Cheadle Lake Reenactment

On Sunday September 27, I visited the Northwest Civil War Council’s Cheadle Lake Reenactment. This visit was research for a larger project that I am working on about the elements of fandom that are inherent in a reenactment. The three-day event depicted not only military camp life but also had a community of civilians as well. The NCWC is one of the few, if not the only, Civil War reenactment group that includes depictions civilian life alongside the military camps and battles. In addition to the afternoon battle, I also saw a field medicine demonstration and a tour of women’s fashions of 1863. Sadly, I only had half a day to see everything and I am sure that I missed out demonstrations and conversations with the participants, so I am plan on going again to another reenactment next spring.

These are some of the images that I took of the battle itself, which included several infantry, artillery and cavalry units from both sides of the conflict.

In the foreground a line of Confederate troops.  Across the field Center and to the right are an advancing line of Union troops. 

This is closer to the end of the battle. In the foreground medics tend to a downed Confederate General from a Louisiana army. 

These cannons are no joke. I was seated about thirty meters away from the battery when the battle started, and I could feel the concussion of the blasts in my chest and the report left my ears ringing. I highly recommend earplugs when you go. Strangely, the mortar (the tiny one on the right side of the picture surround by bodies ) was the loudest.