People see pictures and videos of our “Civil War” Reenactments and some say, “Oh that’s just hillbilly comic-con cosplay.”
It’s really not. We are historians, and our work (and yes, hobby) is to preserve our history and heritage, whether we’re reenacting as “Yankees” or “Rebels.” Our history and heritage are under threat in our time, more now in these “woke” days of political correctness than ever before. Most of us wear blue sometimes and grey sometimes. The goal is not to fan the flames of secession again, nor to promote the ideals of either side of the conflict, right or wrong. But we must remember why and how the War Between the States was waged, and we must not allow political correctness to erase or distort our history, both good and bad.
This is the report of the Chaplain of “the Florida Battalion of Infantry on the 160th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Olustee, Florida. It was the third bloodiest battle of the war, and it’s outcome is the major reason that Florida’s capitol city of Tallahassee was never conquered and occupied by the Federal army.
The only dampener for the weekend was the weather. Temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s and rain from Friday night through Sunday played havoc with outdoor church services, meals cooked over campfires, attendance numbers, and battle plans. Yet the mission and spirit of the “living history” participants never wavered in the slightest. Campfires were still providing warmth, good cooking, education, songs, and the fellowship of like-minded friends. As always, especially at these big national events like this one, we always manage to make new friends as well. Spectators and park visitors turned out in large numbers in spite of the weather as well, and several were recruited into the ranks in both armies, as well as into the civilian reenacting community.
The Chaplain’s ministry takes place mostly in church services but also just as much around those campfires and shared meals. The role of the Chaplain on the battlefield at reenactments is chiefly a safety role, along with nurses, “surgeons” (the period term for physicians during the war), and medically-trained participants. I am pleased to report that in my own area of responsibility there were no serious injuries in spite of muddy, slippery ground, cacti, gopher holes, fire ant mounds, and pyrotechnics planted strategically on the battlefield to simulate artillery rounds. Mission accomplished on that point, yet I need to address a minor concern privately with my superiors that cropped up at Sunday’s battle, as well as a brilliant suggestion from one Confederate private who happens to be an Emergency Room Physician in real life. Safety is always a top priority and I hope her suggestion catches on and becomes a standard practice in battle reenactments.
On the ministry spiritually, I was disappointed by what I could see through the blurry vision of corrupt, fleshy eyes, which don’t see the whole picture anyway. I know God was at work in spite of what I observed through visible, measurable (by human standards) means. Yet God has promised that His word goes out and accomplishes what He sends it forth to do, therefore on the authority of that promise I can truthfully and confidently report that the entire event spiritually was an unqualified success. A service of covenant baptism had to be cancelled because of the weather, as was a service of believer’s baptism by my friend and Baptist counterpart from Hardy’s Brigade. Attendance was very poor at church services for several reasons, yet my service still had the support of a full period-correct brass band to accompany the songs, and I was provided with a shelter from which to give the readings, sermon, and benediction, and to offer prayers on behalf of those gathered there and nearby. Response to the service was altogether positive. Most of the musicians who offered their talents had traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to participate in this reenactment! They also made up the bulk of the “congregation,” though not all of it. I remain very grateful for their presence and talent.
Respectfully submitted,
Chaplain RC Arnaud
Florida Battalion of Infantry
Dept of the Gulf
Army of the Deep South
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