Walla Walla salutes past with a Civil War battle

WALLA WALLA — Cannon fire was heard for miles across the Walla Walla Valley as a Civil War re-enactment blasted away over the weekend.

Even though no Civil War battles were fought here, local soldiers were shipped east to fight with the Union, and there are Civil War veterans buried at the Fort Walla Walla cemetery.

"Big boys with big guns that make a lot of noise," is how event spokesman Paul Franzmann jokingly described the mock battles at Fort Walla Walla.

"We figure that people here at the time would have been interested in it, and what was happening at the time," Franzmann said.

About 30 Civil War soldiers took part in the re-enactment, each side taking turns marching through the grounds. Armed with a cannon, the Union soldiers lined up on the east side near the cemetery with the Confederate soldiers taking advantage of a small line of trees toward the west.

Roughly 200 spectators lined one side of an area the size of a football field. It was almost like a fireworks show. Instead of flashy lights, the payoff was history. Communal "oohs" and "ahs" came from the crowd, especially when the cannon was fired. And gasps were heard as soldiers fell, even though there was no blood and they got right back up. The event lasted about 20 minutes.

"It was pretty good," said Les Goetz, of Coulee City, who brought his wife and two grandchildren to Saturday's skirmish. "I just think they ought to sharpen up their aim, with all those shots fired."

"I really like the history of war, the element of battle," said 10-year-old Kameron Goetz, who added, "It kind of hurt my ears with the cannon."

This is the second year a Civil War re-enactment was held as part of the Fort Walla Walla Days festival.

In addition to the Civil War, re-enactors portrayed characters from wars between the U.S. and native tribes, and played Rough Riders from the Spanish-American War. Joe Cross, of Portland, portrayed his great-great-grandfather, a scout for Gen. George A. Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.