As part of our ongoing project to document historical re-enactors, we traveled to Duncan Mills, California to watch “Civil War Days,” a dramatic reenactment. This was, in fact, a long way from any actual battle sites. But what makes it so real — the group acts out the battles and set up authentic camps on private land — that is almost pure wilderness. Surrounded by golden hills, and giant redwood trees, there are no fences or wires or powerlines. Says one organizer: you really get the sense you are in the 1860’s, “It has the feel of the Shenandoah Valley.” During the battle reenactments you are right on the front line of history. Canons, guns, horses, and hundreds of troops in period uniforms take us back into the thick of battle. Just as interesting:  wander around the soldiers camps before and after battle — all weekend they are in character, talking and acting just as the soldiers they portray would have behaved during the war. Sadly, the event had been put on hold due to first the pandemic, and again in, 2023 due to road construction. But organizers say they expect to be back on track in 2024.

Join us as the sounds and the smells, the music, the horses and the history buffs take us back to the war that divided a nation.