The Battle of Winchester

Information for Reenactors/Actors

 
 

Friends,

 
No registration form is necessary for this event nor is there a registration fee. There will only be a waiver to sign.
 
I simply need each individual who would like to respond in the affirmative to the invitation to email me at WeMakeHistory@aol.com to let me know as a firm commitment what days they will be participating.
 
More information will be forthcoming.
 
Thank you.
 
Capt. Scott
 
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Ladies & Gentlemen,
 
The Battle of Winchester shall be a living history event to take place from February 3rd - 5th, 2006 at Pioneer Village of Phoenix, Arizona. Public hours will be 9AM - 5PM.
 
 
Friday will be a school day done traditionally with battles and camp tours while practicing our weekend roles. Saturday and Sunday we are aiming for something exciting and new.
 
Our objective here is to experiment with something innovative, something beyond traditional show and tell style reenacting that includes live drama and a "you are there" feel as we base our recreation on events in and near the town of Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from March to May of 1862.
 
This event is an invitational.
In terms of participants the point isn't to pull in as many bodies as possible but rather to invite a good group which (a) have a real desire to be involved and (b) have a willingness to work together as a mutually supportive team while (c) embracing the vision of the event.

Thus we will be working with two sizable units, the 1st Virginia and 1st US as the core and inviting and adding smaller groups and individuals to augment the experience. Expect two or three formations per side representing infantry and dismounted cavalry with special assignments as scouts and provost troops.

 
Our object in making the event an invitational springs from two points.
 
1) The Battles surrounding Winchester and the area involved were large. Our purpose is obviously not to recreate the entire panorama but to highlight a microcosm. With what we have in mind and the limited space of the "town" which will be the setting for much of what happens among participants and spectators alike we must take care regarding numbers. This may seem strange to say in Arizona but in this particular instance as we attempt a more choreographed approach to a reenactment/drama with a limited area as a "stage" we want to be careful that we do not dilute or fail to highlight the individual dramas we hope to play out, overwhelm the central part civilians will play or even create safety concerns.
 
2) We need to gather groups and individuals together who have a real interest in this unusual approach and who have shown a willingness to support and work well together. This event will be choreographed to an extent and highlight individual prepared dramas. To some degree we will behave like a unified "cast" Thus to throw someone into this type of setting who will not cooperate, can't get get along with other groups, won't work well with the organizer, reenacting coordinator of Pioneer Village or other Pioneer Village staff or is unable to support the vision would be counterproductive to what we hope to achieve.

(Note: Only a few persons were not invited to this event. They are persons who have created problems and conflicts with Pioneer, have worked to undermine events and/or have otherwise made efforts to create discord. They stand in a stark contrast to the great majority of Arizona reenactors. Regarding the majority, it is not always easy to get the word out to everyone. But no one who contacted us with a desire to be involved was turned away. Those who have created the conflicts alluded to know who they are and have stayed away.)

As mentioned, we will be building around the 1st Virginia and 1st US as the primary infantry formations. In addition there will be smaller formations of infantry and dismounted cavalry combining smaller units and individuals. We are requesting that formations take on the designation of a unit which was part of Jackson's or Banks' forces in the Spring of '62. For instance, members of the Arizona Rangers will be taking on the role of Turner Ashby's 7th Virginia Cavalry, the 1st US will be the 2nd Massachusetts and the 1st Virginia will be the Winchester Rifles of the 2nd Virginia. Moody's Battery will be portraying the Winchester Artillery of Cutshaw's Virginia Battery for the South and Battery "M" of the 1st NY Light Artillery for the North.

Just as important will be the civilians. They will be an integral part of this event - front and center as is rarely if ever seen in a Civil War reenactment event.

 

 
Four categories of people will be involved.

Both military and civilian participants will be expected to be clothed appropriately as per 1862 and to limit their conversations with the public to that time. All will spend the day speaking and interacting as per the Spring of 1862. You know what you would know as your person at that time - and nothing more.

 
Confederate Soldiers
Many of those who took part in the events at Winchester between March and May of '62 were natives of the area with friends and relatives in the town. Thus they were highly motivated with a vested interest in defending the Valley.
 
Union Soldiers
Their intent is to fight for the Union and to occupy and subdue a region which they see as in rebellion. Their perspective is entirely different than that of the locals who see themselves as having been unjustly invaded.
 
Let us mention again that we would like to encourage both Federal and Confederate units to adopt (for the event) the designation of a unit which was involved in the area in the Spring of '62. Look to the orders of battle for Jackson's and Banks' armies for ideas.
 
