2007 Fairview
Dance – Kelly Clardy helps a young person learn the Virginia Reel
The 12th Annual Battle of Fairview was recently held in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. This three-day event was enjoyable and the host unit, Butler Guards 2nd SC Infantry would like to invite our neighbors and compatriots to consider participating in this event in 2008.
The event opened Friday morning with an education day. Approximately four hundred students viewed infantry, artillery, cavalry, and home front presentations. Students (females, that is!) were able to actually dress in a period day dress complete with corset, petticoats, and parasol. The students thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on experiences and the reenactors enjoyed the interaction with the young people. Anderson county students from Palmetto High School (the student government association) were tour guides.
A period dance, organized by Chase Heatherly of Williamston, SC, was held outdoors on Friday evening. Lt. Col. Claude Sinclair of the Palmetto Battalion led the participants in the Grand March, with the Virginia Reel, Patty cake Polka, and other dances following. Dance coordinator was Mary Lin Ashley of Honea Path. The participants included visitors in modern attire, several of whom are now considering becoming reenactors. This was the first year the event had included this type of dance and it is now going to be a regular event! We found that this was a terrific way to “welcome y’all” aboard.
Saturday morning began with reveille, colors, and officers meetings, and then the troops moved into the fields for a tactical. The tactical lasted about one hour, and was a great success. The Federals withdrew in a predetermined manner to draw the Confederates into an ambush. The Confederates meanwhile pressed forward in a determined manner, outflanking the Federals, and pressing them in harder than the Federals had anticipated. All participants enjoyed the freedom of maneuvering. This was primarily an unscripted infantry battle, with cavalry and artillery in support. It included umpires to ensure that it was conducted properly. It even included the execution of four Federals who tried to sneak through the church cemetery (out of bounds!) to attack Confederates from the rear. The tactical ended upon the surrender by Federal commander Michael Barnes to the Confederate commander Claude Sinclair. There was nothing but smiling faces on the soldiers as they trudged back into camp. This event was very popular with the troops, and it definitely is going to be planned again for 2008.
Lunch on the grounds was followed by the main event of the day – the Battle. The host unit, Butler Guards, was the lead Federal contingent, assisted by troops from North Carolina, South Carolina, & Georgia. Artillery pounded from both sides, and cavalry charged the field, but once again the Federals met defeat. The troops left the field, cooled off, and then headed over to the BBQ dinner provided for all reenactors by the Butler Guards & the host SCV unit, the Moses Fowler camp!
Saturday evening ended with the lantern tours which have been very popular for the past few years. A series of vignettes covered the war period as it impacted the Fairview community. Fairview Presbyterian Church, organized in the 1700s & the present building was built in 1858, fielded the Bozeman Guards unit during the war, and many of those gentlemen now lie in the church cemetery. The tours opened with a skit around the historic old oak tree as locals debated the impending war. The next scene showed Capt. Barnes, Confederate, assisted by Sgt. Zach Morris recruiting new soldiers. Other scenes included a campfire scene as a group of green soldiers talk to the older men about what they may face the next day, a scene as a group of Confederate dead are being sent back to Fairview for burial, a medical scene with our own Dr. Bob Kammerian (who hates to wear blue!) sawing off the leg of a screaming soldier, and the Angel of Marye’s Heights scene. That scene is a recreation of Sgt. Richard Kirkland’s providing water to injured Federals. One special feature was that the reenactor portraying Sgt. Kirkland was a direct descendant of Kirkland himself!
Sunday morning at Fairview is a real pleasure. It is a slow and easy day, with breakfast provided for the reenactors in the church (eggs, grits, biscuits, gravy, the works!!), through the efforts of the Butler Guards Ladies Association. Church services were followed by a memorial service for the troops in the cemetery. To have worshipped in a church and sat in the same pews that were used by actual WBTS troops was an honor.
It was a wonderful experience, and we look forward to welcoming many of our out-of-state friends in the future.
Photos:
Education day – “Ed Day Stockings” – Julia Barnes helping participants dress like a lady of the 1860s
Tactical – troops going through the woods
After battle – 1) recreation for the crowds of the surrender of Fed Commander Mike Barnes to Confederate cavalryman “Possum”; 2) Fairview cavalry
Sunday – memorial service scenes