War!
It was a typical day on the front. A battle was brewing, but people continued to live their lives, knowing that the day might well be their last. Women in hoop skirts made meals while the men practiced battalion maneuvers and cleaned their bayonets. No really. This was yesterday in California. SFist decided to celebrate Memorial Day by hitting the Civil War re-enactment at Roaring Camp in the Santa Cruz Hills. We were curious about this event for several reasons, the first being our certainty that there were no battles of the Civil War fought in California (turns out our public education was correct on that point). We also have always been fascinated by extreme hobbies, especially those that involve re-creating stuff. We’ve always sort of shied away from Renaissance Faires (in all honesty they kind of creep us out), but decided that the Civil War was one re-creation we could get behind. Besides, since we already knew the outcome of the war, there wasn’t too much to worry about.
Photos by Travis Cripps
After recruiting a large group of people to head down with us (just in case something went awry and we had to throw down with some southern sympathizers), enduring a little holiday traffic, and paying our $5, SFist walked into Roaring Camp. We were expecting a dusty, half-hearted affair, but we were super impressed with the facilities, equipment, and outfits (or “uniforms” as one confederate solider corrected us) that were sported by everyone. Civil War re-enactments are a social club and a family affair. Any one can join (indeed we were heavily recruited by two regiments in particular), and normally entire families participate. It’s sort of like an opera season in that there are several big events (battles) during the summer months.
Two members of the 7th Virginia Infantry (which actually existed, as did the characters which everyone plays) were especially responsive to SFist’s questioning. Re-creating battles is an expensive hobby, but we were advised that before spending tons of money on outfits, we should go to the club, since people would probably have stuff they could give or lend us (which, we have to point out, would be just about the ONLY free thing ever obtained in the Bay Area). The Civil War has kept up with modern times and women are not relegated to Hoop skirts and corsets. They can choose what role they play, and officers are elected by the club, so a few women of rank were pointed out to us. Who knew that war could be run as a democracy? When asked if men could choose the skirt and corset roles, we were told that there used to be a “just for fun” battle at the end of events where “anything went”, but that it “got out of hand”. Hmm…
After wandering around the camps it was time for the battle. It began with cannons (loaded with gunpowder) firing back and forth at each other. Death, in re-enactments, is on the honor system. If somebody looks at you and shoots, you’re supposed to die. It seemed like the Union was much better at dying when they were supposed to, while the Confederates may have cheated a bit. 
There was also a lot of firing of pistols and rifles, but sadly, to SFist’s disappointment, there were no attempts to use the bayonets. Some re-enactors are better than others. A few people had brought fake blood, or pre-bloodied bandages which they applied after they were shot, touches of gore that SFist definitely appreciated. Monday’s battle was not an actual battle, but rather one negotiated by the actors. Nobody won, and it ended with the identification of bodies by bereaved women and children. Rather a fitting commentary on war, and appropriate message for Memorial Day.
The next American Civil War Association Event is June 24-25th at Casa De Fruita in Hollister.