Civil War re-enactors made their way back to Jefferson for the first time in several years last weekend.
The inaugural Battle of Big Cypress Bayou resumed and recultivated and Jefferson traditions.
Re-enactors camped near the bayou and brought history to life for visitors during the course of the three-day event.
The festivities kicked-off Friday with guest speaker and former state GOP Chair Col. Allen West.
West resigned the GOP last week amid rumors of a possible challenge to Governor Greg Abbott in the 2022 Republican primary.
West noted his trip to Marion County in his weekly blog on Monday:
“I had the distinct pleasure and honor of attending a Civil War reenactment in Jefferson, Texas…” West wrote. “As we made our way down the dirt trail located along the bayou there, we came up the cleared, open field. As I parked and exited the vehicle, I looked over and saw a battery of civil war-era replica artillery pieces. Since I was an Army artillery officer, you know I made a beeline towards the guns. Upon arriving, I was greeted by the gun crews and I immediately made my request, ‘Can I fire the guns?’ The crew was giddy and I ended up firing each of the four artillery pieces that they had. Most awesome was the Napoleon 10 pounder.”
Activities resumed Saturday with skirmishes in the streets of downtown Jefferson and a full Civil War battle re-enactment on private land near the Big Cypress Bayou.
The event wrapped Sunday with a meal and music from the “The Joy Boyz,” from Mississippi.
Civil War era vendors were on site. As were food trucks.
Jefferson residents Jim McIntosh and Ashley Granby organized the event.
They welcomed re-enactors from across the country.
McIntosh owns the land where the battle re-enactment occurred and the property holds one of the last standing Confederate powder magazines.
The magazine was occupied by Union soldiers after the Civil War.
The newly minted Battle of Big Cypress Bayou is a re-working of the long held Battle of Port Jefferson— once hosted for years by the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.
Neither battle re-enacts an actual Civil War battle. They are revisions of battles that could have happened or may have happened elsewhere.