Washington Civil War Association
The Washington Civil War Association is one of the more prominent American Civil War Living History organizations in the West. Although there were no battles in Washington during the Civil War,the organization's 700 plus members participated in several battles. Some of those battles, which take place in late Spring and mid-Summer, are the battle of Port Gamble, the battle for Spokane Falls, and the battle of Ferndale. Locations may change year-to-year depending on many factors.
Publicity
The above three events are major battles that have been featured on television, YouTube and local newspapers. Four musical numbers from Ferndale appear on Google video. Smaller WCWA events like the October Boy Scout Camporee inevitably draw over 200 children, where the older children are encouraged to participate.
Unit variety
The numbers of the WCWA man a Confederate Battalion and a Union Brigade, both with multiple types of subunits.
The Confederate units include regular infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, an engineer corps (who place ground charges for the cannon blast effects), Zouaves, CSS Sumter Marines, and the Confederate States of America (CS) Medical Corps. Units represent actual regiments from Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The Union units include Sharpshooters, Cavalry, Artillery, several infantry regular units, including the 20th Maine co. F, the USS Tahoma sailors, and the USS Tahoma Marine Guard Infantry.
Authenticity
Members pay great attention to detail. A new recruit will pay upwards of $900 for the basics. The costliest item is the Rifled Musket, which for the Union is most often the 1861 Springfield rifle, and for the Confederacy, the 1853 Enfield. These rifles generally cost about $700-$800, not including bayonets, powder and caps involved in all battles.
Uniforms are made of wool. A basic sack coat can cost $60. More unique uniforms can be hundreds of dollars.
Every member in the WCWA above the age of fourteen is eligible to bear arms in the skirmishes. They stand a safe distance from each other and let cannon, rifles, pistols, and ground charges ignite and fire volleys, with the exception of the ground charge.
WCWA portrays the School of the Soldier and other basic drills, representing authentic battle tactics.