Reed’s Bridge to host re-enactment, other festivities next weekend

By Amy Widner

LITTLE ROCK — Reed’s Bridge Battlefield outside of Jacksonville will be host to a weekend of re-enacted Civil War battles and activities on Labor Day weekend.

Mark Kalbrenner of Pine Bluff is organizing the re-enactor troops and said participants are coming from across the state. He estimated there will be about 100 re-enactors, mostly infantry and artillery but possibly a few cavalry with their horses.

“We know we’re going to have at least two cannons, probably four, available for the battles,” Kalbrenner said. “So we’ll be making some noise.”

Tommy Dupree of Jacksonville is president of the Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Preservation Society.

He said the actual Civil War battle that occurred at the site on Aug. 27, 1863, had a mile-long front in the woods and briars along Bayou Meto and climaxed with a dramatic charge from the north by Federal cavalry down the Old Military Highway that runs along the site. They charged when they saw smoke rising from Reed’s Bridge, which the Southern troops burned to stall the advance of Federal troops on Little Rock. The Federal troops raced toward the bridge, hoping to cross it in time, only to be shot at by Rebel troops when they got within range.

The battle effectively stalled the advance of the Federals, who had to travel toward Scott to cross Bayou Meto, giving Rebel troops time to retreat from the Capitol to Arkadelphia. Little Rock fell to the Federals on Sept. 10, 1863.

The re-enacted battles won’t try to mimic the actual Battle at Reed’s bridge but will be more general, Kalbrenner said. Re-enactors will be set up in period camps, and there will be demonstrations, drills and plenty of opportunities for questions all weekend, with at least two battles planned.

Kalbrenner said there will be a little something for everyone, including civilian re-enactors to demonstrate everyday life and dress at the time. He said there will be extra uniforms and equipment available as well, for anyone ready for their battle re-enacting debut.

“Come out a little early and we’ll get you suited up, run you through things real quick and throw you in,” Kalbrenner said.

Also planned are a dance demonstration, church services and a memorial service. Re-enactors will remain in costume for the events.

Judy Downs of Pocahontas is organizing the dance. She started re-enacting in the ’80s, is a member of the Northeast Arkansas Living Historians group and joined a historical dance group a few years back to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of Pocahontas. The group made costumes and learned period dances and didn’t give the hobby up when the celebration was over. Now the 20-member group, which includes people from 8 years old to 70, does demonstrations and teaches the dances to others.

“We’re basically going to have a - not a ball per se, more of a dance, a community dance,” Downs said. “Back during that time period they would have had a get-together dance, especially wherever there was military.”

Only a few of her fellow dancers will be with her, Downs said, so the focus will be more on teaching anyone in attendance basic period dances, like waltzes and the big group line, square and circle dances seen in Civil War movies like Gone with the Wind. Such dances were a common way for communities to show their support for soldiers stationed nearby and offer them a little entertainment, Downs said.

“These were the dances where if you went to the dance and if you danced the whole night with one person, you were considered really rude,” Downs said. “Now if you dance with anyone other than the person you came with, you’re in trouble. But back then it was more of a social dance, and everybody was allowed to get out and meet each other.”

Kalbrenner said the outdoor church service sermon will probably focus on a historical theme and the hymns will be traditional.

Jacksonville historian Carolyn Kent is planning the memorial service and is researching the names of local Civil War veterans to be read at the ceremony. The servicewill focus on veterans buried at the Bayou Meto Cemetery, whether they fought for the North or the South.

“If you recognize the battlefield where the event happened, you can’t have a battlefield without the people,” Kent said. “They’re historically significant. Even though it’s not as close as World War II or Korea, and even though it was within the U.S., it was very significant for the time, and we need to recognize that.”

Dupree said there hasn’tbeen a re-enactment at the site in three or four years, but he would like to get back to a regular schedule of having them every other year.

The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, and those who have not visited it recently can see some recent additions. There are historical information panels (they cover the Civil War battle, nearby Old Military Road and American Indian removal) and parking lots. A walking trail is in the works.

Reed’s Bridge Battlefield is at Arkansas 161 where it crosses Bayou Meto. All events are free and open to the public.

More information is available by calling Kalbrenner at (870) 692-4421 or e-mailing captk1ark@hotmail.com. More information about the Northeast Arkansas Living Historians is available at http:// nearkansaslivinghistorians. googlepages.com or by calling Downs at (870) 758-0055.

- awidner@ arkansasonline.com

Three Rivers, Pages 137 on 08/24/2008