Civilians
One of the obvious ways in which this event will differ from a typical reenactment is that our civilians will have a very central role. Our civilians (men, women and children) will portray the citizens of Winchester. The Shenandoah Valley was very staunch in its commitment to Virginia and the Confederacy thus we would like the overwhelming majority to portray such though there could be room for a Unionist and a pacifist or two. Thus we would like not only our southern civilians to be involved but would also like most of our civilians who generally do northern portrayals to go southern for this one.

Civilian attire must be appropriate to a Virginia town of 1862! "Old West" attire of the 1880s won't do.

 
The Public
The public will be treated as if they also are citizens of the town. In all of our interactions we want to remain as per 1862 - including our interactions with the public. Talk to and treat them as if they are local people of 1862. This requires creativity, imagination and use of innovative and dramatic means to clear people out when the town is to be attacked. The effect will be electric for both them and us. Don't be surprised if the highly interactive and dramatic experience results in new recruits.

 

Chronology, Geography, Characters & Vignettes

The experience will unfold each day in five phases. There will be a chronology but the progression should be fluid with all running seamlessly together. Spectators will not have a printed schedule. They will be treated to an unfolding drama.

Geographically, there are three components being the Federal camp near the fort, the Town of Winchester centered on the green and the Confederate camp area which includes the church and school.

Confederate forces will represent the Winchester Rifles of the 2nd Virginia Infantry, the Winchester artillery and elements of Turner Ashby’s Cavalry.

Federal forces will represent the 2d Massachusetts Infantry.

The period civilians will represent the citizens of Winchester.

Spectators (the public) will be treated as inhabitants of Winchester and environs as well.

 

1. A Southern Town    (9:00AM-11:30AM)

Outline: The town of Winchester goes about its business but with an increasing sense of alarm as reports arrive of the advance of a federal column.

Federals who would like to double as period civilians may do so during this time as long as they give themselves time enough to get back to the Federal camp and change clothes to be ready for their role as soldiers.

Town: During this time Confederate military forces occupy the town as period civilians go about their daily business. Conversations regarding personal subjects, local interest and the course of the war are appropriate.

Civilians should stroll about town and interact with spectators and one another. Confederate soldiers may conduct drill and act as pickets as well as interact with the admiring civilians and public (many of whom they know, being from the same area).

Confederate Camp: This is unoccupied at this time other than by a guard detail.

Federal Camp: There is increasing activity in the Federal Camp as they prepare to advance. Any spectators who visit the Federal Camp might be questioned for information.

 

2. The Federal Advance    (11:30AM-12:00PM)

Outline: The Federals advance from their encampment north of town. A skirmish ensues with Confederate forces pushed through and out of the town, retreating to their camp in the church area.

A Confederate “Paul Revere” will ride into town (carefully) while spreading alarm that the Yankees are advancing on the town.

This will be followed immediately by gunfire as Federal scouts clash with Confederate pickets to the north of town.

Confederates will use period appropriate language and concerns to get the public out of harm’s way beyond the road to the east of the green.

The Federals will advance and a skirmish will develop with the result of the Confederates being driven from the town and pulling back to the south.

Confederate casualties will be mostly lightly wounded who will be helped to the rear by their pards. This will increase the visual effect of the Confederates taking casualties and diminishing.

Make the assault on the town to be drawn out, somewhat confused and interesting.

One Confederate is cut off and hides in his family’s home (The Victorian House).

Two Confederates will go down as wounded (their pards taking their weapons to the rear) on the green and be captured by Federals. They will receive medical treatment and be ready for the prisoner exchange in the nest phase. The Confederate doctor will also remain with them until exchanged in the next phase.

Federal wounded will likewise be helped to the area of the green that will be the makeshift hospital.

Those portraying the dead (not more than tow or three from each side) will wait to be declared such and then be removed in the next phase.

Note: Confederates need to take the weapons belonging to their dead and seriously wounded back with them as they retreat.

 

3. Federal Occupation    (12:00PM-2:30PM)

Outline: Uncomfortable for all involved, the Federal occupation of a southern town gives room for a great deal of planned drama.

Confederates who would like to change into civilian clothing to be townspeople for a time are welcome as long as they give themselves time enough to get back to the Confederate camp and change clothes to be ready for their role as soldiers in the counterattack.

A number of dramatic vignettes will take place during this time. They should be played out one by one and done in a way that attracts maximum attention from the spectators.

a) Treating the Wounded

Those portraying wounded will be helped to the area of the green which will be the makeshift hospital. In attendance will be a Federal doctor and a Confederate doctor who has elected to remain with his wounded. In time the wounded all gradually “recover” and rejoin the ranks.

b) Burying the Dead

A couple from each side should be loudly pronounced dead where they lay on the field by the surgeons. The Federal dead will be removed by a detail to the blacksmith shop from whence they will disappear and then reemerge as new Federals.

