Traipsing across Wilson Plaza in full uniform, six performers arrived inside Kaufman Hall on Tuesday to give a realistic Civil War presentation for students of Professor Casey Miner’s military science class.
The group, organized by director Neil Morrison from the army museum at Fort Irwin, consisted of soldiers from the base who chose to volunteer their time for the event.
The performers stayed in historical garb and in character throughout the presentation, carrying rifles and bayonets and speaking like soldiers of the Civil War.
This is the third year the presentation has been given in Miner’s class. A similar representation of the American Revolution, also organized by Morrison, took place last week.
Miner said he collaborated with Morrison to start the tradition in his first year of teaching at UCLA, intending to give students a visual and personal understanding of these wars.
“I wanted to show them the impact of a person during this period of time,” he said.
During the presentation, the classroom lights were dimmed, and several lanterns set the tone. Each member of the group had a story to share with the class.
Morrison was a captain who left Ireland for the “land of the free,” only to be confronted by prejudice. He joined the Union army to “show the adopted country that we were willing to fight, and we were willing to die.”
Of the six performers, only one was a Confederate soldier: a poor Kentucky farmer who chose to fight with the South out of contempt for the urban elitism of the North. Another performer acted as a free New York black man, who fought to prove his loyalty as an American and to end slavery in the South.
“When the Union army started to enlist black soldiers, I was one of the first in line,” he said to the class.
The stories were meant to give students an understanding of what daily life was like for a soldier in the Civil War.
Morrison brought examples of items that a soldier would carry during the war, which he incorporated into his portrayal as the Irish captain for the Union army.
“Some nights, I have a cup of tea, and I read my Bible, and life is good,” he said in a heavy accent.
There was one woman among the performers who exhibited the traditional attire for women of the period. A female volunteer from the audience was then outfitted in similar attire, an ensemble of numerous layers complete with corset, gloves and feathered hat.
“A lady would wear this every time she went outside,” Morrison told the class.
Some students appreciated the opportunity to get a personal glimpse of the war.
“I liked hearing the soldiers’ individual stories and getting more in the time and moment,” said Lea Cohen, a first-year undeclared student.
Vik Maru, a second-year international development studies student, said the presentation helped him to understand what was at stake for soldiers in the war.
“You get something from it you can’t get anywhere else,” he added.
After the presentation, students were encouraged to ask questions.
“Can you give us a demonstration of the rebel yell?” one student asked to chuckles across the classroom.
The Confederate foot soldier was happy to oblige.