Back in time, back in battle

A Confederate captain and his troops.

The only Civil War battle to take place in Marion County was more of a skirmish than a bloody conflict between steely-eyed soldiers clad in Union Blue and Confederate Gray.

In fact, the Ocklawaha River Raid of March 7, 1865, just one month before the end of the Civil War, involved less than 125 troops and home guard volunteers from both the North and South.

Even so, the historic scuffle will be commemorated during this weekend’s 37th Annual Ocklawaha River Raid, hosted by the 1st Brigade, Provisional Army of the Confederate States Civil War Re-enactor/Living History unit.

During the event, re-enactors from around the state, including 175 Union and Confederate infantry, eight mounted soldiers, and a handful of civilian units, including women and children, will converge on the rolling hills and woods of the 500-acre Florida Horse Park.

Visitors will get an authentic look at American life during the Civil War era, from period garb to mannerisms and speech from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 6-7). Battle re-enactments will take place at 2 p.m. each day.

“We portray the history of this time period as accurately as we can,” said Keith Kohl, who founded the event with his parents, especially his mother, Catherine Kohl, when he was 17 years old.

Military encampments of both Union and Confederate armies will be featured with authentic tents, equipment, and weaponry. Civilian reenactors will portray family members of soldiers while others will depict daily life on the home front.

Now a Lt. Col. in the Fourth Florida Infantry, Kohl said the re-enactors are required to stay in character day and night throughout the event emulating the sights and sounds of life just as it was during the Civil War era.

“We encourage visitors to visit the camps and learn about history from a bygone era,” he said. Modern conveniences, such as CD players, laptops, and fast-food meals are discouraged and must be out of sight at all times.

“It’s a fully immersive history lesson; my breakfast isn’t a sausage and egg biscuit from McDonald’s,” he said. “My breakfast is cooked over a campfire in a cast-iron skillet and we use candle lanterns to see at night instead of flashlights.”

Sutlers, originally private suppliers of goods that traveled with the armies, who now sell Civil War reproduction goods and other related wares will also be at the event, clothed in period costumes.

The Ocklawaha River Raid in March 1865 involved about 30 Union troops from Jacksonville who raided the Marshall Plantation, east of Ocala. Led by Sgt. Major Henry Thomas, the Union soldiers left with 80 gallons of syrup and 200 hogsheads, or containers, of sugar, and other property from the plantation.

The Ocala Home Guard gave pursuit, and later Confederate soldiers gave chase as well, but when the raiders crossed the Ocklawaha River to return to their garrison, they burned the Marshall Bridge, near the present-day Sharpes Ferry Bridge, and escaped.

The plundered goods were abandoned and returned to Marion County. Both Union and Confederate forces had dead and wounded soldiers, including two “mortally wounded” members of the Ocala Home Guard.

Just one month later, on April 9, 1865, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, putting an end to the war. The conflict claimed roughly 620,000 lives, including 5,000 Floridians, according to the Florida Department of State.

Kohl said the battle re-enactments will not be a recreation of the Raid itself, but rather a snapshot of a typical field battle, and will feature equal amounts of soldiers from both sides

“It’s silly to have a battle that’s all one-sided,” said Kohl, who has both Confederate and Union uniforms, and can portray a soldier from either side. The combat will include infantry, artillery, and cavalry units with muskets, cannons, commands, and tactics all employed in battle in the 1860s.

Michael Landon of Orlando, who portrays a corporal in the Confederate Army, said he enjoys the comradery amongst other members of the re-enactor community.

“Everyone involved has a fascination with our nation’s history,” said Landon, a 13-year re-enactor. “We’re like one big family regardless of what side we portray.”

Meanwhile, Kohl, single and 53, said interest in this year’s observance has increased from last year.

“I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from re-enactors,” said the Maryland native who moved to Florida in 1979. “I think we’ll have a good crowd this year.”