The War Against the Reds

The Battle of Athens

When I heard about the attack on Fort Sumter I just finish going through drills and I now find my self in a war Against those who attack us. And the ones who fired the first shot were the ones who we thought were our friends, brothers, and fathers. And now that my regiment is now fighting against folks who we possible once used to be standing next as friends or family, is now our enemy in this war.

My small regiment or unit some can say are just relaxing by a big tree with some of our muskets or rifles leaning on it. We didn't have much to do other than chat with each other. No drilling, no marching for miles and miles, just either standing or sitting and relaxing having a good chat. Though of course we had our guns loaded just in case, and a good thing too. Next thing we know we hear screaming "The reds, their right behind us! The reds coming!" following by a few shots from an officer of a small calvary recon squad. We didn't know what was going on, when they got to our officer he said that a force of confederate forces was coming, and that he was going to get back up. From that we got up and grab our musket and rifles and handing them to fellow soldiers and fell in line. By the time we got formed up the calvary was off to get reenforcement already. Once our officer was ready he gave to order to march, and as we march only a few feet way over yonder we see another line formation marching up to the field. We didn't know if they were one of us or if they were the reds that calvary officer mention. We hold a up on the command and well, next thing that really cleared the whole thing is when those johnny reds fired their cannons at us. By that moment it was clear, they are the Johnny reds that was coming.  Once their cannons fired their volley, we return volley back at them.  We trade volley, then we push up fired another volley and pulled back and volley fire again. Then one of the confederate line decide to try to get close to us, the only weapons they had was just farmer tools. They came marching at my line, then our officer gave the command, "At the ready. Aim. Fire!" we unleash our volley right on them. They as a whole line, every single one of them all went down.  Our one volley was made one confederate line fall, cause them to be one line less then when they came to the field. They now barely had any line left to form, or as far from what my line is dealing with. Now they could really only be a small skirmish bunch. But they were't the only ones who are losing their fellow soldiers among their line. When one of Johnnies fired they got a friend of mine by the name Bearfoot, the name was weird but it was true. Bearfoot was well, bear footed wether it was drilling, march, or even during the battle he was bear footed. But beside that he was one of us. In the line formation we were next to each other, so when he fell from getting shot, he fell next to where I was standing. "Bearfoot no!" I screamed. I finish reloading my enfield and toke aim at the Johnny who got Bearfoot. Up on the command of fire we unleash our volley and from what I saw, I got that Johnny red. Volley after volley we trade fire, but our general had just about enough of it. "Damn it! God damn it! I have enough of this. Fix bayonets!" Our general scream. Our officer repeated the order and we got to it. We set are muskets down and reach over to right to grab our bayonet, pulling it out and attaching it to the end of our musket and back to shoulder arm. The next is charge arm in which we pointed our bayonet and start to march forward right at them. They ran in fear and my line manage to cut some of their cannoneers off from their retreat. "Dan is that you?!" I hear one of my fellow soldier scream followed by a musket fire taking the confederate down. The battle was won and the Confederates were push out of Athens. 

With a victory for the Union in the Battle of Athens some might ask, what happen with the early battle for the Battle of Athens. Was the calvary just a recon that got spotted by the Confederate army, or did they fought in a smaller skirmish that didn't go like how the Battle of Athens ended. 

After a few attacks from the Confederates we made sure we reform and was still holding strong. I began to think those rebels are not going to last for much longer. Three Johnnies came walking like they were wounded up over a hill crest, we were more than fine to take a few prisoners. If they did choose to surrender to us, but they later stop and all three fired and retreated. "Well at least they gave us a warning!" Saying from a soldier in the line formation. All three lines march up to where we thought was a small confederate line. It was as we though and of course we traded volley to finish them off. We march back a pit after more reds came. Later on they try to get us from our left splitting my line to where most was firing on the ones trying to flank us. We pulled back more and more. We started to get over run, but little did I know most of our huge line of defense retreated already trying to escape. For my line we kept on fighting trying to give them a chance to escape, and boy did we put up a good fight. But the line got small and against a bigger line I knew we couldn't last for long. Once I had fired my last shot I got out of there. It was time for us to retreat, as I try to get out the Confederate calvary try to stop us, lucky me that one of the guys retreating with me was still loaded and got one of them and they pull off. I was able to get out of there in time but everyone else got captured, I can hear a wife screaming to try to free them, the Johnny just called her crazy and to leave. Still thinking I have a chance to escape I left. Out of everyone in my line I was the only one to escape, the rest were either killed or captured by them.

Hay thanks for reading it was fun being a Civil War reenactor and getting a chance like that to know what it was like to be in the boot of a young soldier fighting in that war. I hope you enjoy.