The Civil War wages on in Port Gamble

Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2006

PORT GAMBLE — In the picturesque town of Port Gamble, the sounds of a single bugle playing “Taps” filled the air. Soldiers from Confederate and Union armies alike put their hats to their chests to honor their fallen brethren, whose bodies were strewn about the battlefield Sunday.

As the somber tune came to an end, the battle was over and the fallen soldiers jumped spryly to their feet, despite the heat of the day and their heavy wool uniforms.

The soldiers, though red-faced and pouring sweat, seemed to be handling the heat of the day better than many of the spectators who gathered to watch the battle. Perhaps it was because their commanders made sure each soldier’s canteen was filled to the brim before battle.

Those watching the Washington Civil War Association reenactors June 24 and 25 received no such order.

The Union and Confederacy converged on Port Gamble for two days of historical demonstrations, leaving a sense of awe, the heavy smell of gunpowder and ringing ears with those who attended.

“We drove through last year while this was going on,” said Poulsbo resident Julie Harper, noting that she and her family thought it looked like so much fun, they made a point to attend this year. “It’s safe for kids, and it’s a very picturesque place to have (the battle).”

Her daughters, Morgan, 7, and Emma, 4, both agreed that the horses in the calvary were the best part. They, like many children, had their hands hovering by their ears, ready to block out the blasting noise of the guns.

They, and many others, looked on as the Union and Confederate soldiers clashed on the battlefield, muskets and cannons blazing from both sides as calvary swiftly attacked, riding by on their steeds to take shots at foot soldiers.

“We love it,” said Port Orchard resident Layne Green. She and her sister, Ann Schnitzer from Fox Island, were new to the reenactment this year.

“The costumes are amazing,” Schnitzer said.

“They’re very authentic,” Green added.

“It was fantastic this year,” said WCWA treasurer and reenactor Cindy Easterson “There were things we couldn’t do without the town nearby. The weather was great, the crowds were good.”

Easterson estimated that at least 4,000 people attended the weekend event, which featured everything from reenacted battles and fashion shows to medical demonstrations.

Many reenactors were not part of the demonstrations themselves, but attended to support family members fighting in the battles.

“It’s hard for us,” said reenactor Cary MacCharles, also known as Mrs. Wardlaw. “My husband is a Confederate bugler and my son is a Union Marine. We try not to choose a side, we support them both.”

Frank “Rusty” Starr III has been reenacting since 1972, and was the Confederate Battalion Commander at this year’s battle demonstration.

“I’ve always been Confederate,” he said. “It’s in my family heritage. The battalion history is most important to me. What goes on on the battlefield is drama, theater. I enjoy it, but I’m more into the history and research it takes to create the battles.”

One “battle,” which Easterson said would not have worked in most other towns was Sunday’s bread riot.

“The ladies at the tearoom played along so nicely,” Easterson said, speaking of the Tea Room and Port Gamble and its employees. “They stocked bread and were raided by reenacting women. They showed how merchants held things back during the Civil War, and how the women fought to get items for their families like bread.”

Though the riot was peaceful and reenactors seemed to be having fun, watching women take from merchants what they needed, it illustrated to the public how desperate the times were during the Civil War — women having to take what they should be able to buy for their families. It showed a darker side to the fun of the Battle of Port Gamble.

Battle sequences during the weekend, were different than reenactments on the East Coast in which full-scale fights can be undertaken. Instead, the reenactors in Port Gamble’s skirmishes demonstrated the fighting techniques used by either side.

“We try to teach different maneuvers out of drill manuals from the Civil War,” said Union Brigade Commander John Persinger. “Each year, we pick a different drill to demonstrate. It’s not so much fighting as showing tactics used in the war.”