The day at Mariposa and the Civil War Re-enactment was so full of photo-ops, that I've decided to break the pictures and story up into several reports. I've already posted about Romance on the Rocks. This post will be about the unnamed battle that occurred that day. Much of what is written will be from Don; the photos are mine. Once again, we make a good collaboration.
Annie had come back from checking out the Nuns during the course of the battle. The Nuns (part of the medical groups on the field) were acting as battlefield guards and instructed Annie to stay behind the yellow tape barrier. Actually the tape ended and Annie had not noticed it. Our conversation went something like this:
Annie: They’re Catholic Nuns.
Me thinking she is talking real world: What Order?
Annie: They’re Sisters of Mercy.
Me: Are they from the Sisters of Mercy in Sacramento down by the Capital?
Annie: I don’t know. They’re reenactors.
Annie: No. They’re reenactors.
Me following up on not real world: But reenactors still have to represent a real organization or unit.
At that point, Annie turned and walked off to photograph the battle. Okay…women are from Venus and men are from Mars.
~*~*~*~*~
The Unknown Battle
The Confederate artillery ceased fire and two units of Confederate infantry moved forward in front of us. I figured a flanking tactic was going to occur. About the same time, one could observe Union infantry advancing upon the Confederate camp. 
Soon the tops of the flag poles I had spotted moved forward from behind the hill and positioned themselves at the bottom of the hill below the artillery. Both the Union and Confederate infantries began firing upon each other. Men began falling on both sides. One of the Confederate units began to move forward to outflank the Union unit. However they could not proceed too far because of the Union cavalry, who did advance on them firing into their midst.
The Union infantry advanced down into the gully as the Confederates retreated, but not far. They regrouped and attacked driving the Union infantry out of the gully and back against the hill. The battle ended. Based on the Confederate infantry’s final advance and the Union infantry’s final withdrawal, without any more cavalry or artillery action, I do believe that it was a Confederate victory.
The nurses of both sides, including the Nuns on the North, ran out onto the field to render first aid and triage as a Union horse drawn ambulance was taken to the field.
The ambulance had a red cross on it.
The Confederate wounded were carried from the field.
5 comments:
Gosh, this really looks like the real thing!!! Did you ever find out the nun question...did they have pamphlets or anything?
The nuns are civilians who are part of a medical unit. As reenactors they dress as nun who did appear with the North on battlefields with medical units.
Fascinating to be there and see that re-enactment. I brought home to Australia a civil war souvenir hat for my champion-shooter brother when I was first in the U.S. over 30 years ago. He owned an antique muzzle loader at the time and authentically made his own bullets.
I enjoyed your post and photos Annie. What a great day out!
They do this sort of re-enactments in Gettysburg, very close to where I live, but I have never seen one...you got some fabulous photos! ♥♥♥
It's a dream of ours to go to Gettysburg. You are so lucky to live nearby. Give yourself a treat and go. It's fascinating.
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