Reenacting - Gettysburg

1st Nebraska, Union 12 NJ position

"The film, Gettysburg, was based on the book, Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara. It was filmed at locations near the Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania. Part of Pickett’s charge in the movie occurred on the actual battlefield."

"The 1^st Nebraska participated in Gettysburg during the Pickett’s charge scenes. We started out as Confederates. Many of the 1^st Nebraska members were in the opening Pickett’s charge scene which as I mentioned takes place on the actual battlefield. I did not make that scene as I was sick at the time; in fact if you look at the pictures closely, I still have a worn-out look about me. I joined the unit the next day. We charged the Union lines over and over again. I must have been shot and “killed” fifty times. We had to climb over split rail fences and then run toward the Union lines. On one occasion as I started to climb the fence, I was whacked on back by another reenactor’s bayonet as he stumbled and fell against me. It left a nice welt."

"Several days later, we were told to portray Union troops and stood at several different locations along a stone wall. One of the positions we held was in front of the Union cannons. We were to lie on the ground in front of the cannons. We covered our ears with our hands, kept our mouths open, and closed our eyes. This was to prevent damage to our ear drums. When the cannons fired, I felt the blast rumble through my body more than heard it with my ears. After the cannons shot their blank charges, we were ordered to rise up and fire a volley into the oncoming Confederates. On one of these takes, a soldier behind me stumbled as he rose up, pulled his musket’s trigger and shot me in the leg with black powder. It singed my pants and long johns, and fortunately did no other damage. The person who shot me was the same one who had whacked me on the back with his bayonet! What are the odds?"

"To be in the film, Gettysburg was important to me. One of my great-great grandfathers fought at Pickett’s charge. His name was Jacob DeHart and he was with the 12^th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, also known as the Buck and Ball Boys because they used smoothbore muskets that fired a combination round musket ball and buckshot. They were very effective at close range."

	1st Nebraska, taking a rest. This was the officer's tent - spent a lot of time here hanging out when filming was done for the day.
Markley Pickett's Charge


Confederate, Pickett's charge Left to right: Terry Pool, Bruce Huxford, Steve Jipp, Bill Markley, Kevin Huxford.	End of Pickett's Charge

1st Nebraska -- as Confederates for Pickett's Charge photo
The 1st Nebraska -- as Confederates for Pickett's Charge, Markley is in the back row, 4th from the right.

Markley at 12th New Jersey Monument -- "This monument is at Gettysburg National Park at Pickett's Charge on the Union side. My great-great grandfather, Jacob DeHart was a member of the 12th New Jersey and fought at this spot. So the movie holds special significance to me."

To learn more about Gettysburg, order these:

Killer Angels, Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (1974) concerns the battle of Gettysburg and was the basis for the 1993 film Gettysburg.
Gettysburg, 1993 movie, DVD format
Gettysburg, 1993 movie, VHS format
Gettysburg: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK],
Randy Edelman audio CD

Reenacting pages: Reenacting Dances With Wolves Son of the Morning Star Far and Away

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