Civil War Reenactment held weekend of May 14

By Amanda Sivan Kaufman
In an effort to preserve the Union, the regiments will be gathering to set up camps and defend the nation. The Civil War is returning to Plattsburgh; the army trained and ready to fight off the enemy and keep the United States as one nation. This army is one of many in the local Plattsburgh area made up of volunteers, some students and CEOs on the average day.
This army is Plattsburgh’s reenactment regiment.
May 14 will bring the 3rd annual Civil War reenactment, hosted by the Clinton County Historical Association where it will take place in land adjacent to the Battle of Plattsburgh Association at the air base.
“It was kind of my dream to get a Civil War reenactment happening in the local Plattsburgh area,” Matt Hewson, a member of several reenactment groups and founder of this particular event, said.
He originally brought the idea up while working as an Eagle Scout with the Clinton County Historical Association and it was well received, he said. The goal isn’t to portray a specific battle, but to bring people an idea of what the Civil War might have entailed in its fights he said.
With four to five canons, a large number for an event this size, and the 11th N.Y. Artillery sponsoring the event, reenactment members believe it will be another successful year.
Commander of the 11th N.Y. Artillery Scot Wilson said as “a living historian” it is his and the groups job to bring history to people hwo would not normally be able to visit famous battlegrounds, such as Gettysburg.
“I personally do living history for one major purpose and that … we don’t glorify war,” he said. “What we do is preserve memory of those who fought during the American Civil War. Most important is that we became the United States as a direct result of that conflict. “
He and Hewson have known each for years. Hewson, a Plattsburgh state sophomore, is a self-proclaimed history buff and Wilson is a father of five and CEO for a company. The difference in age and experiences matters little for these people who are united for a common love of history. They work together under the national organization The United States Volunteers, which organizes all civil war reenactors, Hewson said.
The Civil War reenactment usually draws in high numbers of people, Hewson said, and will be followed by another event hosted by the Battle of Plattsburgh Association a week later about the military timeline featuring historic talks and firing demonstrations.
Daniel Flora is one of the dedicated members who will travel all the way from Illinois in order to be a part in the Civil War reenactment in May. He made friends with Hewson during other reenactments in the area and enjoys the Civil War one in particular.
“Having an event that he’s hosting is fun and it’s a good excuse to go out in that direction,” Flora said. “It’s worth making the trip.”
Born in Canada with parents in the U.S. Embessy, Flora has travelled to many places before settling in Illinois. He said these events are all very similar so depending on what his role is it is not complicated to practice for. He plays the role of a corporal in some groups and when working alongside Hewson he is a lower ranking captain.
Flora said that joining a reenactment group is a fun thing for people of all ages to do and recommends people to join.
Other historical events taking place will be the War of 1812 College on the weekend of April 30 and a reenactment in Oswego on the weekend of May 8, both sponsored by the Battle of Plattsburgh Association.