CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTORS SURPRISED AT GORDONVILLE

GORDONVILLE -- The Union troops had their chance, but when they decided to fight they were overwhelmed.

"We had cannons, we had cavalry, I took the chance and you can see what happened," Maj. Mark Westhoff of the 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry said after Sunday's re-enactment skirmish in Gordonville. "A lot of guys died because we took a chance."

Westhoff, who lives outside of Freeburg, Ill., and is a major in the Illinois State Militia, led a group of nine Union soldiers against a similar band of Confederate troops in a cornfield. The field was next to the St. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad steam train, which had traveled from Jackson for the confrontation.

The train is involved in two weekends of Civil War re-enactments every year. Westhoff said his troops travel all over the country doing re-enactments. Having a train on hand is a big advantage, he said.

"Trains revolutionized the Civil War. It's neat having one here to use."

The 50-year-old steam train transported about 100 spectators to the battle site and was attacked by Union forces as it train arrived on the scene. Ironically, the train was transporting Union reinforcements.

"We were expecting more troops on the train," Westhoff said. "Unfortunately there were only six."

After a fierce volley the Confederates offered to surrender and Westhoff challenged them to fight. It was a costly mistake.

"I wasn't expecting them to charge," he said. "But when I realized what they were doing it was too late. They overwhelmed us."

That's the way things go in war, and in re-enactments, Westoff said. He surveys the field before the skirmishes and assesses the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. He'll parlay with the opposing commanders and assign some soldiers to be killed or wounded, but the actual outcome of the fight won't be determined until the smoke of battle has cleared.

But the re-enactments aren't entirely about the battles. Charlotte Hall of Bertrand, Freda Bolin, of Columbus, Ky., and Janis Merideth of Charleston, dress in period costumes and do what they need to support the troops.

"We're here to support the men," Hall said. "We bring them extra supplies. If they need something we'll get it. But we also answer questions about the culture, dress and what women of that period did."

The women are a part of the 7th Kentucky Confederate contingent. They dress in large hoop skirts, bonnets and bodices. They sleep in tents and cook over open fires for re-enactment weekends.

"This is good, clean family fun," Bolin said. "This is something the whole family can do together."

Nine-year-old Emily Bertrand said she liked the women in costume and may consider doing that herself someday. Her brother Andrew liked the horses and Jordan Buchheit said he liked the cannons.

Andrew's mother, Cherri Bertrand, said he got a surprise from a wounded Union soldier, Tom Hinkebein of Cape Girardeau.

"This wounded soldier came over to where we were, carrying his hand," she said. "He gave it to Andrew."

Surprises, like the rush by Confederate troops, are common in re-enactments like the one in Gordonville, which do not depict actual battles. Westhoff said he surprised the Confederate forces Saturday night by not losing.

"They thought they were supposed to win last night but they didn't," he said. "Being this far into southern Missouri, it's not a bad idea to let the Confederates win sometimes. That's if you want to get out of town alive."