saw a few taken off the field due to real medical emergencies due to the heat. I agree with the fact of authenticity in use of the original battlefield for milestone events but they have their rules and the battlefields are sacred. A local elder stated that bones would occaisionally be turned up during plowing before the park service took it over and so it is also a cemetery that should be respected too.
Please do not take offense to small disappointments, for usually there is a larger important picture to see. I want to thank all who came and thanked us for our efforts.
As a reenactor who participated in Wilson’s Creek let me please point a few things out:
1) The National Battle field is closed to all renanactments because it’s very hard to clean up after a battle. You do realize that most infantry doesn’t load their guns with a powder horn but with hand rolled cart-rages that you can not keep on your person because that would be absolutely time consuming to keep sticking them into your pocket. And like 4thTexas said it’s a cemetery and we need to show respect to those who died there.
2) Not everyone has a canteen. And people where passing out of heat. In the area I was camping in 5 people passed out. Excuse us if we want to take a sip of water from a water bottle to keep from dying.
3) We are not jerks. And we have a right to ignore the crowd. I’m Confederate cannons and we had spectators sitting ten feet behind our canons. We have a right to be jerks because that is normally NOT allowed because it’s a danger to us and to the spectators.
And the cursing? We’re not talking to the spectators. We’re talking to our friends.
Hannah, thanks for the comment, and thanks for being out there furthering the knowledge of our countries history.
1. I understand it is a national battlefield and I understand that NB policy is to not hold reenactments on NB land. Still does not change the fact that many will leave with no understanding of what happened because of the location. Sad but true I suppose.
2. I was certainly not asking anyone to die. I understand it was hot, and thank you for enduring the heat, but I would be willing to bet that some reenactors would frown on the practice. Do you have that right? Absolutely! Will it change a persons perspective of what went on? I doubt it. The water bottle was not as big a deal as the beer was… I over-heard a kid asking “why is there a can that mans cup?”
3. Read closely… I said the majority were polite and amiable. This was not during the battle, I understand you are busy doing what you do and focusing on that and safety. I get that. It was afterwards, mingling in the crowd, a spectator asking a question and getting a look like “what a dumb question”… The cursing is uncalled for. In camp, sure, but walking around the crowd, especially with kids there, a little bit of self control would have been nice. And again, this was the very small minority. 98% of those I saw and heard not only not only mingled, but played their character to the hilt. One guy after leaving the battlefield, and was obviously hot, jokingly handed his gun to a young lady and asked here to go back out in his place then proceeded to tell her about the gun and what was going on. Perfect!
So again, thanks for being involved, thanks for enduring things most people never will in order to perpetuate the memory of the times, the events, the people and the soldiers, but remember that young ears are listening. Curious ears are listening.
I attended Wilson’s Creek 125th as a member of the 3rd La. Infantry Co B, but could not make the 150th.
I have attended more than 200 reenactments and most leave much to be desired in providing a accurate depiction of actual events. I am not at all sure that reenacting on the actual place would help with that regard. To correctly protray all the events of Wilson Creek in a single battle reenactment would be impossible due to space and amount of troops involved. Probably the best that can be hoped for is to give a glimps of how it must have appeared. I have only experienced that myself at a hand full of events, one was Wilson Creek 125th, Gettysburg 125th, and Chickamuga 125th.
I happen to agree with you about how reenactors today seem to not care nearly enough about appearences, the beer can should have never been allowed in a company street, there is no good excuse for that. All to many times I see equipment in camps especialy in the way of candle lanterns that are not period.
Another point our division would never allow a reenactor to hand a weapon to a spectator for any reason out of safty concerns. I enjoyed your comments about reenactments, and think you made valid points.
Often times the Park officials refuse to use the park for any reenactments because it damages the grounds. I can understand this attitude. However, if sufficient people are around for cleanup afterwards the rewards of seeing the battlefield come to life should far outweigh the “damage” done to the park. Too bad…:-(