Long-time Civil War battle re-enactment canceled over security concerns

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A tradition that has lasted for 20 years is no more in York County, and the museum director is now explaining the decision to pull the plug on a popular Civil War battle re-enactment.

The event was always held in late October, but the nation's political climate forced the change, officials announced Monday.

"It's a decision we're not happy with, but we'll have to live with," said long-time Civil War re-enactor Mike Short.

Short is one of hundreds of people who participated in the event at Historic Brattonsville.

“To say we're extremely disappointed is an extreme understatement," he said.

Even though no Civil War battle was fought in Brattonsville, it has a been a popular event, with about a thousand people attending each fall.

Brattonsville was home to a Revolutionary War family. The large property ifeatures historic buildings, including slave quarters.

Interpreters offer lectures to thousands of visitors each year, to learn about life during the colonial era.

York County cultural and heritage leaders called off the event following the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia, over a Confederate statue. The clash between activists and white supremacists led to a woman's death.

The decision came amid concerns about danger to re-enactors and spectators.

Executive Director of the Culture and Heritage Museum Carey Tilley told reporters they couldn't guarantee safety.

"We struggled with this decision and I think the biggest thing was calculating risk," he said.
"Some people are looking for targets."

Tilley said there was an increased risk of possible violence, and a need for extra security, though there were no direct threats related to the re-enactment, and no calls for it to be canceled.

"The question for us was, ‘Are we prepared to handle anything that might happen?’" he said.

Another re-enactor, Vernon Terry, said the discouraging part was all the planning was for nothing.

"We plan this event all throughout the year, and to cancel now, it's hard," he said.

Kristin Wood was visiting Brattonsville Tuesday from Massachusetts with friends.
She called the cancellation a mistake.

"History is history. We've got to learn from our mistakes, and it's important for our country," she said.

Tilley said he plans to work with the re-enactment group and the community to bring the event back as something different.

"If our real goal is to tell history, then we've got to tell a complete story," he said.

Museum officials plan to reach out to the African-American community for input and said it will likely add more focus on life on the plantation, beyond just the battle.

Short said he and hundreds of other re-enactors just want to teach hands-on history, and they'll continue to do that whenever possible.

He expressed hope that the current political climate in the nation would calm down a bit.

"We want to continue to work together to present history as it happened, not as people believe it happened," Short said.