That's how I feel right now - incredibly sad that the weekend is already over. I could've gone another week and more with reenacting, it was such a great experience.
I was on time today for Colors on the Monument Grounds. And on my way there I literally ran into the rebel army marching off toward the ceremony, long lines and flags and everything you can imagine. What a start into the day!
There ceremony was great to watch, all those commands shouted up and down the line.
@Equestriangirl93 and I unfortunately stood somewhat behind some shrubbery that barred our view on the Union lines; we could mostly only see the rebels on the other side of the grounds.
@LTG USG was there again and later at the memorial ceremony at the Union monument in the cemetery.
I then went over to
@captaindrew 's company's camp for a bit until it was time for church. The chaplain showed us a cross that was supposedly carved by a POW in Andersonville. The front felt like wood, the back not so much, but he says he has papers proving authenticity.
We afterward went to the sutlers again; I was trying to find a medici belt but the one I wanted wasn't available in my size. By then it was nearing noon and it was getting time for the boys (and gal) to gear up. The proud and fierce 28th Georgia Company K
:
With the 61st Georgia (
@captaindrew , please correct me if I'm wrong) who fell in with them this weekend:
And the rebels all lined up again, going all out with fife and drums and full parade mood. And then General Lee came riding it (unfortuantely not on Traveler), dismounted and walked the whole line, greeting everyone with his sword. You should've been there - every rebel yelled and cheered and I had goosebumps all over. What an experience!
The Confederates then marched all through the camp and sutler's area on the long way to the battlefield. Lee was riding ahead of them.
Ladies stood on the wayside and waved them off with white hankerchiefs. One of the surgeons hollered at them to not get shot, he only wants Yankee blood on his table afterward.
@Equestriangirl93 and I used some shortcuts to get some good views and pictures, then raced to the battlefield to find
@captaindrew 's other half who had gone ahead. This time we sat in the bleachers and could see a bit better. Most of the action was right in front of the spectators though some parts was in the woods.
And what a battle! It's scripted after the historic Battle of Olustee. We saw rebel skirmishers getting hit by Yankee cavalry, then more Yankee cavalry whooping in and sending the skirmishers to fall back. (If I learned one thing this weekend: Rebels never retreat, they only fall back. I wondered why they had their backs on the enemy then; doesn't that mean retreating, while falling back is walking backwards?
@captaindrew 's other half resolutely said "they always only fall back, the enemy's not worthy of their front."
Wonderful answer!) Next came the rebel infantry and when the Yankee cavalry wanted to charge again, the rebels formed a square.
At that point the Union artillery came into play. Most of the time when one of the artillery is fired, something on the field explodes; it has been rigged beforehand. So while the rebs stood in that square, something exploded right in their middle and we had some casualties (not real ones of course).
After that the infantry fell back and the Yankees came forward, believing they had forced the rebs to retreat. But more rebs were coming and lining up and the battle was on. There was almost constant musket firing going on, or the artillery was booming away. There was sometimes so much smoke on the field you couldn't see the rebels in the smoke from where we sat in the Union-sided bleachers. You could smell the gunpowder in the air. Twice the rebels shot a volley almost the entire length of the line. That was just WOW!
Towards the end the rebels get reeinforcements coming in, yelling at the top of their lungs to let their comrades know they're coming. The rest of the line picked that up and it was spectacular to hear that over the musketry. Well, the Yankees were taking heavy casulties and had to retreat eventually. The rebels picked up speed and chased after them. And that concluded the battle. They then had a moment of silence where one of the buglers played taps.
After that, both armies marched down the line in front of the spectators to great cheer. The lined up in front and fired a final salute. Before and after that you heard the commands being shouted up and down the line - just like during the Civil War. It gave me chills, the good ones. With fife and drums the armies then returned to their camps.
And that sadly concludes this awesome weekend.
I helped with packing up and then hit the road. On the way to Jacksonville it started pouring buckets. We really can count ourselves lucky that the rain held off until everyone had more or less packed up and left although towards the end of the battle it drizzled a little.
If you think that's too much rebs and not enough Yankees, well, I was affiliated with the Gray this weekend and naturally spent most of my time with them, so we were of course looking for them on the battlefield all the time, wanting to make sure they're fine.
I had actually tailored my impression's backstory to go Union, but since I (so far) only know Confederates, I might just count myself a rebel for now.
Back to a "normal" tour now, with mixed feelings - looking forward to explore more and sad the Olustee reenactment is over. On tomorrow's program: Jacksonville.