An in-your-face history lesson

Danette Goulet

Guns and cannon erupted in sight and sound Thursday, a startling

experience for eighth-grade students at Costa Mesa High School.

It was a reenactment of a Civil War battle put on by four members of the

Second Kentucky Dismounted Cavalry, a group of Orange County Civil War

buffs and history teachers.

The group, which is a part of the American Civil War Society, travels to

schools for assemblies and lectures.

“We try to learn as much as possible to make it as authentic as

possible,” said Jeff Profeta, a private with the cavalry.

For students, it was an extra-special performance because one of the

soldiers wearing a heavy wool uniform and toting a rifle was none other

than their assistant principal, Steve Pavich, a new member of the group.

And if you were to ask 14-year-old Marc Daniels why the duo manning the

cannon was defeated, he’d say “because our principal is on the other

team.”

Each time the cannon “fired,” the more than 100 students gathered would

shriek and jump.

“Man, I felt that one,” said 14-year-old Michael Torrenueva.

Following the “battle” was a brief narrative by the soldiers, who offered

a broad overview of the war.

“The Civil War was fought for one purpose and one purpose only,” boomed

the voice of Scott Peca, a second lieutenant. “It was not for slavery.

That purpose was states’ rights.”

As cool as this battle was for students, it was just the precursor to the

real event -- today’s picnic, water balloon battle, formal ball and

sleepover.

At lunchtime, about 80 students in Tracey Olguin’s advanced history

classes will head over to TeWinkle Park. There they will reenact three

battles using balloons filled with colored water and eat a Southern-style

picnic lunch.

Then they’ll need to hurry home to clean up and don the Civil War

uniforms and ballroom gowns that they have been working on for months.

After playing some Civil War trivia games, they will hit the sack so they

can wake up early for their sausage and biscuit breakfast.

“The best part will probably be when we get to dress up and look like and

act like we’re in the Civil War,” said 13-year-old Josh Aden. “And the

water balloon fight.”