Civil War buffs in Wilmington showcase California's role in keeping Confederacy at bay

If you think of important Civil War locations, names like Gettysburg, Richmond and Shiloh quickly come to mind.

Los Angeles? Not so much.

But the city did, in fact, play a vital role in the War Between the States. For starters, local troops helped stave off an invasion of California by the Confederacy, which wanted to stretch its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean.

And the port city of Wilmington is home to Southern California's only remaining Army building dating back to that era.

On Saturday, war buffs and supporters of the Drum Barracks Civil Warm Museum celebrated three milestones: The country is marking the war's sesquicentennial, the museum is celebrating its 25 years as a city-run public facility, and

9/22/12 - Debbie Pavich of Fountain Valley browses through a book by Mark Elson, about the American Civil War reenact ors. The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum, in Wilmington celebrated the 150th year since the Drum Barracks military post building was constructed in Wilmington, 25 years as a City of Los Angeles Museum and 1862-2012, the second year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. The celebration included an artifact display, folks in uniform, blacksmith demonstration and genealogical research all to commemorate the Civil War.Photo by Brittany Murray / Staff Photogapher

it's also been 150 years since a battle in Arizona helped keep California in the Union.

"It was the only real invasion of the West," said museum director Susan Ogle, who was one many people wandering around the grounds in hoop skirts and uniforms made of blue felt.

Blocked from the Atlantic Ocean, the Confederacy eyed the undeveloped Los Angeles harbor as a way to import goods.

"They were headed for Wilmington and San Pedro," Ogle said of the largely forgotten event. "They were after a free port."

The California Column -- including some troops from the local post -- met the invaders in Tucson, where they were handily beat.

"It got nipped in the bud real quick." Ogle said.

Also on hand Saturday were a collection of Civil War reenactors and collectors, who showed off 1860s relics like swords, rifles and tattered uniforms.

Collector Mike Sorenson brought one of two surviving flags that belonged to the California Battalion, a group of 400 local men who went to fight with Union forces.

"People don't know that many Californians volunteered," Sorenson said.

The 16-room Drum Barracks building includes a library, sitting room and upstairs bedrooms. Although the name conjures up images of soldiers marching to the beat of a drum, the Drum Barracks was named after Richard Coulter Drum, adjutant general of the government's Department of the Pacific.

It was designated a historical landmark in 1927 and is now administered by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. It is also a state and national landmark.

For people like Barbara and Robert Wood of nearby San Pedro, the museum is a hidden jewel in the city.

"I never knew California was involved in the Civil War," Barbara Wood said. "More people need to know about this."

Find out more

The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum is located at 1052 Banning Blvd., Wilmington. For more information, and for tour and hours of operation, visit www.drumbaracks.org. Or call 310-548-7509.

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josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com

9/22/12 - The Drum Barracks Civil War Museum, in Wilmington celebrated the 150th year since the Drum Barracks military post building was constructed in Wilmington, 25 years as a City of Los Angeles Museum and 1862-2012, the second year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. The celebration included an artifact display, folks in uniform, blacksmith demonstration and genealogical research all to commemorate the Civil War.Photo by Brittany Murray / Staff Photogapher

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21609649/civil-war-buffs-wilmington-showcase-californias-role-keeping?source=rss_emailed

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