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By Ron Fitzwater
For those who still smell the smoke rising from the muzzles
of Southern flintlocks, and hear the echoes of
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blood-chilling Rebel Yells down in the valleys and 'hollers'
of Carolina, the call "To Arms" is again being made.
The call comes from the 26th Regiment, North Carolina Troops'
commanding officer Colonel Skip Smith, as Confederate forces
reconstitute for the 150th anniversary of the battles that changed
America forever, beginning with the reenactment of the battle
of Fort Sumter in April 2011.
In 1981, descendants of the 26th Regiment North Carolina Troops
formed the Society for the Historical Preservation of the 26th
Regiment North Carolina Troops, for the purpose of perpetuating
the history of their ancestor's regiment and the state's role
in the Civil War. Since then it has grown into the largest single
reenactment unit in the state and one of the largest in the
country. With more than 275 members from the coast to the High
Country, as well as members in other states and a few in other
countries, the 26th NCT has many facets as a unit including
components representing infantry, field music, medical corps,
commissary, artillery, cavalry and civilians.
As with many Civil War re-enactment units, the 26th NCT from
time to time portrays other units from the war. When participating
in events highlighting the western theater of the war, the unit
portrays the 58th NCT of the Army of Tennessee and, a few times
per year, portray the Federal regiment 24th Michigan Troops
who were part of the famous Iron Brigade of the Army of the
Potomac. This must be done because it is difficult to field
enough Union troops to conduct reenactments.
The reenacting component of the 26th NCT has accomplished many
things in their 26-year history. Since 1986, they have participated
in all the major events, including the 140th anniversary battles.
The unit also participates in living history programs for the
National Parks Service, state and privately owned historic sites.
Some of the sites include Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg,
Appomattox Court House, Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson and Old Salem
among others.
In 2004, the unit participated in the burial services for the
crew of the Confederate submarine CSS Hunley with other Northern
and Southern military re-enactors, bagpipers from the Citadel
and a brass band from the Virginia Military Institute. Veterans
of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet served as pallbearers. The
event was billed as the last funeral of the Civil War.
Smith said the unit's main mission and the one thing that drives
re-enactors, is "the desire to keep history alive, because
so much of it is being lost." But more than that is a desire
to learn about and understand the complex and often tragic lives
of the men who fought the battles.
"These men lived the war daily for months on end, we live
like they did for a weekend at a time, but it reminds us of
where we came from," Smith added. "But the best answer
as to why we do this can be found on our website in a quote
by the late Civil War author Bruce Cotton who wrote, 'we are
people to whom the past is forever speaking. We listen to it
because we cannot help ourselves. For the past speaks with many
voices. Far out of that nowhere, which is the time before we
were born, men who were flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone,
went through a fire and a storm to break a path for our future.
We are a part of the future they died for; they are a part of
the past, which brought the future. What they did - the stories
they told and the songs they sang, and finally the deaths they
died make up a path of our experience. We cannot cut ourselves
from it. It is as real to us as something that happened last
week. It is a basic part of our heritage as Americans.'"
The unit is currently recruiting new members to field units
for the many battle reenactments that will be done during the
150th anniversary of the battles of the Civil War. "We
want to grow the unit to six companies. Currently, we field
three to four, and the additional companies will allow us to
do more," Smith said.
The unit participates in 10 to 12 events per year. Membership
includes a three-times-a-year magazine The Company Front, that
focuses on rarely or never before published accounts of the
war between the states, regular newsletter The Rebel Boast,
listing regimental news, reenactments, living histories and
other activities; and full access to the unit's website that
is expanding its focus on the history of the regiment, reenacting
authenticity, safety on the field and period foods.
Anyone interested in preserving the history of the 26th NCT
and North Carolina's critical role in the Confederacy is encouraged
to become a member, either as a soldier or as a supporting member.
Smith wants people who want to "help us remember the more
than 36,000 North Carolinians who gave their lives for their
state, their homes, and their beliefs."
Smith wished to emphasize that; "Membership in the 26th
NCT is tax deductible as the regiment is a 501-3(C) non-profit
organization dedicated to educating the public about the War
Between the States. All equipment purchases, travel expenses
and donations are deductible if you itemize your taxes. We are
a historical interpretation organization and do not accept any
members of racist or hate groups, nor those who advocate overthrow
of the United States government."
Organizational memberships are available in three categories;
Military (re-enactors) $30 per year, Society (supporting members)
$20 per year and Soldier's Benevolent Society (civilian impressions)
$20 per year.
Interested individuals contact Smith at col26nct@bellsouth.net
or call (828) 396-0702 or Regimental Communications Officer,
Major Randal Garrison at rgarriso@burke.k12.nc.us or call (828)
432-7505
For more information on the 26th NCT click to www.26nc.org.
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