In my reenacting company, I would often portray the 'coward' who ran from a fight.
At one Perryville, KY, reenactment, my company was deployed as skirmishers and came under heavy fire from advancing rebel troops. I yelled at the top of my lungs (so the crowd of spectators could hear) "Boys! We're betrayed! We're going to be flanked!"
I then threw off my musket and leathers (anything that would slow me down), and I ran for the rear as fast as I could (a friend who remained in the ranks had agreed to watch over my musket and gear).
Members of the public who were watching the reenactment from a hillside shouted, "Look at that! He's running! He's running away!" I considered that time one of my best reenactment moments.
Not every man stood and fought or held his ground. The storm of battle can be quite terrifying and such acts should be portrayed, in my own view.
One time as a Confederate soldier, I did the same act, but was caught and placed before a firing squad for execution. I was fortunate that the officer in charge of the firing squad stood off to one side of me and at his command of "Ready! Aim! FIRE!," he was shot down by his own men while missing me, permitting me to run for my life. (The crowd loved it).
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