A cloud of smoke hangs over the battlefield. Pops of rifle fire and cannon bursts resonate in the distance. As the smoke settles, men and boys dressed in Yankee blue and Confederate gray become visible. Young men lead the way carrying the regimental colors while drummers and fifers march to "Yankee Doodle." Wave after wave of men advance trying to capture a few feet of ground. The field is covered in American dead, yet the battle wages on -- man against man, brother against brother, father against son.
In his 1863 Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln said: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."
Although the Civil War was fought nearly 150 years ago, reenactors commemorate the sacrifices of the brave men who fought and died there. Although no actual numbers have been calculated, the daily newspaper Civil War Interactive estimates 15,000 reenactors participated in the 135th anniversary battle at Gettysburg, Penn., for 10,000 to 12,000 spectators -- the largest Civil War reenactment to date. Men and women from all over Ohio participate in mock battles and other events to educate people about the war and honor the dead.

The history of reenacting dates back to 1904 when the U.S. Army trained on a Manassas, Virginia battlefield, according to "Reliving the Civil War: A Reenactor's Handbook." In 1935, members of the U.S. Cavalry and U.S. Marines reenacted the battle at Chancellorsville. In 1961, the U.S. Army dressed in costume to commemorate the centennial battle at Manassas. In 1986, the first mega-event at Manassas demonstrated a growing interest in reenacting, and TIME estimated that there were nearly 50,000 reenactors nationwide.
Civil War reenactors view their hobby as a patriotic duty because they are representing men who no longer have a voice.

"We're honoring the veterans. Civil War soldiers were real people," says Brad Keefer, 45, of Massillon. "We don't re-fight the battles and play dead. We're trying to remember them. If they could come back and see what we do, they'd approve and appreciate us. The greatest fear of every generation is that no one will be remembered. We've got to remember and keep the memory alive."

marching into battle
Whether Union or Confederate, battles are the focus of reenacting. Mega-events such as the 135th Gettysburg demonstrate what Civil War soldiers went through. Recreating Pickett's Charge was the highlight for Joel Dombrowski, 23, of Edinboro, Penn.

"To see so many thousands of men coming forward, flags flying, drums beating and their impeccable rebel yell being unleashed, one felt a sense of fear and awe come over him," he said. "Then to see the tremendous carnage afterward, shattered troops and the thousands of dead men that covered the field, who only moments before were marching as if on parade. At this moment, one realizes the true nature of war's brutality and of the sacrifices that our nation's soldiers had to make."

Reenactments show participants and spectators just how lethal battles were. Jeff Jones, 56, of Kent, remembers feeling a sense of despair at Gettysburg.

"I was keeping role," he says. "We fought all day and decided to make another try. We were hot and tired. I went through the role again and with all the guys that had fallen out; it's like it really was reading the names of those in the group no longer with us."
Authenticity in battles is sometimes difficult to achieve, but reenactors are guided by period writings.

"Most reenactors have a pretty good background in the Civil War," says Keefer. "Soldiers kept wonderful records of their experiences: letters, journals and books."

Keefer says events are held as close to the real battlegrounds as possible, though many battlefields are now covered in houses or serve as memorials to the fallen soldiers. How battles are fought depends on the land. Although certain battles have specific outcomes, things don't always go according to plan.

"Designated leaders map out the battle," Keefer says. "The battle starts, and it never works out. It's cool because the unpredictability makes it interesting."
Battles range from small local events, such as the one at Hale Farm and Village in Bath, to mega-events, such as Gettysburg, Antietam and Manassas (Bull Run).

Private Tim Viezer, 44 of Columbus likes the larger events.

"They're visually breathtaking," he says. "It's shocking to see the numbers and what they represent."

The battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day of the war, created a sense of awe for Dombrowski.

"We sat in the dark until the cannons went off. It was like a thunderstorm," he says. "The sun came up slowly, and we marched into the cornfields. You couldn't see, but you could hear the Confederates 15 feet in front of you. Men were dropping like you wouldn't believe. You have to wonder how they stood for this without breaking and running. Back then there was a sense of duty. You didn't run. You expected to die."
The realism in reenacting creates some of the greatest moments, and even after many events, reenactors still anticipate an advance.

"We were one of the first battalions into the fight," says George Wandover, 43, of Toledo, recalling the event at Manassas, the first major engagement of the war. "We were pretty chewed up with casualties. We withdrew, and we couldn't find people. We went back to try and find our buddies realizing how often it was that you couldn't find them."

living in 1860
Reenactors often say their favorite part is sitting around the camps at night. In addition to authentic battles, soldiers live in authentic camps where Dombrowski says "we camp the same way and eat the same way -- over a open fire. No modern commodities."

The camps are filled with row after row of white tents where soldiers can be found playing music or talking about the day's events.
For Keefer, the best time to reenact is at night.

"The camps at night are really cool," he says. "The modernisms seen during the day are gone. The troops will sing. You get the feeling of the bustle of a waking camp at pre-dawn. There's something about the stirring, bugles and men cooking breakfast. It gives you the feeling that you're there, which doesn't always come in battle."

Ross McNerney, 30, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, says regiments often compliment the 8th Ohio on their camp.

"Other groups commend us on our ability and endurance," he says. "We have a 19th century accurate camp."
Living on the land also provides what combatants refer to as period moments. Being on the same battlefields as the soldiers of the past stirs up a variety of emotions.

