Re-enactors bring U.S. history to life

MUSIC BREAK: Re-enactors play some popular folk tunes from the Civil War era to entertain students between battles. The living history lessons proved popular with schools from Susanville and Paradise joining Shasta County youths.

Civil War Re-enactors joined together for a three day "war" Oct. 16-18 on the North Fork Property in Happy Valley for their second Civil War Days, which was sponsored by the Happy Valley Lions Club.

Oct. 16 was education day where eight schools from as far away as Paradise and Susanville came to learn more about the Civil War and its effects on the United States.

The students from Paradise were able to camp at the site and participate as docents for education day. The students were taught about the war through living historians, each playing their own part of a selected character from the North or the South, also known as the Union and the Confederates.

The students were shown how soldiers were drafted, clothed, learned to shoot a rifle, sleep, battle, receive medical care when wounded, suffer through unsanitary conditions, provide their own entertainment and obtain supplies hauled to the war zones by wagon masters and their teams of mules.

There were also horseman on hand this year to give an accurate account of how horses helped in the battle zones and what types of equipment and weaponry was used while fighting on horse back.

After students were released from the morning activities, more students were bused in for an afternoon session of learning.

Cannons similar to those used during that time period were also used to demonstrate to students the sound and fury of war.

Donna Walton served as education chairman for the event. Walton has participated in similar re-enactments since she was a child, learning it from her father, Don "Pappy" Walton. This year, she spent three to four months contacting schools around California regarding the re-enactments and arranging travel for interested groups throughout the state. She also helps community members trace their ancestry.

"Coming to a re-enactment helps the kids to learn from each other about respecting others, learning about the Civil War and enjoying learning the history of the Civil War the right way," said Walton. "They have a great experience and learn what is not in the history books."