THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 2, 1994 TAG: 9409300220
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Olde Towne Journal
SOURCE: Alan Flanders
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
At this moment 23 members of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry are cleaning their rifles, polishing their swords, packing their knapsacks and straightening their uniforms in preparation for action.
They're busy preparing to join over 130 other Civil War re-enactors for Portsmouth's third annual Civil War Day, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For Al Harris, Portsmouth Museums coordinator and co-chairman of the event, landing ``the 54th'' is a definite highlight of the entire endeavor. ``It was just a chance occurrence at a campsite that while I was praising them for their role in the movie `Glory,' one of the original cast overheard me and came over to introduce himself.
``It was right then and there that I told him about our Civil War Day, and to my surprise and great joy, he agreed to come down from Washington and bring nearly two dozen others from the 54th to join us.''
Harris, a 33-year veteran of Civil War re-enactments who recently served as a Confederate soldier in the movie ``Gettysburg,'' knows the best when he sees them, and he is elated to have the Massachusetts infantry in Portsmouth for the day.
Museum art curator Bill Brown, Harris' co-chairman, shares the enthusiasm for getting the African-American unit to join them. A re-enactment member of the 9th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, which was comprised mainly of Portsmouth and Norfolk County men during the Civil War and sustained 80 percent casualties during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, Brown believes that this Civil War Day will offer the most complete look about how things were for all citizens during and immediately following the war.
`We've got not only two of the most famous black and white Civil War units in history here, but we've managed to complement them,'' Brown said, continuing with a verbal list of all the participating groups.
``And that isn't all,'' says Brown with the confidence of a promoter who knows this might very well be the biggest Civil War show of them all.
``We also arranged with Al Cutchins over at the (Portsmouth) Naval Hospital to have a trolley take people over for a look at the Civil War dungeon and cemetery. They're two important Civil War sites that are rarely seen,'' he adds.
From cavalry, to infantry and artillery, from naval units to medical personnel, from sutlers to freedmen demanding the abolition of slavery, Civil War Day is designed to cover not only the military element of the war in Portsmouth, but also the daily routine of the homefront as well.
``We are particularly fortunate in Portsmouth to have the real backdrops to that period right in our own back yards,'' Brown said. ``And I definitely think that is what attracts so many of the best re-enactors to Portsmouth,'' he added.
``Once you come downtown,'' Brown added, ``it is our goal to transport you back in time over 129 years ago.''
Anyone even remotely interested in the Civil War will have a field day of attractions and events, and maybe even get a history lesson or two that's a lot more real than one could find in a book.
According to Civil War Day planners, each visitor will have ample opportunity to confront history up close and personal. You'll see both Confederate and Federal troops standing guard at Portside. You'll hear abolition songs from the Water Stage. Period crafters will be busy at the Signet Bank. The 9th Virginia will be stationed at the Murdaugh and Macon Houses at 222 Crawford St. and 350 Middle St. A Confederate civilian lady will recount her story at the Parrish-Toomer House at 336 Court St. Union General Benjamin Butler, who directed military policy during the reoccupation and Reconstruction, will be holding forth at the Peters House at 350 Court. Confederate sailors and Marines will share sea stories about the nation's first ironclad warship at Waverly and Court Park. Civil War sutlers will have goods for sale at Dinwiddie and North Park while cavalrymen from the 15th Virginia scout the area from their mounts. Spiritual and political arguments against slavery will beheard in an Anti-Slavery Convention to be held at Emmanuel A.M.E. Church.
The resting places of local heroes and ordinary soldiers alike can be seen as the 9th Virginia Volunteer Infantry stands vigil at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
For those a little foot-weary, Cedar Grove will serve as a TRT pick-up point.
Boarding a trolley, visitors will be driven to the U.S. Naval Hospital where the 3rd Virginia Infantry will offer a guide around the nation's first naval hospital that served both sides during the Civil War.
A stop at the home of Gettysburg veteran Col. John C. Owens at 412 Glasgow St. will offer an explanation by Owens' direct descendant on how his Civil War ancestor led his men that fateful day July 3, 1863.
Visitors should be prepared to wince a little when they see a Civil War medical display at Middle Street Park and learn from the Norfolk Light Artillery Blues how they used their weapons to begin the Battle of Chancellorsville.
Court Street Baptist and Monumental United Methodist will offer a glimpse of the quiet solemnity that gave spiritual strength to the community after the war.
The ``Portsmouth Rifles'' Militia will have a head-on meeting with the 79th New York Infantry at the 1846 Court House on High Street.
Just across the street, one can learn about the punitive time after the war at Trinity Episcopal Church from the imprisoned Rev. J.H.D. Wingfield and the cost of war from a Confederate widow.
At the foot of the Confederate monument on Court Street one can hear how those tumultuous events were immortalized in granite.
A taste of Reconstruction rules and regulations will be provided by the 79th New York Infantry at the Pass House at 222 Crawford St.
While waiting to catch another TRT trolley, as the James River Squadron arms a ``torpedo'' at LaFayette Park, one can dream about sailing up the James on a blockade runner.
Speculating on the past and future of Portsmouth's Civil War Day program, Brown leans back in his office chair, joins his hands prayer-like on his desk and quietly contemplates the educational value of such a program.
``You know when you stop and consider the personal cost of the Civil War and how it changed the direction and identity of this community and country, there is no real beginning, nor is there is there any real ending.'' MEMO: APPEARING
Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, James River Squadron Confederate Navy,
Ship's Company CSS Virginia, 3rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry, 15th
Virginia Cavalry, 2nd U.S. Cavalry, Confederate Chaplain, Confederate
Surgeon, U.S. Colored Troops, U.S. Sharp Shooters, 79th New York
Infantry, Period Crafters, The Anti-Slavery Convention, and Sutlers
(Civil War merchants)
For more information, call 393-9933. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Portsmouth's third annual Civil War Day runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday. Dressed for the occasion are, from left, Joe MacPhail, Al
Harris and Hazel Brown. Harris was a Confederate soldier in the
movie ``Gettysburg.''
by CNB