"Anywhere you go you can recreate a battle in your head," Dombrowski says. "It can be scary sometimes to be on the same land where (a battle) occurred. There's a romanticism involved in it."

joining the ranks
Each spring aspiring reenactors can participate in seminars. During training weekend, combatants learn how to march, as well as carry, load and fire their weapons. A substantial portion of the training is focused on safety. reenactors only fire blanks.

"You must be 30 yards or more away to shoot directly at someone," Dombrowski says. "Otherwise you must shoot over their heads."

Once armed with proper battle knowledge, combatants need to look the part. They know there's no better place to go for an authentic Civil War uniform than to a sutler, which is the Dutch name for a seamstress. Patti Wandover, 38 of Toledo, Ohio, is a seamstress by trade, creating and selling uniforms for reenactors.

"It takes a couple of weeks to complete a uniform," she says. "I use all natural materials; no polyester, rayon or synthetics."
  A uniform and full gear cost anywhere from $900 to $1,200, depending on where the materials are bought. A traditional uniform consists of brogans, which are all leather to the horseshoed heels. The dark blue jackets of the North are made of wool because the Union didn't have access to Southern cotton during the war.

"It's nice in the winter, but brutal in the summer," says private Bill Baumgartner, 46, of Cleveland Heights. Soldiers also carried canteens and haversacks, which held items like food, pencils and paper.

"Soldiers carried a lot into battle," Baumgartner says. "They carried coffee cups, muskets, cap boxes and cartridge boxes, which held paper tubes each filled with gun powder and a bullet. They carried a tent, blanket and a rubber sheet used as a ground cloth. They tried to travel as light as possible."
Authentic uniform in hand, reenactors must decide which role to play. Most regiments require boys to be at least 16 years old to participate and carry rifles in battle, Dombrowski says. However, boys ages 12 to 15 are permitted as musicians. Young men may carry the regimental flags into battle or serve as hospital stewards.   Dombrowski says priests and doctors are found on the field giving blessings before battle and tending to the wounded.
Each reenactor has a specific rank within the regiment and most serve as privates.

"I'm a private and proud to be one," says Baumgartner. "I don't like officers that much. They make us work too hard and don't let us drink enough."

Elections are held to fill the higher positions of officer, sergeant and corporal within each regiment. Jones says he still sees himself as a sergeant.

"You could yell and you didn't have to act like a gentleman," he says. "All you had to do was stay in step."
Perhaps the hardest question for these men is which side to portray. Both Union and Confederate reenactors share a passion for their respective sides. Wandover has been interested in the time period and politics of the Civil War since he was a boy.

"I was born in Virginia, and the Confederacy had more flair and personality," he says. "I've always had a thing for the underdog."

Corporal Rick Betley, 40 of Northfield Center has no better reason to join the Union than, "We're the good guys!" Betley had no relatives or ancestors in the war, but a visit to Gettysburg when he was 10 years old generated a love for the place that has lasted ever since.
Flag bearer Steve Kaminski, 22 of Toledo says people are always curious as to why he portrays a Confederate.

"It's nice to answer questions about it," he says. "The Confederates are not bad people. Many had a lot of family in the Civil War, and we're paying them respect."

civil war community
Reenactors have many reasons for getting involved. Molly Ecker, 56, grew up in Gettysburg where she says everyone gets a dose of the Civil War. Ecker, a retired teacher who lives in Lancaster, Penn., says the war was a must to study in high school. Still others join to follow their childhood dreams.

Dombrowski has been interested in military history since the first grade. In eighth grade, he met a reenactor who invited him to participate. At 14, he had his uniform and was ready to start. Others join because their friends invited them along. Keefer joined the 8th Ohio after his best friend persuaded him to try it out.

"He wanted to share it with me," Keefer says. "He got me into it, which made the experience special. We'd been living the dream since we were little kids."
Dombrowski, a graduate student at Kent State, sees the hobby as a way to escape the 21st century.

"It is not so much the enjoyment of recreating history that makes it so fascinating to me but for the simple reason to escape the present for the past and to enjoy the romanticism of nature and its scenic landscapes," he says. "It is also good for hands-on learning that I try to incorporate in the classroom whenever I discuss this area of history. I have found that it gives students more insight in understanding the events of the past, by recreating it before them, to explain how and why they occurred."
Reenacting can be both recreational and educational, but it also creates a strong sense of community.

"It's a spectacle," Keefer says. "The Civil War has a sense of drama that's hard to avoid, and you're swept up in the spectacle of it. The friendships that you make are spectacular. They're really great people and you share a bond. You find a connection with them."
By participating in living histories and parades, reenactors are able to show people more than what Civil War battles were like. Some reenactors incorporate their hobby into everyday life such as Barbara and Mike King of Akron, who decided to marry in a Civil War period ceremony. The wedding party and the majority of the guests were dressed in Civil War clothing. The ceremony was held in the Tallmadge Church in Tallmadge. The ceremony was like one that would have occurred in 1860, accurate right down to the vows to "love, cherish and obey."
After the wedding, the men gathered their rifles and flanked the wedding party as it recessed out of the church. They raised their rifles to form an arch as the bride and groom passed through and ended with a rousing "Hip hip hooray!" and "Yee-haw!" Such is the life of a Civil War reenactorr until another battle begins.