Yestereday the history channel went to central Texas and set up a tower with their cameras in it and had a plane flying overhead (at least I think the plane was theirs, it was watching the events below anyway) and they trained their lenses on the scene below.

Hundreds of men loaded handguns of varying calibers, rifles and shotguns and headed for the field. Taking issue with their opponents, hundreds of other men apporaching from the other direction, they formed lines and moved swiftly accross the fields. I was carrying along rifle with .58 cal punch and a long barreled pistol, shoulder to shoulder with a man who had five pistols on his body, two under the shoulders, two on the hips and one in front. Armed to the teeth we advanced on the enemy, us in blue, the enemy in gray, in this case anyhow.

Children were everywhere in the camps, around tables filled with guns, ammunition, swords, knives and canons. Not one accident, not one incident or close call was reported. The kids knew about the guns and did not mess with them. Some of the older kids were carrying rifles and handled them with respect and care.

Lines of infantry in blue uniforms, with red leggings, lines of Zouaves in red blue and gold, as well as gray and butternut uniforms in perfect form entered the field, and the ground shook as canon rounds echoed for miles, huge clouds of smoke issuing and guns roaring.

The audience ate it up. Cavalry moved with savers glinting and we in the skirmish lines moved forward shouting and firing, taking care to handle our guns safely, since real powder was being used.

After a rigorous hour of battle, we went to our camps, refreshed ourselves, then we yanks wento to a scaled down western town and acted out scenarios for a very appreciative crowd who was so awed by the scenes that they left their seats and followed us around.

I was walking up and down the town street, helping keep viewers in the auience erea when the mounted rebel soldiers returned.

Before the clapping and cheering eyes of the audience, the horses ran into town with riders, rifles and sabers in hand, challenging the rest of us for the town. I stood in the road firing my 1861 Colt on the attackers and was of course summarrily shot down.

I managed to reload and shakily shoot back again in a few minutes as shots fired from the balconies, buildings, windows and horses, men yelled and tangled in buildings.

The audience watched and clapped. No television screens, just a big show right in front of them. When it was said and done the rebs rode through the town and I dusted myself off along with the other “casualties”. My little pistol got a workout and was covered with a thick blanket of gray soot. I’d been trampled once by two men clobbering each other and my boots were banged up, but I would not have chosen to be anywhere else doing any other hobby.

Hundreds of men, their wives and CHILDREN, hordes of spectators, with children, a camera crew and thousands of guns, canons and powder; injuries: Zero. Deaths: Zero

Gun control freaks would tell us to stop these reenactments, turn in our guns and go throw frizbees. We stand out as an example, along with all of the other gun clubs, NRA, JFPFO and the rest of them that firearms owners are responsible, and that their children, when EDUCATED can be trusted around guns without incident.

Blanks can kill and maim at close range, make no mistake about it! Misfired blanks have been known to shoot deep into legs, into horses and put people in the hospital. Actor Jon-Eric Hexum died from a blank round fired IRRESPONSIBLY on a set.

The good ol boys had fun this weekend, and we’ll do it again soon, once we wash boots and clean uniforms.

Gene