Reenactment scenarios that I thought were good.

If you are a reenactment fan (and if you ain't, you should be) let me describe a few scenarios that played well.

Most reenactments start with a cannon fire exchange to kick things off, and that is fine but it gets too predictable sometimes. I attended a reenactment at the Liendo Plantation in Texas that began with our confederate troops sitting around camp entertaining visitors, family, and friends. Everything was cool and relaxed. The designated battle area was close by with only a fence between. As the time neared for the battle to begin we were told to just stay put until further notice. I was serving with the Texas Dixie Grays, a segment of Seldon's battery. I was eating a taco sitting in my camp chair with my feet propped up on an amunition box. The weather was fine, just a nice cool autumn day. There were quite a few visitors milling around in camp as usual.

Suddenly, with out warning, a cavalry videt came riding hard into the camp yelling the "Yanks are coming! The Yanks are coming and are just over that hill!"

Well, within seconds all was bedlam and panic. The cavalry bugler began blowing "Boots and Saddles." Officer of the infantry began yelling orders, soldiers and civilians were running around in chaotic disorder. Mommas were grabbing up their little ones and trying to get clear of the stampede. I saw one woman running with a very small child under one arm and another by the hand, some were falling down and crying. I'm sure the small kids had the daylights scared out of them - what with soldiers running around grabbing up their weapons, haversacks, canteens cartridge boxes and all kinds of other accessories, all the while trying to hear and follow the orders of the officers. The screams and yells and bugles were something to witness.

Within minutes, the cavalrymen, the first line of defence, were mounted and in formation and went pouring through the gate to the battle area. We cannoneers grabbed canteens, knives, side arms if any, and sprinted to our guns, the while trying to sort ourselves out and get organized.

The pony soldiers managed to meet the Yankee cavalry at the crest of the rise and engaged them. This gave us time to get our stuff together and guns deployed in a battle line.

This whole thing was scripted and staged by the event hosts but they purposely did not let us "lesser creatures" in on the thing. Well sir, I do believe this was about as close to the real thing as I have seen. It was hair raising, interesting and altogether fun, except for the little kids.

A few skinned knees were the only casualties. I am sure in the real war scenes like this were not that uncommon. Anyway it was a different way to commence to wage warfare, don't you think? Maybe someone out there in blogger land can give us some of their own experiences as to how to kick off a good fight.