Keeping it real
Area man relishes time with Civil War reenactment group
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Monday, July 14, 2008 10:59 AM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
Steve Underhill (right), a member of the Idaho Civil War Volunteers, who reenact life from the era, shares a laugh with fellow member Devin Breech, Saturday during their encampment at Nyssa’s Thunderegg Days. |
NYSSA—Steve Underhill, Boise, has a thing about history.
The retired Air Force veteran devotes a lot of time to his history mania, especially because he is a member of a unique assembly: The Idaho Civil War Volunteers reenactment group.
The group was on hand for the annual Thunderegg Days in Nyssa last weekend.
“This is about my eighth year,” Underhill said of his time with the reenactment group.
Underhill, who has worked for the Idaho Department of Corrections for 20 years, conceded he likes history.
“I’m a history buff,” he said.
Underhill said as a member of the Idaho Civil War Volunteers he gets to participate in recreating the life and experiences of those times.
He and other members of the Idaho volunteers put up their displays and performed demonstrations Saturday. Those demonstrations included shooting period guns. The members put on Civil War-era uniforms, both Union and Confederate.
“It is quite an experience,” Underhill said.
Members of the Idaho Civil War Volunteers buy their own uniforms and equipment.
Underhill said he became hooked on Civil War reenactments, after hearing about and attending one at Fort Stephens, near Astoria.
There are 300 to 400 people involved in the Astoria event every year and Underhill joins the celebration with the 1st Virginia reenactment group out of Portland.
“(In the Idaho Volunteers), I’m the Confederate chief of staff. I was just elected by the group,” he said. “I was Union chief of staff once.”
Underhill is not just interested in the Civil War, but the wars and events of the 19th century in general.
“It was a good period of time,” he said.
People back then really believed in their cause and were willing to fight for what they believed in, he said.
The Idaho Civil War Volunteers make several appearances a year. Recently, the group traveled to Jordan Valley for a recent museum dedication and this was the second year at Thunderegg Days for the group. Membership is about 40, Underhill said.
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