SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers PLAYING THE PAST—From left, William Pond, Casey Bernardin and Adam Rayzor, all students at Moorpark High School, joined the 69th Pennsylvania Union regiment because they grew up watching the annual Civil War reenactment in Moorpark. The teenagers travel to half a dozen reenactments throughout Southern California each year. They will participate in the ninth annual Civil War event hosted by the Rotary Club of Moorpark at Tierra Rejada Ranch Nov. 7 and 8. After watching the North and the South clash in Moorpark’s annual Civil War reenactment for several years, two local teenagers were inspired to join the ranks.

William Pond, 16, and Adam Rayzor, 17, both juniors at Moorpark High School, have participated in about a dozen reenactments throughout Southern California since enlisting in the 69th Pennsylvania Union regiment. William signed up in 2006, Adam in 2007.

“A lot of my friends think I’m crazy, due to the fact that I’m dressed up looking like I lived 150 years ago, but some of them are interested in the reenactments,” William said.

On Nov. 7 and 8, the two friends and their regiment will join 800 combatant and 200 civilian reenactors at Tierra Rejada Ranch to take part in the biggest Civil War re-creation west of the Rockies.

“The Blue and The Gray,” sponsored by the Rotary Club of Moorpark and now in its ninth year, will re-create the battles of Wilderness Day 1 and 2, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Sayler’s Creek. 

“I love being part of history and (teaching) others about the Civil War and the conditions that existed then,” said William, who watched his first reenactment in Moorpark in 2003.

During an eighth-grade field trip to the event, William saw a recruiting sign at one of the units. He went back to the reenactment the next day to speak with the commanding officer and signed up that weekend.

“It struck a chord,” William said of the reenactment, noting he’s been interested in the Civil War ever since he can remember.

Adam’s interest in Civil War re-creations came a bit later and stems from a background in acting coupled with a passion for history. He said that being on a battlefield to reproduce history is quite different from acting on a stage.

“When you’re on the field, you’re living history, not trying to portray a fictional character,” Adam said.

The decision to become reenactors has required a major financial commitment by the friends. In the years since they joined the 69th Pennsylvania, comprised of about 40 fellow actors from Southern California, William and Adam have each spent about $1,500 purchasing replica Civil War uniforms and .58-caliber Enfield rifle musket reproductions. Travel and camping equipment expenses are additional.

“Many people think that (I’m crazy) spending almost $2,000 on one thing, and I just ignore them because I could really care less about those opinions,” Adam said.

Civil War reenactors don’t just shoot blanks at each other, they’re re-creating daily life as it happened more than 100 years ago.

“Everybody who goes to a Civil War reenactment goes home knowing something new,” Adam said.

Generally, reenactors train as they go, he said.

Every year they’re expected to participate in about a half-dozen reenactments, pay dues and attend one drill day. Dues for the 69th Pennsylvania are $20 for an individual and $35 for families.

Reenacting can be physically challenging because soldiers carry about 45 pounds of weight and wear wool uniforms even in warm climates.

While the men are on the battlefield, women and young ladies cook and sew for the regiment.

“Everything (the women) prepare is period-appropriate. We use period plates and eat food they would have eaten at that time,” William said.

During an ongoing “battle,” most reenactors stay in their roles to eat dinner, socialize and dance. Many also sleep on-site using accommodations that were available during the Civil War. Generally, soldiers use canvass tents and they sleep in their uniforms.

As company clerks for their unit, the boys said they must rise earlier than the rest of the regiment to prepare reports and perform other duties. The goals of safeguarding assets and producing accurate accounting information were critical to the military during the war.

The pair’s zeal for reenactments motivated William’s mother, Joanna Davidson, and Adam’s father, Ken Rayzor, as well as fellow high school student Casey Bernardin to join the 69th Pennsylvania regiment.

“Reenacting is a chance for the boys to see things a little differently and to interact with adults in a different level, being out there cutting wood and doing chores,” Davidson said.

The Civil War, a very important part of U. S. history, shouldn’t be forgotten, William and Adam said.