'CIVIL WAR' TO RAGE AGAIN ON WEEKEND HISTORY BUFFS BRING LIFE TO 1860S RE-ENACTMENTS.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - The Civil War will come to life - sort of - next weekend when members of the American Civil War Society and the War Between the States Historical Association step back into the 1860s.

Wearing scrupulously detailed uniforms, the participants will cook over campfires, live in canvas tents, fire blank volleys in mock battles - infantry, cavalry and artillery - and even hold an 1860s-style church service.

``You've got the artillery going. The infantry are shooting. You just get a little slice of history - of what it was like for these men,'' said re-enactor Wendy Atkins of Llano, who, disguised as a man, will ride in a cavalry unit while her husband, Tom, leads foot soldiers.

Held at Totempole Ranch in the hills southeast of Palmdale, the event is open to the public.

There will be mock battles at 11:30 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and there will be two battles - at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - on Sunday.

In between the battles, the public can watch demonstrations or go into the camps to talk to the re-enactors, most of whom will remain in character all weekend. The participants will live in canvas tents, cook on campfires and use candles for lighting. If they take prepared food, they will wrap it in wax paper to preserve the authenticity of the period.

The Cock and Pullet Public House and Maverick's Gambling Parlor will be open throughout the weekend. On Sunday there will be a period church service at 9 a.m.

Professing a fondness for the gentility of the time period, Wendy and Tom Atkins became involved with the American Civil War Society about 10 years ago. They try to participate in re-enactments two to three times a month.

``I think it was a matter of the way people treated each other. ... People were more caring, polite (and) respectful, and morals were different than they are in the modern world,'' Tom Atkins said. ``When we go out for the weekends, we live these old-fashioned ways. It's kind of an escape from the modern world. ... A lot of us say we were born too late.''

Despite the appeal of the 1860s, the Atkinses admit they enjoy returning home to the 21st century.

``After three days, everyone is ready for a shower,'' said Tom Atkins.

Wendy Atkins said 10 years of research has shown her that about 500 women disguised themselves as men and fought in the Civil War.

``My real passion is these women who went to war,'' she said. ``Those women back in the 1800s (had) some real legitimate things to complain about. They just fascinate me - reading about them.''

She believes Civil War re-enactors can teach observers a lot about Americans.

``I can only speak for myself personally, but it's a time in America's history ... (when) everything that we based our country on - states' rights, how much say the federal government should have, the economics of the South - was on the line,'' she said. ``When it was finally over, though it did come to a battle on our soil, the problem was solved, and we became a union, and we've remained a union ever since. And I think that says a lot for the human spirit.''

Totempole Ranch is on Cheseboro Road at Barrel Springs Road, south of Highway 138.

General admission will be $3, and the price will be $2 for children ages 5-15 and for active-duty military personnel with identification. Children under 5 will be admitted free along with paying adults.

For more information, visit the American Civil War Society Web site at www.acws.net.