My wife and son managed to drag me to a Civil War reenactment Saturday. I had never been to one (neither had they) and I said to myself ‘Why the hell not?’ It might not beat lying around on the couch but at least I’d be with my family. The event was called ‘The Battle of Costa Mesa.’ It was quite the scene when we got there, both sides camping in the park in authentic fashion, with period tents and gear. Shortly after arriving, we came upon a group of Civil War musicians, parked in the shade of a tree. I approached them, curious to find out more. Bruce (above), the leader of the group, proudly showed me his French reproduction of a period bugle.
These guys are serious. This member of the band is showing me his brand new reproduction of a Civil War era rotary valve brass instrument. He paid a maker in the L.A. area thousands of dollars to make it for him. I’m holding a tenor horn, made by another member of the band. Both of these horns are held on the shoulder, with the bells pointed backwards. The regimental bands of the era, it was explained to me, marched in front of the troops, thus the direction of the bells.
Continue reading Post No. 140 …
Here’s Bruce holding yet another one of his instruments, a kind of cornet played over the shoulder. It turns out that he heads the Armory Band in Riverside, a busy enterprise devoted to Civil War music. The fellow behind us, Nick, made the horn that I’m holding.
Well, wouldn’t you know. Bruce brought along some music as well as some extra uniforms and I was impressed into the band. The tenor horn I played is in the same key as a trombone, and I know the fingerings from my student days playing euphonium and tuba. The Confederate troops were mustering and we were asked to play for them. (My great great grandfather was a Yankee in the Wisconsin infantry who died in the notorious rebel prison at Andersonville. I hope he forgives me.) We played “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” over and over. I think this makes my stature as a nerd official, but I have to admit it was a blast, and all the better for being truly spontaneous.
Below, some original sheet music for “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” published in 1861. Click on the photo for large view.
Update: Below is a photo of my great-great-grandfather, James Mangan. He fought in the 24th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War. His commanding officer was Arthur MacArthur, father of Douglas MacArthur.
classical life 
great shots. Looks like you were enjoying yourself.
My wife shot the photos. Yes, I was having a dandy time.
Great human interest story. I am sending it my cousin in Georgia. Apply named living history. Enjoyed reading about your great-great-grandfather.
Tim,
You were jammin’ way before jammin’ was jammin’!! Looking good, too.
Best regards,
Joe
I got Civil War chops.
Did you write this for the Register? You should. Would beat most of the Morning Reads.
Hi Tim, loved reading all about your participation in this Civil War presentation. You look authentic and your great great grandfather was probably smiling at you that day!
Kinda funny how fast you can fall into reenacting, God I love it. My Great Granduncle fought with the Wisc. 24th, Company D, Clarence E. Hobbs. My Great Great Grandfather with the Wisc. 37th, Company H, Frank T. Hobbs. I my wife, daughter and son fall in with the Pennsylvania 149th pvi Bucktails. Check us out if like http://www.149thpabucktails.org Huzzah the season is about to start!
This is from a Milwaukee, Wisconsin Mangan (Michael) whos 2g grandfather was also James Mangan’s but fought in the 14th Wisconsin. The Andersonville James Mangan was from the 24th Wisconsin. I know your distant (3rd) cousin Greg Mangan who lives near West Bend WI. Please contact me so we can share Mangan geneology info if you like. ebikemike@yahoo.com
cheers!
Michael Mangan, great-great-grandson of James Mangan 14th Wisconsin
Tim,
Happened on this by chance looking for my g-g-grandfather’s particulars at Andersonville, which I visited a decade ago. Found James’ grave and have video of headstone [actually just a flat plaque lying on the ground] as well as the site two hundred miles north at Chickamauga where he was captured by a Texas brigade.
BTW, not to be quibbling [actually I am!], but James’ commanding officer in the 24th was a certain Col. Gibson, who was gravely injured at Chickamauga. My grandmother told me James had only suffered a minor bullet wound to his foot, but the septic circumstances at Andersonville appropriately caused him septicemia.
Finally, young Arthur MacArthur was only a 21-yr old brevet Major when he led a charge up a mountain in The Battle of Chattanooga yelling “On Wisconsin,” an exhortation that became the motto for the State Fight Song. Since James Mangan was a corporal according to the records, Arthur MacArthur would have personally recruited him as a non-commissioned officer when AMac was the 19-yr old Aide-de-Camp of the Regimental Commander back in 1861. My brother Greg has a book which actually quotes James Mangan during the heavy fighting at Perryville in Tennessee.
Hi Tim,
Greetings from your cousin Dave. I correspond [fitfully] with your brilliant brother Dennis.
I have had the privilege of visiting our g-g-grandfather’s burial site at Andersonville. Jim Mangan died of dehydration and blood poisoning from a bullet wound in his foot sustained at Chicamauga. He died early enough so that he has a brass marker on his site. Later dead Union soldiers were simply tossed into mass graves. Strangely enough, although students of the conflict wouldn’t have found this too strange, he is buried on three sides by Union soldiers from Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia!
There is a book written about his regiment in which he is specifically mentioned on page 163, in a very positive fashion.
The 24th Wisconsin Infantry in the Civil War: The Biography of a Regiment.
by William J.K. Beaudot
I also visited the copse on Chicamauga Battlefield where the 24th Wisconsin was attacked by the Texas Rangers and Jim Mangan was hit in his foot by a Confederate ball.
Thanks for all of this info 🙂 Was searching for info about my triple-Great Grandfather and am glad I came across this–couldn’t remember the name of the book he was mentioned in. Thanks!
Speaking of Wisconsin, music, and the Civil War, I’d like to see this outfit — the First Brigade Band of Watertown WI — in action. My brother I did the subject of this video, the ‘March through Georgia’, from Chickamauga to Savannah (and briefly Charleston) last April. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVEYdLaU8x4