Historic Replicas

Those interested in cultivating a new hobby would be well served by checking out historical reenactments. This pastime is especially popular among veterans who yearn to honor the warriors and tacticians who came before them. For instance, a Vietnam vet might be reticent to talk or think too much about his experience overseas. Some things just hit a little too close to home. But what about reliving the thrill of a Civil War battle?

The Civil War has become known as the campaign that eventually saved our union from becoming divided in two. Exhaustive histories have been written, and every principal participant has earned at least one biography. Re-enactors dedicate a special level of realism for their Civil War battles, utilizing replica Civil War swords and other convincing armaments. This is a hobby that commands respect as well as dedication.

In ancient times, just as in modern times, the outcome of battles was often decided by which foe had the superior weaponry. In the Age of Steel, soldiers, knights, and warriors wielded medieval swords made from steel. While the weapons were all made with the same blacksmithing techniques, the length and width of the blades differed greatly. The effectiveness of a blade often depended on the foe it went up against. A long blade, for example, would be suitable for cutting down several enemies with medium length blades. The tradeoff with a long blade was its weight, and the effort required to swing it. If the first swing missed with a long blade, an opponent with a short blade might be able to close the gap to strike before the long blade wielder could swing again. With medieval swords, most blades were about 24-28 inches in length. A short blade would be 12-16 inches, and a long blade would be in excess of 36 inches.

Armies of soldiers clashed wielding these blades, and the outcome of many battles was decided by the technique of warriors and the quality and length of their blades.

Throughout history, war and religion have often been closely linked.  The Ancient Romans and Vikings both believed their Gods compelled them to attack and conquer neighboring peoples, and while the idea of a religiously motivated empire state can seem primitive and outdated, many more modern cultures have had a similar attitude.  America has always been a religious country, and American politicians and religious leaders have often described us as God’s “chosen people.”  They pointed to the vast country they’d been given to inhabit, a “new Eden,” as it was sometimes called, and the abundance of natural resources that lay within its borders. 

In 1845, a newspaper columnist named John O’Sullivan coined another phrase, “manifest destiny,” to describe the role of the American people in human affairs.  The phrase has meant different things over the centuries; at best, it implies a sense of responsibility to other peoples and an obligation to use our nation’s power and influence to ensure their well being.  To most Americans, this meant encouraging the spread of democracy and the God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as well as the spread of Christianity in order to save souls of more primitive peoples.  Unfortunately, those noble goals could be used to justify almost anything.  It basically meant that Americans believed their values and way of life were superior to all others, and that they had a right to impose these things on other people.  This was how the government defended turning its western guns against the Native Americans, which is great evidence that religion and politics don’t always mix.