BANNING - "Fredricksburg, Fredricksburg, Fredricksburg," comes the chant from the Union clad soldiers as they crouch behind the wall in a recreation of the defense against Pickette's famous charge at the battle of Gettysburg. While lying out in front of the wall, pretending to be a Confederate soldier shot down during the charge, hearing the chant sometimes sends a chill up the spine of Beaumont Unified Alt-Ed Associate Principal and Civil War reenactor Bob Kuehl.
      "The 'Fredricksburg' chant of the Union soldiers at Gettysburg really brings home the horror of that war in a way nothing else can," says Kuehl. "Sometimes it really gets to me."
      In December of 1862, in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, thousands of Union soldiers had been slaughtered by the Confederates as the Union troops were senselessly ordered to repeatedly charge a similar rock wall at Fredricksburg, Virginia. Just six months later, on July third, 1863, firmly entrenched behind the rock wall atop Cemetery Ridge, the Union army would chant the name "Fredricksburg" over and over as it exacted its bloody revenge for that slaughter on the seven-thousand men of Pickette's Confederate division; ending General Robert E. Lee's aggression in the north and turning the tide of war to the side of the Union once-and-for-all.
      Kuehl's group will bring this history alive in a most authentic manner the weekend of May 4 through 6 at the first Civil War reenactment ever held at Banning's A. C. Dysart Park.
      "We're working hard to make the park a year-round center for activities." says Bob Gilbert, the Park Association's Treasurer and grant writer. "We hope to make these educational Civil War reenactments an annual event here."
      "We've also got a roping event coming up here in March and we're working to put something together for the Forth-of-July holiday, too," says Gilbert. "But we're really excited about our first Civil War reenactment scheduled in May."
      The reenactment group is a part of the American Civil War Association and consists of some twenty-odd residents of the Inland Empire from Banning to Hemet and San Jacinto. Ranging in age from late teens to sixty, the members come from all walks of life with each bringing their own personal perspective to the group's reenactments.
      According to Kuehl, the reenactments include far more than just the mock battles.
      "We also set up authentic camp sites, present 'in-character' disertations on the war and the general historical period, act out the telling of the kinds of stories that went around the campfires the night before the battles and answer questions from the audience. The reenactments include all phases of Civil War combatants; Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. The two units our group portrays, one Union, one Confederate, are real regiments from the Civil War."
      As a Union outfit Kuehl's group portrays the Eighth Illinois Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. When donning the grey they portray the Sussex Light Dragoons of the Army of Northern Virginia. Not only are the units real but each member of the group also takes on the persona of an actual member of that unit.
      "For the Union's Eighth Illinois I play Lt. Marculles Jones," says Kuehl. "Marculles holds the singular distinction of having fired the very first shot of the three-day battle for Gettysburg."
      The reenactments feature presentations of Civil War battles acted out almost as they actually occurred. "We have some liberty for independent action, though," says Kuehl, "just to make it interesting for us. Occasionally we (Kuehl's cavalry unit) will swing around and try to hit the 'enemy' on the flank or from behind. Sometimes we get away with it and wreck havoc with their plans, sometimes they're ready for us and we all get killed."
      But, according to Kuehl, the "living history" presentations are not restricted only to the fighting of battles. The reenactments also include recreations of field hospitals, drill demonstrations and a civilian contingent of merchants, photographers, officer's families and camp followers who demonstrate the lifestyle of the era.
      Accredited by the American Civil War Society, Kuehl's group works with many others to present a weekend of fun and entertainment but the main thrust is always educational. According to Kuehl, a typical weekend begins with a Friday afternoon "Living History" presentation put on exclusively for students. The Living History presentation at the Dysart Park reenactment is scheduled for Friday, may 4, and will be attended by students from both the Beaumont and Banning Unified School districts. The public is encouraged to attend and enjoy the Saturday and Sunday presentations.
      The reenactors work diligently to make their presentations, apparel and weaponry as accurate to the period as possible. "Our goal," says Kuehl, "is to be virtually indistinguishable from the real thing should we be suddenly transported back in time."
      To that end, a reenactor can spend a considerable amount of money outfitting him or her self. "An authentic uniform can be had for about $150," says Kuehl, "but that is only the beginning. An authentic rifle runs $700, an officer's sidearm about $600. Authentic unit emblems are $50 to $80. And that's just what it takes for an Infantryman. For a Cavalry soldier like our group you have to add saddle and tack at about another $600-not counting your horse, trailer, pick-up truck, travel expenses and annual maintenance of your animal."
      According to Kuehl, an Infantry reenactor can expect to spend a minimum of $300 to $500 per year on this hobby and a mounted Cavalry soldier will spend ten times that much.
      "But the money is not important," says Kuehl, sporting a big grin, "because it's all just an excuse for us to get to ride and shoot."
      More information on Kuehl's reenactment group can be had by calling its leader, Lt. Jack Hill, 797-0487; Sergeant Dave McKinley, 797-7023 or from Kuehl himself at 652-8048.
      Further information on the May civil War reenactment and other A. C. Dysart Park activities is available from Park Promotions and PR Director Debbie Arthur, 601-2353 or from Bob Gilbert at 849-7417.