Blue and Gray to March Together

From 27th. S.C., 1st. S.C. Cav. & 54th. Mass. Civil War Reenactment Units

Confederate and Federal Civil War Reenactors representing units that fought each other in Charleston 133 years ago will march together in the December 8, Charleston, SC Christmas Parade behind a joint color guard bearing the separate flags for which they fought.

Left to Right: Nat Rivers (54th. Mass.), Glen McConnel (27th. SC) and George Hughes (54th. Mass, with wreath) will march in the parade. A higher resolution, print quality image can be obtained by downloading this 218k file, cwxmashr.jpg.

Plans call for the units to march together, changing their position in the order of march with a maneuver originally used to deliver fresh troops to the battle front during the war. Rebel and Union musicians will combine to play marching music from the conflict, including "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp", a tune familiar to modern ears as "Jesus Loves the Little Children". An honor guard of ladies from both organizations will bear banners with a holiday message of "Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men" and a horse drawn carriage decked with holiday greens and Cavalry Escort will bring up the rear.

According to member William Hamilton, while the units were historic enemies, their members are good friends today. "We work together on projects such as the annual Ft. Wagner Commemoration in July and the recent recreation of the Civil War Court Martial of Sgt. William Walker of the 3rd. SC (U.S. Colored). We are marching this way to assure people we can both honor our heritage and show love for our fellow man, however our heritage and opinions about it may differ. If we can do that with this history and issues in these uniforms, so can everyone."

"In a holiday season that combines love of tradition, family and a concern for peace on earth we believe that is an important message." According to Hamilton, Blue and Gray are no threat to each other, but anyone selling Bar-B-Que may be in serious trouble as the units expect to gather after the parade for an assault on that traditional fare.

The Fifty-forth Massachusetts, Co "I" Reenactors represent the regiment made famous in the Movie Glory, a regiment of 1000 free black men raised in the North that stormed Battery Wagner on the evening of July 18, 1863 in an effort to break through Charleston's Defensive Perimeter and conquer the city where the Civil War began. The Twenty-Seventh South Carolina Reenactors represent that fort's Confederate Defenders of the 600 man Charleston Battalion, who endured the most concentrated artillery bombardment of the war on the exposed parapet of the fort while the rest of the garrison huddled in the crowded bombproof. When the attack came the 27th. wrestled the federal assault to a standstill in the dark and bloody hours that followed the initial attack, saving Charleston. Members of the 27th. raised the Confederate flag again after it was shot down during the pounding bombardment, exposing themselves to the fire of land batteries and the guns of the Federal Ironclad fleet with heroism complimented in the official Confederate report. Sgt. Carney of the 54th. snatched the Federal National Color as it fell in he fighting before the fort, later planted it atop the parapet in the midst of the fighting and despite 3 wounds returned it to the Federal lines, stating the flag never touched the ground. He become the first black man to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Other units of both sides at the fort also fought heroically. Also marching with the units will be members of the 1st. South Carolina Cavalry, which fought the federal army along the South Carolina coast.

More information can be obtained on this project by calling George Hughes (Pictured left) at (803) 795-8438 or on the Internet at Civil War @ Charleston website. main.html. Publications needing a higher resolution jpeg image of the publicity photo displayed on this page or the 218kb image available here may obtain a 2mb. image file by email request to William Hamilton. Any of the image files or the content of this page may be copied or duplicated without restriction of any kind.