Siege of Bridgeport a homage to history

BRIDGEPORT, Ala. — Civil War re-enactors have refought the Siege of Bridgeport during late March for the past 14 years. The results, though not always historically accurate, are always the same: Union troops, hold the fort on Saturday, Confederate forces are victorious on Sunday.

“The Yankees hold the land for 24 hours; we keep it 364 days,” said Jere McCraw, coordinator of the event that is staged on a 300-acre farm his family has owned since about 1840. “This year we get it one more day because it is leap year.”

About 1,700 re-enactors and more than 4,400 spectators attended this year’s battle despite torrential rains Saturday.

“I haven’t seen this much mud since Vietnam,” said Charles Choate, 76, of Phenix City, Ala., who served with the U.S. Army in 1966-67. “I’m gonna sit in my chair, and if it rains I’ll get my poncho out.”

Bo Youngblood, a re-enactor with an artillery unit based in Rome, Ga., said he came to Bridgeport to be with friends but did not take part in this weekend’s battles.

“I’m getting over knee surgery so I couldn’t play,” he said.

Mr. Youngblood said the first battle his great-great-grandfather Robert Blankenship, a private with the 39th Georgia Infantry, took part in was at Bridgeport during May 1862.

“I have his diary, and with the help of local folks I’ve been able to trace his footsteps over the past few years,” he said.

The squishy sound of foot soldiers marching to drumbeats and the mud-softened clip-clop of mounted troops was overpowered by a black powder cannonade beginning about 2 p.m.

For nearly an hour Sunday afternoon artillerymen, infantry and cavalry exchanged volley fire, attacked and counterattacked across a soggy field before a cheering crowd.

Sandy Spies, a native of Iowa who now lives in Sequatchie County, Tenn., said her ancestors fought with the 16th Iowa Infantry, while her husband had relatives who served on both sides during the Civil War.

“This is living history,” said Mrs. Spies, who has been a re-enactor for about 11 years and played the role of a commissary sergeant with the 1st Tennessee Cavalry during this weekend’s battle.

Many of those involved, either as civilians or soldiers, said an interest in their heritage and history have spurred them to re-create lives led during the Civil War era.

“This is our fifth year to be re-enactors as a group,” said Douglas Morrison, 60, of Chatsworth, Ga., after posing for a photograph with three of his grandchildren. “My family — on both sides — were from this area and fought with both the Union and Confederate armies.”

“I like seeing the battles and going to the balls,” said Savannah Morrison, 12, who attends — in period costume — formal dances that are part of the re-enactment.

While last year’s ball was a first for Savannah, 2008 was the first year that Zach Morrison could participate as an infantryman rather than as an aide or runner during the battle.

Zach said he wanted to fight his first battle as a Confederate.

“I enjoyed shooting those Yanks,” the 16-year-old said.