COMMERCE RELIVES CIVIL WAR SKIRMISH; SOLDIERS STAGE BANK ROBBERY DURING RE-ENACTMENT BATTLE

COMMERCE -- Confederate troops rode into town Sunday in search of Union soldiers. When none could be found, they decided to rob the bank -- again.

When Union troops suddenly appeared, the battle was under way. Foot soldiers took their battle positions and riders on horseback engaged in sword and gun fights.

The historic scene re-enacted a Civil War battle that actually happened in Commerce more than 100 years ago.

Re-enactment scenes, like those in Commerce over the weekend, are routinely portrayed across the country by men and women active in preserving the history of the Civil War.

Confederate soldier Rick Justice of Sikeston has been participating is re-enactment events for about five years. "I have ancestors that fought for the Confederacy and I'm very interested in the history," he said.

Educating people about what really happened during the Civil War is another reason Justice became involved. Even his son Nathan, 3, and daughter, Carrie, 5 1/2 months, were dressed in authentic period clothing.

"We just moved here from Fort Lauderdale, and we participated in encampments there too," said Kim Justice. "Carrie was born in November and went to her first event in January."

All ages can get involved in the Civil War re-enactments. A Bollinger County group of Confederate soldiers included teenager Donald Reed. "My father was active with the group and he got me started," said Reed. "Then we got a horse and I started riding with the regiment."

Gary Gilbert of Cape Girardeau led the Union soldiers in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat the Confederate Army.

"I've been doing this for about 18 years," said Gilbert. "I began to study Custer and that led me to the Civil War." Gilbert's great-grandfather, Charles Schultz, fought with Grant at Shiloh.

During the encampments, everything is kept as realistic as possible. Nothing "modern" is used, which ensures that history is portrayed as correctly as possible.

Living in the encampment and participating in the battles is a far cry from the modern luxuries of an automobile and air conditioning, but it does give people some idea of what life was like in the mid 1800's, the re-enactors said.

"I really admire the people of that era," said Gilbert. "Everyone had to be tough; the men, the women, even the horses had to be tough. It wasn't uncommon for troops to walk 20 miles, set up camp for the night and get up the next morning and walk another 20 miles."

Anne and Nelson Berbling, and their son, Jonathan, 4, are sulters that set up at the encampments.

Sulters operate traveling general stores that follow the troops. Today's sulters provide an outlet for authentic Civil War era clothing, guns, bullets, swords, tents, cookware and other period merchandise.