.h220 August 1989 Copyright 1989 .h3Page #. 1,061 words WAR GAMES : NOT FOR MEN ONLY Written by June Grayson Photographed by Richard Grayson Suppose they gave a war and everyone came - military, civilians, women, children, and spectators. Purchase your front row seats through Ticketron. Choose your weekend battle sites through glowing ads in national publications. Load the family in the station wagon. Pack the tenting gear, the ice chest hidden in an antique trunk, and several costume changes including a $300.00 ball gown and wool uniforms in blue or gray. The family that slays together stays together. So goes the world of Civil War Reenactors. "Everyone in the hobby has a different reason for enjoying it," Joyce Trahan of DeKalb, Illinois, thinks. Joyce assumes the role of a "sutler" - a civilian who follows the army and sells provisions to soldiers. She and her husband, Bob Trahan, run their sutlery as a sideline business, attending a different encampment every weekend. Sutleries, the forerunners of the army px, were licensed by the army. If you see an ad on television about the Freedom Train, sponsored by the state of Illinois to promote tourism, look for the costumed Trahans among the other actors. "That was the biggest thrill the hobby has brought us so far," Joyce says. Karen Eisele portrays the wife of a pompous Civil War politician at weekend encampments. "We are transplanted southerners and think the wrong side won the war. We are going to keep doing this until it comes out right," she teases. Laura Gates is an obstetric nurse at Copley Hospital, Aurora. Her husband fabricates heating equipment. "Civil War Reenacting is a wholesome activity that families can do together, another variation of outdoor camping. Yet you can learn about history and understand your country better. We look forward to seeing old friends on our weekend outings." They began reenacting in 1978 and attend several encampments every summer. She has made all of the costumes for herself, her husband, and their three children. The antique trunks that hide their ice chest and tent supplies serve as coffee tables in their living room during the week. Authenticity is an important word to reenactors. "At first some men were hostile to women entering the hobby. They said that women weren't involved in the Civil war and didn't belong on the battlefields or even in the camps. "Now that we have been doing our own research, we realize that women were important in the Civil War effort," Gates continues. "We request information through the National Archives in Washington, D. C. Unpublished family records and women's diaries - when we can find them - contain helpful information. Each war seems to further women's quest for equality." Army camps had women cooks, laundresses, and "women of ill- repute." Volunteers served as nurses behind the battle lines. Clara Barton, known as the "angel of the battlefield," organized the first army nurse corps, an agency to obtain and distribute supplies for the relief of wounded soldiers. Barton went on to found the American Red Cross in 1881. The South had few trained nurses and was ill-equipped to care for its wounded. Unorganized volunteers, midwives, and mountain "healing women" did what they could. Laura Gates has joined the Society of Civil War Surgeons, Inc. for medical professionals interested in reenactment. Because of malpractice concerns, however, they do not give real medical care during battles or encampments. The host organization must contract for service with outside medical emergency companies. Almost 400 women fought as soldiers in the Civil War. Called "vivandieres", meaning female provisioners in French, they joined a regiment to be with a husband or boyfriend. They served as nurses, cooks, flag bearers and drummers. They marched in regimental parades in uniforms of their own design - sometimes bright velvets with short skirts or baggy bloomers. These women knew how to use the gun and the sword. They not only took the place of fallen comrades in battle but taught their skills to other soldiers and civilians. Kady Brownell was a vivandiere with the First Rhode Island Infantry at the battle of Bull Run. She saved the lives of her troops by rushing out in front of the battle line with the company's colors. The southern soldiers were too gallant to shoot at a woman. When Colonel Turchin of the 19th Illinois regiment became seriously ill, his wife took command of the unit and gained the respect and admiration of her men. Gates does not want to be a soldier. "I want to do what women did and build on that." One of the rules of the hobby is that you can only reactivate a unit known to exist, you can't start a new one. In addition, women have not been able to get into reenacting except through a male relative already involved. Gates thinks she has found a way around that dilemma through the discovery of a woman's society in Virginia which served as a soldier and veteran's support group. She has prepared an invitation to other women to join the society (which has only three members so far): "The Rockbridge County Ladies Sewing Society is looking for a few good women to take part in the Glorious Cause. You will roll bandages and make and repair uniforms. You can bring comfort to the soldiers in nearby campgrounds by supplying knitted items, letter-writing supplies, and other necessities of life." New members will do their own research, make or buy their costumes and equipment, and attend encampments with the group at their own expense. The Society will offer to provide classes and demonstrations for spectators at encampments. Even wars, evidently, have to get bigger and better to entice participation. How about this for a fun-filled weekend? Daily battles, Battalion Drills, Formal Military Ball with live period music, refreshments, and backdrop of lighted waterfall, Fashion Show, Church Service, Choir Concert, Arts and Crafts Show, Museum Tour, Children's Games, Full Dress Parade, Courtmartial, Nagging Contest, Lemonade Social, and a surprise visit from President Lincoln. Any way you look at it, this beats a real war any day. ##### The 125th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battles for Atlanta will take place in Adairsville, Georgia, this coming weekend August 31-September 4, 1989, under the auspices of the American Civil War Commemorative Committee, Inc. The event begins on the anniversary date of the fall of Atlanta. _____ troops are expected to participate and ____ spectators have already made reservations. Some television coverage is planned. #####UfManuscript s]34pe4- ö£ $-(#,&p{ÇDANSRPT "ÇDECK 0ÇERNST (ÇESCOBAR ÇFORWARD GIFT HÇGIFT WS HÇHS