THE CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST: A GREAT SHOW, GREAT BATTLES, GREAT RE-ENACTERS, GREAT TIME TO CLEAN UP THE BACKGROUND, ANNOYING CAR ALARMS !

CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-3674 TROOP B 3703 CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-3700 CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-5706 Few people have watched the Civil War in the SouthWest as many times as I have. It is a great show and it celebrates the small but important role the southwest played in the Great American Civil War. Over the years, the quality of the troops have excelled and their numbers have grown. All that equipment and period gear, they buy and donate their efforts to make this incredible performance come together each year in March. The quality of cannon now on the field, all privately owned, this year fell shy of ten, far beyond performances in the past. More than 2,000 people turnout each day to wander through the tent village visiting with folks living in the past. They watch church sermons, yesteryear entertainment, troops drill and snoop through the regimental camp inspecting the lifestyle of blue and grey troops on the front lines of the worst war in America. You can buy a ball cap or a confederates cap, pick whatever side you wish, cheer for your heroes, however, the smart money is on the boys in gray, the Johnny Rebs and their rebel yell, just saying. 2014 performance like every March, Picacho Peak State Park hosts a re-enactment of the Civil War battles of Arizona and New Mexico, including the battle of Picacho Pass. The re-enactments now have grown so large that many more participants tend to be involved than took part in the actual engagements, and include infantry units and artillery as well as cavalry. To add to the excitment, flash pans down field explode to add to the feel of combat and give the cannon fire a sense of completion and reality. CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST2-5714 This year, cannon fire set off a car alarm in the middle of the battle, it screamed and annoyed for seemingly endless period of time. Picacho State Park has grown a lot over the years, they have expanded their campground which now wraps around the battle field, so everyone gets recreational vehicles in all their battle pictures. CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-5692 March is also Picacho peak season for visitors, cause in two months, few if anyone will be there. But maybe for the weekend of the battle perhaps closing off that area and during the battle it should be closed to spectators. Encircling the battle with spectators really takes away from the ambiance’ everyone has worked so hard to achieve. CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-3725 Young re-enactors have really added a spark to the performance, their ad lib mid-battle give the real feel of lead flying, their numbers are on the rise and this battle will only get bigger and the space needed greater. Right now battles are fought on a dog leg so the cannon isn’t fired at the target, but we know what they mean–right! CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-3747 CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-3642 Presently the crowd in pushing out in the middle and to see both sides of the battle folks have to walk back and forth, photographers have to jockey for position, but in the days when everyone is a photographer, there is usually someone in your frame. Professional photographers in such a setting realize that they have a responsibility not to get in the middle of everyone’s photograph, folks videoing with their phones never seem to think about it. The safety officers do a good job of keeping the cavalry from running through the spectators and few injuries come from horses or gunfire, perhaps sunburn and scrapped knees on young ones running when they shouldn’t. Why not more shade for folks spending a whole day in the sun, lots of older folks, many would benefit to bring their own chairs, sun lotion, cool drinks and shade. CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST-3769