From the
Carlton Place-Almonte-Carlton Place newspaper May 12, 2011
EMC Lifestyle - For some people, history is more than just words on a page.
The Captain and his wife
New recruits of the Second Michigan, Company E learn basic
rifle drill
Historical re-enactment isn't called "living history" for nothing. The
re-enactor lives and breathes history, and brings it to life - in three
dimensions and all five senses - for members of the public.
Few re-enactors take their hobby more seriously than those who portray the
events of the American Civil War. Re-enactors by the thousands have been
featured in such films as Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.
Re-enactors tend to be passionate about what they do. Some re-enactors' hardcore
devotion to authenticity in their hobby extends all the way to their choice of
undergarments. With the sesquicentennial of the Civil War now taking place,
re-enactors will be in the spotlight over the next four years, portraying the
major battles as the 150th anniversary of each event takes place.
It may come as a surprise to learn that some of the participants in these events
will be traveling all the way from Lanark County. Carleton Place residents Mike
and Betty Doxtater are busy planning to take part in recreating the first big
battle of the Civil War - known by the North as Bull Run and the South as
Manassas - this July. Up to 18,000 re-enactors from all over North America will
be heading to Northern Virginia to participate.
This will be nothing new for the Doxtaters, who have been members of a
re-enactment unit known as the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, "E" Company,
for 13 years. The unit itself, based in Ottawa, was formed in 1992 by a group of
amateur historians and avid Civil War buffs. When asked why Canadians are so
wrapped up in American history, members are quick to point out that an estimated
30,000 to 50,000 Canadians (then known as British North Americans) actually did
fight in the Civil War, the majority for the North. Twenty-nine Canadians
received the Congressional Medal of Honour for their efforts.
"I'm starting to realize more and more how important to this country that war
was," said Mike Doxtater.
When the war ended in 1865 the victorious Federal army numbered well over a
million men, who now had nothing to do. The United States were in an
expansionist mood, and it was likely that expansion might take place in a
northerly direction. The inhabitants of British North America seemed to be in
need of protection, but Britain no longer wanted to maintain troops in its
colonies. These pressures helped to bring about Canada's independence, and
Confederation took place just two years later, in 1867.
Doxtater's own interest in these long-ago events began in 1964, when he was
eight years old. A series of baseball cards on the Civil War were issued, which,
being "gory as hell," were certain to capture an eight-year-old's imagination.
"I had a full set of those cards, and it just blossomed from there."
How the Ottawa-based group came to be known as the Second Michigan makes for an
interesting story. The founders were a group of four men and one woman, Heather
Gauthier. Gauthier wanted to portray a soldier, and go on the battlefield in
uniform. To make the experience historically accurate, the group had to find an
actual Civil War regiment which contained not only Canadians, but a woman as
well.
"They did the research and came up with the Second Michigan," said Doxtater.
Among the ranks of the original Michigan regiment was a woman, Sarah Emma
Edmonds, who was born in Magaguadavic, New Brunswick, in 1841 and later moved to
Flint, Michigan. She enlisted in the Second Michigan by disguising herself as a
man named Franklin Thompson. "Frank" served in many battles before being
enlisted as a Union spy after recovering from a stay in hospital.
The recreated Second Michigan "E" Company, although based in Ottawa, also has
members from Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, and New York State. There is one
member from Arnprior, Chuck Chapman. Betty Doxtater is currently the group's
president.
Mike joined as a private, but has since worked his way up to his current "rank"
of captain - and company commander. With spouses and children encouraged to
participate, the company has about 50 members in total, with an average of 13 to
15 members able to take part in any given event.
On May 7 members traveled to Canton, New York to participate in a re-enactment
of President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers at the beginning of
the war. (Those volunteers signed up for 90 days, believing the war, which would
actually last four years would be "over by Christmas.") The re-enactment of the
first Battle of Bull Run, which took place on July 1, 1861 and resulted in a
startling defeat for the Union Army, is scheduled for July 22, 23, and 24.
When Mike joined the Second Michigan in 1998 he had been hospitalized in Ottawa
following a stroke, and had successfully begged the doctors to let him leave for
a day to attend a military show at the Nepean Sportsplex. He met members of the
unit, who suggested he join them. "I signed up right there, not thinking about
Betty," he recalled. "Luckily, she got into it just as bad as I am."
Mike is recently retired following a career as a driver for OC Transpo. Betty
works at Queensway Carleton Hospital. The ranks of the Second Michigan also
include a psychologist, a New York State judge, a retired railroad engineer, and
"a couple of prison guards." Betty sews costumes for the female members of the
group who portray civilians. "We have a guy that's the camp cook, and when he's
not there, I do it," she added.
According to Mike, what fuels the members' desire to take part is the
opportunity to teach the public about history. "This is three D," he said. "It
never fails: you put a musket in someone's hands, and they say, 'I didn't
realize how heavy it was.' First-hand experience is what you're getting."
The daily life of 19th century soldiers, says Mike, was boring. "For every hour
that was spent on the field you had some 30 hours doing nothing but sit around
and drill."
Rations, consisting primarily of hardtack and salt pork, made for a monotonous
diet. When the new recruits had their first experience of battle, any romantic
notions they had about war were quickly dispelled by the carnage they witnessed.
The army doctors, said Mike, were "butchers." With no way to repair the damage
from musket balls, arms and legs were amputated rather than saved. The doctors
had no understanding of how to treat infection.
Prior to their first exposure to combat, the new recruits believed that only
other people could become casualties. Veterans knew differently, but most stayed
in the ranks and did their duty. "You can't desert because when you signed up,
you signed up with your neighbours, your friends, and you're all from the same
town," said Mike. "If you desert, you can't go back."
