YOUNGSTOWN The black soldier's view of Civil War

The re-enactment is an annual event.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- They spend their days shooting at fellow countrymen in battles that divided the nation, and at night sleep under the stars in wool uniforms cradling their musket rifles.
No, these are not the men who fought in the Civil War many decades ago, but the next best thing -- Civil War re-enactors from the 5th U.S. Colored Troops. The group will stage an annual civil war re-enactment July 12 and 13 at Lanterman's Mill in Mill Creek Park.
According to Steffon Jones, one of the re-enactors, these events have been taking place in the park since 1997 when four people participated in a historic display of the life of a black Civil War soldier. He said the event has grown each year and more than 100 re-enactors are expected to participate this year.
Schedule
July 12, there will be a re-enactment of the Battle for Burnside Bridge at 2 p.m. Jones said the battle will be fought on the wooden covered bridge next to Lanterman's Mill in a style closely resembling what is known to have taken place at the actual Civil War battle.
The re-enactors will also stage a battle at Lanterman's Gorge at 2 p.m. Sunday. Jones said there will be a "made-up" scenario for the battle, but he would not say what that scenario will be.
Jones said the demonstration will be about the lives of all Civil War soldiers, but will focus on the lives of black soldiers. He said there were differences in the treatment of black and white soldiers. Blacks made less money, routinely endured discrimination and were not placed in positions of authority.
"Anyone attending will see how black Civil War soldiers and white soldiers lived. This is about troops -- period, but the initial goal was to key on the role of the black Civil War soldier," he said.
The public, Jones said, is encouraged to come out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to see how these men lived. There is no charge.
Jones said there will be plenty to see throughout the demonstration. The re-enactors will arrive Saturday and set up camp, with many remaining at the park campsite overnight in sleeping gear similar to what would have been used during the Civil War.
The re-enactors will not leave out the morbid side of war. There will be a medical tent with a Civil War-era physician where "wounded" soldiers will go for treatment. Jones said there will also be a "dying tree" -- a tree where, he said, critically wounded soldiers were placed when they could no longer fight.
Jones said the entire family will learn something from the re-enactment or the displays.
There will be displays on historic black magazines, blacks who served in more recent wars, and on how ladies lived during the Civil War. There will also be various skits.
"This is good for the family, good for the kids. They will take something away from this," said Jones.
jgoodwin@vindy.com