War  Between the States Historical Association

A New Civil War Program Experience

CIVIL WAR BATTLE RE-ENACTMENTS
AND ENCAMPMENTS

 The War Between The States Historical Association, Inc. is a non-profit educational association recognized by the State of California and the United States as tax-exempt.   It is presently headquartered at Follows Camp, in Azusa.

Follow’s Camp  has two re-enactment sites (two battle locations), fortifications and many other amenities not found at other re-enactment’s such as fishing, Gold panning, swimming,  hiking, clean rest-rooms, hot showers, a shooting range, a tavern or restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, BBQ Grill Service (provided by the site’s Fire Department), trailer hookups, rustic campgrounds with tent and R.V. sites, a bar and billiard room, ice, wood, groceries, and chapel service.

     The activities of the organization include putting on re-eenactments of Civil War battes, tours of period military camps, and living history demonstrations to the public.  In addition, WBSHA participates in parades and conducts its battle re-enactments elsewhere in California.  Moreover,  the association's wide range of activities include an annual period Blue-Gray military dance and other social events.

    WBSHA's Civil War Program commemorates the memory of those brave men and women of this period of monumental events that helped shape America's marvelous historical heritage.  These Civil War re-enactors portray with sharp authenticity, the uniforming, personality and manners of the War's soldiers, and the life of civilians in camp such as wives of soldiers and nurses.

      The observer/visitor to these presentations can step back in time to circa 1863 and witness the same experiences of the soldiers of the Union Army of the Potomac and of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.  The public experiences, as did these soldiers of Blue and Gray, the mounting fears, suspense, and agony of the battlefield.  Spectators hear as they did, the deafening sounds of musket fire, the thunder of dueling cannons, the call of buglers, the clash of sabers and mounted horse soldiers, and the cries of battle.  All this may be observed through the hovering white smoke.  The flags and banners wave as troops march to the beat of their drummer,.  As a corallary to the sights and sounds of battle, there is the ever present smell of spent gun powder.

 Between battle re-enactments, the public is urged to participate in the living history tours of the respective Union and Confederate camps at each end of the field.  Tour the encampments and view authentic camp life in an atmosphere highlighted by the various items of equipment from the Civil War era.  All this may be seen while soldiers and civilians, and women and children alike, stand by showing how it was for our ancestors of the 1860's.

The general objectives and purposes of the War Between The States Historical Association is to:

DIRECTIONS
To get to Follow’s Camp, take the 210 Fwy. exit at Azusa Ave. (Hwy. 39), head north.  Follow Azusa Ave to San Gabriel Canyon Rd. continue meandering north for about 15 minutes until you get to East Fork Rd. Turn right and continue on East Fork Rd for about four miles to Follow’s Camp entrance.  Please note that Follows Camp is 20 minutes from the freeway and is at a 1, 500 foot elevation.

MIDI file of Johnny Come Marching Home courtesy of
Poetry and Music of the War Between the States .
©1997. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
MIDI file created by Dean Fowler
of ReWEP Associates.