Civil War re-enactors enjoy stepping back in history
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

There's something about the Civil War that's different than any other American war or conflict.

Why are reenactors so passionate about the Civil War?

"They're driven by a love of history," said Jim Arthur, past president of the Rotary Club of Moorpark. "Of all the historical periods, it's the easiest one for most Americans to relate to. It's not that far removed from us."

The Rotary Club hosts the Civil War reenactment at Tierra Rejada Ranch on Nov. 10 and 11. About 800 residents from California and other Western states will participate in the Moorpark event. After trailing the Fresno's production for years, Moorpark's "The Blue & The Gray" is expected to be the biggest of its kind in California this year, according to Ed Mann, the production coordinator.

Mann thinks people are drawn to the Civil War for three main reasons:

"It's one part history, one part theater and one part social club," said Mann, a Thousand Oaks resident and participant for 18 years, including all seven productions in Moorpark.

Some participants have been known to live as if it was the 1860s in the week leading up to the events. They drink water out of streams, talk in the vernacular of the time and do every small task without the benefit of technology.

Arthur recalled his first experience at a re-enactment. He ran into a Confederate soldier walking near a fruit stand.

"I rolled down the window of a car and said to him, 'Can I give you a lift?' He said, 'Oh, I'm doing just fine,'"Arthur said. "I looked down and saw his cartridge case he had swung over his shoulder. I noticed it was a Union case. Half teasingly, I said, 'I see you're in a Confederate uniform. That looks like a Union cartridge.' He looked me right in the eye and said, 'Well, that boy don't need it no more.' "

Mike Goodfellow of Moorpark is a cannoneer for the Richmond Howitzers of the Confederacy. Mann and John Billinger of Simi Valley are two of original members of the unit. Goodfellow's son, Dan, joins his father on the battlefield, while John's wife and children will portray civilians of the era.

Even though most of the cannons are authentic reproductions, two of the Howitzers' cannons were actually used in Civil War battles.

"This is a hobby you can share with other people," Goodfellow said. "We all have our characters that we portray during the whole weekend. We try to stay in character, just like acting on TV."

Darryl Pearce of Camarillo has been involved since 1993, and is an infantry soldier with Company E 2nd Regiment of the Vermont Volunteers. Pearce enjoys taking up the persona of Samuel L.D. Goodale, who once he enlisted, "spent the next 18 months in and out of a hospital," Pearce said.

Pearce and Peter Swavely of Newbury Park actually participated in a re-enactment of Ceder Creek Battle in Virginia in October 2006. The regiment played a big role for the Union in the Cedar Creek Battle of 1864.

"We were telling folks we're from California," Pearce said. "They said, 'You came all the way for this.' "

Swavely teaches in Camarillo, and enjoys being a part of these replications and says that, "We try to portray what our ancestors went through," Swavely said. "We're doing homage to their memory."