The Federal commander will “enlist” local male civilians and force them to remove the Confederate dead to the area behind the “off limits building.” These Confederates will find opportunity to get across the desert and emerge as new Confederates at the encampment near the church.

Our period civilians should do some proper bemoaning and bewailing as they search to discover who is who among the Confederate casualties.

c) Martial Law

The federals shall gather civilians and spectators to the gazebo. Once all are gathered a Federal officer or NCO (with a LOUD voice) shall make an announcement from the gazebo regarding the points of martial law.

d) Carpetbagger vs. Printer

The carpetbagger arrives in town along with the Federal occupation. Along with a squad of soldiers he generally harasses the civilians with questions about treason and the value and location of various properties. In addition, the carpetbagger will be part of a pair of dramatic vignettes during this period and one in the next.

The printer will be flying a Confederate flag from his office. Accompanied by a squad of soldiers the carpetbagger will demand that it be removed. The printer will refuse and be arrested with the carpetbagger taking the flag down. The carpetbagger and soldiers will then escort the printer to the gallows for a hanging, pronouncing him to be a traitor. At the last moment the federal commander will arrive and intervene, committing the printer to the jail instead and placing a guard.

The carpetbagger will take over the printer’s shop as his personal headquarters.

e) Going to School

The schoolhouse is near the church – thus beyond the federal pickets (who only go as far as the south end of the green) and in an area possibly controlled by Confederates. Families (whether period civilians or spectators) will get a good look over and talking to by Federal pickets before being allowed to pass one way or the other.

f) The Prisoner Exchange

At some point the Federals will send a small patrol to probe toward the Confederate camp. A small skirmish will ensue near the church with three Federals being surrounded and captured. A Confederate officer will come into Winchester under a white flag and negotiate a prisoner exchange with the Federal commander. The three federal scouts for the two wounded Confederates and the Confederate surgeon.

g) The Hidden Confederate

One of the Confederates was cut off during the Federal advance and has taken shelter in the family home which is the Victorian house. Rumours will circulate about the hidden Confederate – as well as hopes and plans to help him escape. Naturally, the Federals hear these rumours and would like to find him. Finally a couple of civilian men stage a fistfight in order to distract the Federals. While they are so distracted the Hidden Confederate makes a break for it and sprints across the green (to the cheers of the civilians) and toward the church. A federal picket at the south end of the green can take a shot at him as he flies past to the south. The two men who staged the fight will be taken under guard and placed in the jail to which a guard will be posted.

h) Carpetbagger vs. Banker

In action again, the carpetbagger and his squad will enter the bank and forcibly remove the cash, committing the banker to the jail and taking the cash back to the print shop.

In addition to these specific vignettes there is room for unlimited conversation, speculation, spying and what have you. Make the interaction between period civilians, spectators and Federals interesting and varied – but as per 1862.

Nervousness and being uncertain what to say can actually work in your favor as part of your act. The real people in these situations would have been nervous, emotional and on edge.

4. Confederate Counterattack    (2:30PM-3:00PM)

Outline: Confederate forces counterattack from the South, fighting in the streets, capturing many Federals and driving the rest out of Winchester.

The Confederate counterattack will hit swiftly from the South.

A few initial shots between scouts and pickets will let our reenactors (Federal and civilian) know that they must use period correct language and concerns to get our spectators hustled to the east and “out of harm’s way.”

In the face of a determined advance the Federals will fall back and there will be fighting in the streets and on the green. The jail will be one of the first locations liberated. Its former inmates will recover weapons hidden in the bank and quickly join in the melee.

As we have read from first hand accounts, the citizens of Winchester reacted in different ways to this historic episode. Some brought out weapons and joined in the battle. Some ran out and greeted, cheered and hugged the advancing Confederates. Others were seen with their hands in the air thanking God for deliverance. Use your imagination but be safe.

The advancing Confederates will push the Federals back yard by yard and building by building. Draw out the action. Make it dramatic. There should be a lot of yelling from both sides and a general hullabaloo.

As the Confederates push to the north edge of the town and beyond a number of Federals should be taken prisoner. (In May of 1862 as the Confederates fought through Winchester the Federals were quite badly routed despite the efforts of the 2nd Massachusetts as rear guard.)

5. Aftermath    (3:00PM-?)

Federal prisoners will be rounded up and guarded. Federal dead and wounded will be taken care of appropriately.

Meanwhile…..

a) Instant Karma

The carpetbagger (who hid in the print shop during the battle) will be apprehended by a group of local citizens led by the printer and banker. The carpetbagger will be escorted (while loudly protesting) back behind the print shop. A shot will be heard. The citizens will come back around. The carpetbagger will be seen no more.