THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502040064
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 132 lines
``SHOULDER ARMS - load - handle cartridge - tear cartridge - charge cartridge - draw rammer - ram cartridge - return rammer - cast about - prime - shoulder arms - ready - aim - fire! - shoulder arms - break rank.''
That is not the way it's done today, but we're talking yesterday, 1863 or so.
The 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry met recently in the 6500 block of Holland Road, where their Civil War predecessors had gathered.
Then, it was a matter of life and death. Today, it is a matter of re-enacting life as it was more than 130 years ago.
The 6th Virginia is part of the Longstreet Corps - about 350 strong - with units in Portsmouth, Maryland and New York.
New York?
``There's not enough Confederates for some re-enactments there,'' said Capt. Vince Petty, commander, ``so they need people to represent the other side.''
Confederate, that is. In England, it is the most popular side.
``The American Civil War is big in that country. They have one large organization,'' Petty said. ``Because everybody wants to be a Southerner, they have to be a Federal for the first two years, then they have their choice.''
Of course, there was no choice in January 1863, for the rebel troops that camped in and around Holland.
``There were cots for officers, tents were set up as headquarters, common soldiers had bedrolls,'' Petty said. ``The army was on the move - no time to set up.''
The re-enactment was a more leisurely affair.
There were no television sets or radios, but there were tents. And the William T. Holland house was a few feet away.
Brig. Gen. Roger Pryor's Brigade was stationed in that structure, built around 1855. Victoria and Jim Lawhon moved there in February.
A Washington state native, stationed with the Navy, he is the outfit's first sergeant.
Like most of the re-enactors, he knows his Civil War history.
``The 6th was organized May 13, 1861, in the city of Norfolk,'' Lawhon said. ``The Nansemond Guard met where Bethlehem Christian Church is now, then went to Norfolk.''
There, they joined others from Norfolk - the city and the county as well as men from Nansemond, Princess Anne and Chesterfield counties.
``During the first year of war they had garrison duty in the city of Norfolk. When it was evacuated they went to Richmond,'' Petty said. ``They were part of Mahone's Brigade and participated in all the major battles. Of the 2,500 men in 6th Virginia only 241 died.
``That's because there were only about 250 on active duty at any one time. They were involved in most major battles until the Siege of Petersburg,'' he said. ``Then, they joined Gen. Robert E. Lee's shock troops. Their major job was trying to blunt Gen. (Ulysses S.) Grant's movement as he tried to move around the right of Petersburg.''
Their last battle was at Cumberland Church - the last battle and the last victory.
``After that 110 members of 6th Virginia surrendered at Appomattox. Thirteen of them represented the Nansemond Guard,'' Petty said. ``All those who surrendered were paroled, given a pass, sent home. That was a general practice.''
Many re-enactors can recite troop names, numbers, battles involved, locations.
``I've been watching movies and reading books about the Civil War,'' said Jeff Dodson, a 19-year-old Courtland resident. ``I thought I'd take it one step further and join up. I had a lot of ancestors who fought in the Confederate Army.''
Another history enthusiast is Pate Geiger, 20, of Wisconsin, one of Lawhon's Navy buddies.
``When I get out I want to stay in Virginia. I want to go to college and study history,'' he said. ``I like re-enactments because I can get dressed up and fire a good gun.''
Those good guns are reproductions costing between $350 and $700.
It is not all ``ready, aim, fire'' but that is a favorite part of re-enactments.
``I saw a couple of re-enactments when I was about 15,'' Petty said. ``I thought - hey - these adults are playing guns.''
Bob Brown of Richmond became interested in August.
``I was always interested in history. I'm a black powder aficionado,'' he said. ``I'm interested in historical weapons.''
There were, of course, no weapons for the children who had to settle for finger pointing and ``bang-bang-bang.''
Another reason for joining is basic - camaraderie.
``The people are nice,'' said Brown, a computer programmer for Reynolds Metals.
``We become family,'' said Petty, whom Geiger refers to as ``my big brother, Vinnie.''
Women are also involved. Unlike today, it is not as part of the battle group.
``They set up a wayside station here. When the battalion came through the women took care of minor wounds, and sewed torn uniforms,'' Victoria Lawhon said. ``They wrote and read letters for soldiers who didn't have enough book-learning.
``The men's uniforms were bought or made. The women made their own dresses and accessories,'' said Victoria, who spends about 20 minutes putting on her uniform of the day: corset, chemise, pantelets, under petticoat, hoop skirt, over petticoat, dress, undersleeve.
The men and women, in uniforms and dresses of the period, marched into Golden Corral for breakfast during the second day of the re-enactment. It was Sunday and they worshiped in the same outfits at King of Kings Lutheran, the Lawhons' home church. MEMO: WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For information about the 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry and its
activities, call 444-3932 or 242-3161.
The next re-enactment will take place Feb. 10, 11 and 12 at 6501
Holland Road.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover
Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Re-enactor Derek Ayers pauses for a moment of reflection in a field
near the site where Civil War soldiers gathered in 1863.
At camp, Deidre Langley extracts tallow from a pot for use in
candlemaking.
Far left: Jim Lawhon shouts orders to other members of the 6th
Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He owns the pre-Civil War house where
the event was held.
Above: Infantry members practice rifle drills.
Left: Bob Brown gets medical attention from Victoria Lawhon, a
member of the women's auxiliary.
KEYWORDS: CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT by CNB