VOA标准英语2011--US Civil War Comes Alive 150 Years After

US Civil War Comes Alive 150 Years After First Battle

A century and a half after the first major battle of the U.S. Civil War, thousands of soldiers in 19th century uniforms once again faced each other across a field in Manassas, Virginia, 50 kilometers south of Washington.
Not even extreme heat was enough to keep the re-enactors from recreating a pivotal point in American history.
Recreating history
Long lines of soldiers marched across the field, white smoke filling the air as they aimed their muskets¹ and fired. On one side, dressed mostly in blue, were the federal or Union troops. On the other, dressed mostly in grey, were the Confederates, from the southern states that had broken from the union.
"This is my duty and responsibility. I'm a Virginian and I think it is important to share and tell about the history," says Robert Brown, 57. His ancestors were Confederate soldiers, and he feels he is representing them and what they fought for.
"This war was about political freedom, less government," Brown says. "They wanted to be out of the hands of the federal government."
He says soldiers on both sides, "fought for a cause they believed in. I'm sure it was hot back then, but they were willing to do that, because they believed in a cause they were willing to give their life for."
Keven Pallett is also representing three members of his family who fought in the war. And like them, he crossed the Atlantic from England to participate.
Even though Pallett's ancestors were among the more than 50,000 Britons who fought for the Union, for this re-enactment Pallett is a Confederate soldier.
"If you want to re-enact, you join your local unit. The area that I live in, which is on the South Coast, there are just Confederate units so you join the local unit."
Social gathering²
Pallett, Brown and the thousands of other re-enactors arrived one or two days before the battle.
They set up camp in nearby fields, pitching white canvas³ tents, and making them as homey as possible, with chairs or camp stools⁴, trunks and tables or just a bedroll to stretch out on at night.
For some, like 56-year-old Keith Murray, from Maryland, re-enacting is above all a social gathering. "It's enjoyable, the camaraderie⁵ of meeting the guys from the unit and coming out and living the life of the 19th century. Some of the battles you can almost feel like you are there."
Almost, but not quite. With high-tension electric wires in the background, more than 10,000 spectators⁶ on bleachers and a voice on the loudspeaker pointing out different aspects of the battle, it is clear that this is not the 19th century.
And with few people willing to lie on the ground to simulate⁷ the dead and wounded, even the simulation⁸ of casualties⁹ is gone from this reenactment.
Pivotal battle
In July 1861, more than 60,000 troops fought at Manassas. Nearly 5,000 died in this first major land battle of the war, which resulted in a Confederate victory.
"It is often referred to as the end of innocence," says Ed Clark, superintendant of Manassas National Battlefield Park.
"Manassas really changed the way the country looked at what was in front of them. Prior to first Manassas, both sides thought it would be quick and relatively¹⁰ bloodless, and what occurred down here on the plains of Manassas really woke the country up."
For the re-enactment, more than 6500 people took part, even though it meant braving searing heat. While Clark understands that a lot of people connect to Civil War history through re-enactments, he fears they don't get a complete picture of the war.
"They really don't show the horrors of warfare¹¹. Also, re-enactments portray¹² a one-dimensional view of what is going on. There is so much more going on at the time of the Civil War, way beyond the battlefield, the home front, experiences of different immigrant groups and African Americans that aren't played out in reenactments."
The Manassas battle, staged twice over the weekend, was the first of several big re-enactments planned for the next four years to mark the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. Many of those who came for this one, will be at those as well.

1 muskets   

n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The watch below, all hands to load muskets. 另一组人都来帮着给枪装火药。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight at towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. 深深的壕堑，单吊桥，厚重的石壁，八座巨大的塔楼。大炮、毛瑟枪、火焰与烟雾。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 canvas   

n.粗帆布，一块油画布

参考例句：

• The times that people used canvas boat have become history.人们用帆船的时代已成为历史。
• Smith painted an oil painting on the canvas.史密斯在画布上画了一幅油画。

4 stools   

n.凳子( stool的名词复数 )；大便，粪便

参考例句：

• If you don't make your choice in time, you are likely to fall between two stools. 如果你不及时作出决定，就会两头落空。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• 48 Between two stools one goes to the ground. 48脚踏两条船，迟早要落水。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗

5 camaraderie   

n.同志之爱，友情

参考例句：

• The camaraderie among fellow employees made the tedious work just bearable.同事之间的情谊使枯燥乏味的工作变得还能忍受。
• Some bosses are formal and have occasional interactions,while others prefer continual camaraderie.有些老板很刻板，偶尔才和下属互动一下；有些则喜欢和下属打成一片。

6 spectators   

n.观众，旁观者( spectator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The spectators were wilting visibly in the hot sun. 看得出观众在炎热的阳光下快支撑不住了。
• The policemen asked the spectators to stand well back. 警察要求旁观者靠后站。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 simulate   

vt.模仿，模拟，假装，冒充

参考例句：

• The wood had been painted to simulate stone.木头上刷了漆以看起来像块石头。
• A sheet of metal was shaken to simulate the noise of thunder.猛力抖动金属片以模仿雷声。

8 simulation   

n.模拟

参考例句：

• To make the training realistic the simulation operates in real time . 为使训练真实，模拟是实时运行的。
• a computer simulation of how the planet functions 行星活动方式的计算机模拟

9 casualties   

n. 伤亡人员

参考例句：

• Two casualties were airlifted to safety . 两名伤亡人员已空运到安全地区。
• The army were still fighting in spite of heavy casualties. 尽管伤亡人员众多，军队仍在继续战斗。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

12 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？