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Hernando Today

Old Dresses And Rifles Galore At The Raid

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: January 18, 2009

SPRING HILL - There were the usual sights Saturday at the annual Brooksville Raid.

There were old-style Smithfields stacked under tents, women in wool gowns, men in blue and gray uniforms and Gatling guns being hauled by Ford F350 pickups.

The typical juxtapositions found at any Civil War re-enactment were there - people in 1860s-era costumes smoking Marlboro Lights, a woman pouring lemon-lime soda into a canteen and blacksmiths handing out business cards.

Skip Wheeler was bending iron from his forge - which came complete with tongs, fire and a giant bellow that blew air over the charcoal to keep the metal hot.

"That's a hard way to make a buck," blurted one man from the crow who was watching Wheeler. "Now you know why the town's smithy was so strong."

He picked up a newly bent piece of iron that had a red glow from the 2,600-degree heat.

"At least one of your arms gets stronger," he said as he reached for the handle on the bellow and started pumping. "Actually, you can switch back and forth. Blacksmiths learned to use both arms."

The 29th Annual Brooksville Raid was held again at the Sand Hill Scout Reservation along State Road 50, a couple miles east of Weeki Wachee. The event is a re-creation of a Civil War battle that occurred in Hernando County in July 1864.

The Raid has grown into the largest re-enactment in Florida, according to its Web site. Civil War enthusiasts travel from South Florida to Ohio to participate.

Among those who arrived in the era-appropriate costumes was 16-year-old Jessica Smart, of Gainesville. She inherited her interest in 19th century history from her uncle, who is a regular Civil War re-enactor.

The blonde teen wore a long-sleeved wool gown, but moved around comfortably, even in tight spaces. She has regularly attended re-enactments since she was 8 years old.

"There wore such beautiful dresses and patterns back then," Smart said. "They were more (elegant). That's what I like about it."

Christine Daniel is another who likes to immerse herself in the past. She camps in a tent, cooks on an iron stove and wears Victorian-influenced dresses whenever she can.

"I've been doing this for 20 years now," said Daniel, who lives in Brooksville. "Living it and doing it is so much better than reading it from a book. Once you're steeped in it, you really learn about it."

Her gown was a wool and cotton blend. Underneath, she wore flannel and also wore leather gloves. The weather was below 40 degrees Saturday morning.

The actual raid began at 2:30 p.m., with soldiers marching on the battlefield by 2 p.m.

The event continues Sunday. The battle will take place 2 p.m. and the park will close by 4:30 p.m.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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