Cannons boom. Smoke fills the air. Men fire rifles at each other, moving forward, then falling back. Drummer boys dodge bullets.

And this is only a small battle, taking place on the edge of Pipestone.

But it’s enough to give an idea of the noise, smoke and confusion that would have engulfed a battlefield during the American Civil War.

It was staged as part of Pipestone’s Civil War Days last August. The grounds have sutler’s tents for buying period items, and venues to learn about Civil War medicine, funeral practices, weapons, music and the adversities of life for the wives and children left at home. There are demonstrations on firing cannons, telegraph messaging, candle making and other crafts of the time.

The 2008 event included a Grand Ball, a visit from President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, an 1860s baseball game and a Civil War-era wedding. There was even a phrenologist who would read the bumps on your head.

One goes away from Civil War Days filled with information about life at this critical time in American history. What made for real authenticity, however, were two military encampments, one of Union troops and one of Confederate troops. They fought twice during the weekend. On Saturday, the South won. On Sunday, the North prevailed.

A unit of Civil War reenactors based in Sioux Falls, S.D. — the 13th U.S. Infantry Regiment, Company D — hosts the weekend. A local Civil War Days Committee does all of the groundwork and makes the weekend possible. Bill Hoskins of Sioux Falls is president of Company D and was the Union Camp commander in Pipestone last August.

Sense of reality

“The actions at Civil War Days are intended to give the visitors a sense of what battle in the past was like,” Hoskins said.

If an historical battle is being reenacted, the shape of the battle and its outcome are known. The Pipestone battles must be preplanned and the outcome predetermined. Hoskins and the Confederate commander sketched out the movements of the two battles that were fought.

“Safety for the public and participants is a big concern,” Hoskins said. “Officers need to know what is going to happen in general terms, where artillery is going to be placed, if artillery is going to move, and any special circumstances regarding the field and movement restrictions. Consideration is given to what we are trying to present to the public and how troop movements will be able to do that and keep people safe.”

While not dangerous like a real battlefield, reenacting is not a hobby for the fainthearted, given the noise, physical exertion and possible mishaps. With fixed bayonets and cannons booming and, in larger battle scenes, horses and wagons racing around, accidents can happen.

David Peterson has seen a few in his 16 years in the hobby. Peterson is a salesman from Buffalo, who is occasionally transformed into a corporal in Company D. He has “fought” at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Pea Ridge, Bull Run and Antietam, among other places. He has also appeared as a soldier in the movies “Gettysburg,” “Ride With the Devil,” “Andersonville” and “Crazy Horse.”

“The movies are fun and provide a more realistic view of the events that we are trying to portray,” Peterson said. “They can also be long drawn-out affairs and boring, waiting in between takes.”

Living history hobby

Peterson had an interest in history as a boy, from watching westerns and war movies. He had learned about a great-great-grandfather who had been in the Civil War. “I attended a reenactment in Pipestone and also at Fort Sisseton Days in Sisseton, S.D. A combination of Cavalry drill and Infantry fighting really piqued my interest and it just kind of stuck with me like an old hat,” Peterson said.

He met a reenactor and attended a drill, hesitated because of the commitment, then attended a formal meeting and drill. Once he got started, “I found a home in reenacting,” he said. “I was sucked into living history, and I liked learning and playing. Learning the history of real Civil War units, what they did, and how they did it is a large part of the hobby.”

To outfit oneself as an authentic Civil War soldier is no small investment. Peterson estimates that one might get started for $1,500. That’s a hefty price tag, but compared to other hobbies like boating, golfing, snowmobiling and hunting, he figures it’s reasonable.

As with many hobbies, the camaraderie is the highlight.

“The hobby is a lot like a big reunion and getting together with friends that have a common bond,” Peterson said. “I enjoy going to an event just to get away from the real world and at the same time learn about our past.”

Peterson didn’t make it to Pipestone this past summer. When he was “young and single” he would participate in six to eight weekend events annually. Now with children and a “serious career,” he makes it to two or three a year. While some of the realism that was there in his first battles has worn off — you know that you most likely won’t get hurt, he said — he still learns history that cannot be found in a book. Plus, he enjoys passing on the experience to others who join the hobby.

Walking among the Union camp at Pipestone in August, there were reenactors to speak with from as far away as Missouri. (Confederate reenactors came even farther.) They, like Peterson, spoke of the camaraderie and living in another world.

“You can read about it,” one said, “but until you step into it, get a feel for it, it’s not the same.”

Who takes a hit?

When they are in a battle, how do they know whether or not they’ve been shot? They said that in an historical battle, they know what percentage of a unit was killed or wounded, so that number must fall. They may actually draw straws to see who goes down. But in a battle like the one at Pipestone, it was more up to the individual. One said, “If your musket misfires, that’s a good time to take a hit. Or if you get hot and tired and want to lay down, you take a hit.”

Not all of the reenactors are adults. There were eight youth in the Union camp, one as young as 11. They were drummer boys and fife players. They sounded the call when the troops formed up, and followed the troops into battle, setting the beat for the march. The interest of that 11-year-old drummer boy, John Allin, is what got his father, Kevin, interested. They were part of the 7th Missouri Volunteers that had come up for the weekend. Kevin Allin is something like David Peterson — once he got involved, he loved living history.

“It’s a great hobby,” Allin said. “It’s the best hobby I’ve ever found.”

Pipestone’s Civil War Days are held every other year. The next Civil War Days will be Aug. 14-15, 2010. You can learn more at www.pipestoneminnesota.com and click on “Civil War Days.” The easiest way to find out more about Company D is to search for “13th U.S. Infantry Company D” and select the Home Teams Online site. There are two Minnesota-based organizations with websites. The 2nd Minnesota Light Artillery’s website is www.2mnbattery.org. The 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Regiment’s site is www.2ndminnesota.org.