Reservist reenacts civil war battles, educates youth

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  It was a war of Americans versus Americans, where more than 3 million Americans fought, and more than 600,000 Americans died. It’s a war that Master Sgt. James Ralph said has fascinated him since he was a child and he’s dedicated to keeping its history alive.

The Air Reserve Technician works for the 512th Airlift Control Flight during the week, but during his off time he trades in his camouflaged BDUs for a set of Civil War era Union blues.

Sergeant Ralph is a member of the Living History Society of Delaware, 2nd Delaware, Company “G,” and has been a Civil War re-enactor since 1998.

Prior to the start of the Civil War in 1861, slavery was legal in Delaware. Some residents wanted to keep it that way, whereas others were against it, according to the Delaware Historical Society. When the war broke out, Delaware stayed with the Union although loyalties were divided. By 1865, official government documents listed 13,670 troops from Delaware, 954 of which were African-American.

“Primarily, we go to reenactments of well known battles that were actually fought during the war,” said Sergeant Ralph, who was born in the Black Hills of Wyoming and moved all over the United States with his parents who were in the Air Force. He moved to Dover in 1965 and has been in the 512th Airlift Wing since 1974.

Using exact replica equipment, the re-enactors portray the battles to educate the public, he said.

Sergeant Ralph and fellow re-enactors recreate civil war encampment areas where they live for the duration of the event. They set up tents and mess areas and even cook over wood fires.

When conducting a reenactment, participants’ daily routine consists of a morning training and drill session. They then form into larger units and march to the battlefield, where they maneuver and fire muskets in order to replicate the sights and sounds of battle.

“Safety is paramount and is continually stressed,” said Sergeant Ralph. “Good physical conditioning is an asset as there is sometimes a great deal of marching to be done in wool clothing in high temperatures, carrying all of the equipment.”

When the reservist isn’t on the battle field, he spends time making presentations at local schools, civic groups and private organizations.

Recently, Sergeant Ralph presented a Civil War reenactment to fourth and fifth graders at Campus Community School. The project-based learning school is creating their own reenactment of the Civil War with the help of Sergeant Ralph.

At these presentations, he explains what equipment Civil War soldiers carried and how it was used.

“We also talk about how the original soldiers lived in the field, their everyday lives and the suffering they endured,” said Sergeant Ralph, who is one of more than 30 re-enactors in the LHSD.

Tech. Sgt. Valerie Harwood, fellow 512th ALCF member and Campus Community School computer instructor, got to join the fourth and fifth graders in watching Sergeant Ralph’s reenactment.

“It was wonderful to watch a fellow reservist volunteer his time,” said Sergeant Harwood. “The children gained invaluable first-hand knowledge of the wardrobe and economics of a Civil War soldier.”