Mattapan reenactment group revives Civil War regiment for inauguration
In the frigid morning air with gusty winds biting at exposed skin, the men stood in navy blue wool uniforms and leather-brimmed caps fixing their bayonets and sending their Mattapan neighborhood back in time.
The grizzled lieutenant walked up and down the rows, checking as each man presented his musket for inspection.
"Shoulder arms!" ordered Lieutenant Benny White.
The Civil War reenactors are bringing back to life one of the nation's first all-African-American military regiments, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, formed during the Civil War. Their commanding officer was drilling and marching them down Taunton Avenue in Mattapan yesterday in final preparations before they leave for Washington, D.C., next weekend to march in President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural parade.
"I always just had an interest in the historical part of the story, and that's why I joined up," said White, 64. "It is the history of this county. An unspoken part of the history that a lot of us never know about."
For the group's members, ranging from teenagers to seniors, race and culture play a big role in why they do what they do, but it also comes down to, they admit, being just history buffs.
"I love history," said Dane Elliott-Lewis, 36. "In the 54th, I can immerse myself in history and almost forget about the 21st century and experience what it was like in the 19th."
The 54th is very much about family. Mothers, daughters, fathers, and sons all take part. The women reenact the roles of nurses, cooks, and caregivers for the wounded soldiers.
"Kids grow up knowing little about blacks in the military," said Howard Brown, 50, who hopes his sons, ages 3 and 6, will follow his footsteps into the 54th.
"I like the idea that it's family-oriented," said White, a Vietnam-era Marine veteran. "We have a lot of members in the unit that are actually [descendants] of men who fought in the regiment, so it's also historical to us. We get a chance to camp out and a chance to visit some of the original battle fields down in the South."
"It's about self-empowerment," said Emmett Bell-Sykes, 35, the group's first sergeant and president. Bell-Sykes majored in history at Moorehouse College in Atlanta, and said he's always loved learning about the past.
The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment traces its roots back to 1863, when Governor John A. Andrew approved the formation of an all-black unit. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw commanded the unit, which was officially disbanded after the war. It gained fame in the 1989 Oscar-winning film "Glory." The reenactors have been active for about 20 years. The state reactivated the 54th military regiment on Nov. 21 to serve as the Massachusetts National Guard ceremonial unit for military funerals and state functions.
The 20 men and a few women heading to Washington will take part in a variety of events leading up to Obama's inauguration, including a reenactment at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum.
The 54th is in a select group of organizations allowed to march in Obama's parade, out of nearly 1,400 that applied.
"I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade," Obama said in a statement last month. "These organizations embody the best of our nation's history, diversity, and commitment to service. Vice President-elect Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade."
John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com 