Correspondent photos / Bill Koch From left, Jeffrey Blanc of Carlton, Pa., Richard Bouwhuis of Centreville, Virginia, and Brandy Blanc of Carlton, Pa., were among the participants at the Argus Lodge No. 545’s Civil War Reenactment over the weekend at Argus Park in Canfield.

CANFIELD — The weekend was ablaze in gunfire, trumpets and passionate speeches at Argus Park as Argus Lodge No. 545 hosted a Civil War Reenactment.

Lodge officer Chris Gillam said it used to be a regular occurrence, but this was the lodge’s first one in 14 years. People from the region and all over the country participate, “bringing that element to the Canfield community.” He joked that while they try to be as accurate as possible, the combat on display was the “battle of Canfield.”

Coordinator J.T. Rober said this was a way to “give back to the community. People pass our property and wonder what goes on here. We look for any way we can get to utilize this land.”

Besides the battle, the two-day event included artillery and mortar demonstrations, and presentations by Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis (portrayed by Brookfield historian David Walker). Just as important, reenactors spent the weekend in tents on their respective sides. Men and women cooked over campfires and tended to daily needs in as authentic a manner as possible.

Reenactor Patric DeJulia of Sharon, Pa., said this is important because “you can only learn so much from movies and books. To see it in person shows the bigger perspective of it.”

Sunday morning included a church service, officiated by Rev. Dr. Thomas G. “Skip” Wilson of Valley View. He said, “We live in a time of trouble. Both sides are praying that God is on their side. All are sinners in need of forgiveness. Great love He showed us, so we can only try to return it as best we can.”

He led hymns that were accompanied by the 2nd Cavalry Brigade Band. Paul Walsh of Reynoldsburg played an over-the-shoulder tenor sax horn, which sounds like a trombone but the bell faces backwards. He explained that in battles, the band, whether on horseback or for infantry, would go first and the music was designed to inspire the soldiers.

Austintown resident Daniel Illencik is a member of the lodge and likes to “help out where I can.” He said he enjoys experiencing what life was really like in the 1860’s.

Rebecca Davis, also of Austintown, had a different focus.

“I like the battles, with all the noise and excitement,” she said.

When John Spaziani of Fort Mill, South Carolina, dons his Confederate uniform, he becomes Col. William Calvin Oates, who participated in the assault on Little Round Top at the battle of Gettysburg. For Spaziani, “The secret is to adopt a persona,” in order to try to understand the perspective of the character.

He said the day-to-day struggle was not about politics or the morality of slavery, but survival. Still, he noted, most combatants supported their position.

“It was a flawed cause, but they believed in what they were fighting for,” Spaziani said.