Blue and Gray fight again

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers LIVING HISTORY—August Simien, recently retired from the Los Angeles City Fire Department, has been reenacting for 15 years. He's a member of the New Buffalo Soldiers, a group that aims to preserve the history of black soldiers who fought in several American wars. Simien and other black reenactors will join the Union troops during the local Civil War Reenactment, hosted by the Rotary Club of Moorpark next month. The Civil War Reenactment organized annually by the Rotary Club of Moorpark brings history to life like no other event in California, according to those looking forward to the battles on Nov. 8 and 9.

"The Moorpark reenactment is great," said August Simien. "The Tierra Rejada Valley is a good place for it because it's open and gives you the feeling that you're actually there, with authentic smells and sounds of what it was like during the Civil War."

Simien, a recently retired firefighter with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, has been reenacting for 15 years. He's a member of the New Buffalo Soldiers, a small group that aims to preserve the history of black soldiers who fought in the Civil War and through the World War I era.

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers ALL IN THE FAMILY—Jane De Beaumont impersonates Mary Todd Lincoln, who is a distant relative. De Beaumont and her family will take part in the local Civil War Reenactment hosted by the Rotary Club of Moorpark next month. Reenacting is a family endeavor. Jane De Beaumont's husband, Tim, plays a chaplain. Grandson Chris portrays Robert Todd Lincoln, and granddaughter Ashley talks about the life of Emily and Katherine Helm. As a cavalry man, the San Fernando Valley resident will be one of about five black reenactors who will join the Union troops in battles against the Confederate Army during the Moorpark event.

"There were about 180,000 black soldiers who fought for the North until the Buffalo Soldiers were formed after the Civil War," Simien said.

The eighth annual local Civil War Reenactment, scheduled for Sat. and Sun., Nov. 8 and 9, takes place at Tierra Rejada Ranch on Sunset Valley Road in Moorpark.

Gates will open at 10 a.m. both days, and battles will take place at noon, 3 and 5 p.m. on Saturday and at noon and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

This year's event will showcase five conflicts from the Seven Days Battles, a series of major battles fought from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Va.

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army away from Richmond and into a retreat down the Virginia Peninsula.

"The Civil War during the years of 1861-65 is a very important part of our United States history and should not be forgotten," said Jane De Beaumont, who portrays Mary Todd Lincoln, a distant relative of De Beaumont.

"My Grandpa Todd used to tell me, 'Janie, you are the spittin' image of your great aunt Mary,'" she said.

Her grandfather was right. De Beaumont's facial characteristics and her demeanor mirror those of Abraham Lincoln's wife, who lived a difficult life more than a century ago.

Tim De Beaumont portrays the Rev. Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, a chaplain who was known as Lincoln's pastor.

"My goal is to convey what is believed to have been a close relationship between the president and (Gurley)," said Tim De Beaumont, a pastor in real life.

In addition to meeting the spiritual needs of Civil War soldiers, chaplains at the time also helped defense forces with practical matters. They sent money home and wrote letters to the families of soldiers; they assisted the doctor on site and acted as counselors.

The De Beaumonts' grandson Chris depicts Robert Todd Lincoln, the first child of the president and his wife; and granddaughter Ashley tells about the lives of Emily and Katherine Helm, Mary Lincoln's half-sister and her daughter, who visited the White House during the Civil War years.

Spectators at the Moorpark event will see Union and Confederate encampments and life as it was during the 1800s.

Visitors will also view infantry clashes, cavalry charges, artillery barrages and moviequality pyrotechnic explosions throughout the battles, organizers said.

Abraham Lincoln will be on site to read the Gettysburg Address, and the event will include a Veterans Day ceremony to honor servicemen and women.

Last year's 21-cannon salute to honor veterans was "very solemn and gave me chills," Jane De Beaumont said.

All veterans in uniform or with any veteran identification can receive a $5 discount off the $15 daily admission at this year's event.

"Our veteran recognition will be very special," said organizers.

In addition to entertaining local families and providing a history lesson for second- and eighth-grade students in the Moorpark Unified School District, the reenactment raises funds for local organizations and charities.

Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for schoolchildren. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Daily tickets can be purchased at a discount of $2, good for up to four people, at www.moorparkrotary .com.

Food and refreshments will be sold at the site.