BENTONVILLE — The smell of black powder filled the air Friday as Confederate and Union soldiers exchanged salvos on the Bentonville square in front of more than 2,000 schoolchildren, who plugged their ears and cheered.
The re-enactors acted out the March 7, 1862, skirmish that led to the Battle of Pea Ridge, as part of a threeday commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Narrator Stephen Bailey stood on a platform in front of the Benton County Courthouse and described how Union Brig. Gen. Franz Sigel’s breakfast of ham and eggs was interrupted by Confederate soldiers advancing on the Pea Ridge. It had been snowing and Sigel went into the Eagle Hotel on thesquare to warm himself by the fire and eat, said Bailey, representing the Arkansas Reenactor Educational Association.
The 1862 skirmish set up the two-day Battle of Pea Ridge, which ended in a Union victory and has been described as a high point in Sigel’s military career. However, Bailey said, Sigel didn’t get to finish his breakfast at the Eagle Hotel for 25 years, when he returned for a reunion in 1887.
Re-enactors, including about a dozen on horseback, advanced and retreated across the square several times Friday, firing powder from shotguns and revolvers. When the clash between mounted and foot soldiers was over, the re-enactors met in the middle of the square to shake hands.
Bailey said the sceneFriday on the square looked similar to photos he’s seen from the reunion in 1887, when crowds - including veterans of the war - stood shoulder to shoulder there.
Bentonville Mayor Bob Mc-Caslin watched Friday’s crowd grow before taking the podium to deliver a welcome.
McCaslin said he couldn’t remember if the city had ever shut down as many streets for an event as it had for Friday’s re-enactment - and he wasn’t sure when it would happen again.
“We can commit to every 150 years,” he joked.
The re-enactment brought the battle alive for children more than any presentation on a computer or television could do, said Bentonville School Board President Becky Koonce.
Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree noted that children wouldn’t have been in school 150 years ago, because all of the schools had been closed for the war.
There was no warning system for the coming battle, he said.
“You knew something was going to happen,” he said. “You just didn’t know what, where or when.”
Before the mock-battle commenced, organizers released a group of white doves in honor of the soldiers who died for both sides of the war. The soldiers who died in the Battle of Pea Ridge, which wasone of the bloodiest west of the Mississippi, will also be honored tonight when 3,400 candles placed around Pea Ridge National Military Park will be illuminated from 6-8 p.m.
Capt. Sam Reyna and Lt. Ron Hodge of the 1st Arkansas Calvary Confederate group of re-enactors took part Friday and will be part of events throughout the weekend.
Reyna said they participate in seven or eight such re-enactments each year in several states. He said his 16-year-old horse, Sonny, has participated in many re-enactments.
Hodge said Friday’s skirmish was only the second for his 18-year-old horse, Fritz.
Reyna said the re-enactors practice shooting around the horses, but it’s the rider’s job to keep the horse calm when firing begins.
For Reyna and Hodge, the re-enactments are not only an opportunity to help teach people about the Civil War, but also a way to honor their ancestors who fought for the Confederacy, the men said.
After the skirmish ended Friday, the re-enactors demonstrated for groups of schoolchildren how cannons were loaded. A few of the more eager students stayed behind for a chat with the soldier-actors.
Corbin Anderson, 11, and Colton Leach, 11, who both attend school in Gravette, were among those who asked about becoming involved in re-enactments. Corbin’s grandmother, Marylee Raby, brought the two friends, saying she thought it was a good reason to “play hooky.”
Corbin said the Civil War is sad, but he still wants to participate in re-enactments when he’s old enough. He’s especially interested in artillery, “because it helped us win the war.”
“My friend is Confederate,” he said, smiling as he put a hand on Colton’s shoulder.“I’m Union.”
For more information about the weekend events organized by the Pea Ridge National Military Park Foundation, visit pearidgefoundation.com.
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Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 03/10/2012