Chandler freshman Will Conley first became fascinated with history in the fifth grade.
Sitting in the workroom at Chandler Junior High on Jan. 17, he quietly spoke about his fifth-grade history teacher, who he called fantastic. Her classes got him interested in the Revolutionary War, which eventually built up to an interest in the Civil War.
“I started researching more about the Civil War, and I was just really more interested in that, and I studied around here at Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, all of that,” he said. He added that some people don’t realize there were battles in Oklahoma.
His research led to a desire for a more hands-on approach to experiencing history.
“We’re in, as they knew it back then, Indian Territory, and I just wanted to see for myself what it was really like to live like a soldier back then,” he said. “Native or white, you know, either one. It just really grabbed my attention to get out there on the field, and I just wanted to see what it really was like.”
About two years ago, Conley found a reenactment group based in Arkansas, the 22nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Unit, and decided to take part in his first Civil War reenactment.
He said his first experience with the group was cold - it was March - and he had never held a musket before. The event took place in Spavinaw, which was about a 20-minute drive from the Cabin Creek battlefield, and focused on the two battles that took place there.
The first day was getting suited up in a uniform with rifles and cartridges, then relaxing. The next day, they reenacted the First Battle of Cabin Creek, followed by the Second Battle of Cabin Creek on the day after that.
“(The) first battle was, Confederates were intercepting a supply train of Federals running through Indian territory into Arkansas. And then the second day would be us continuing our assault and the Confederates’ failure at that,” he explained.
Conley said the group works to keep the reenactments safe and true to the actual history. They do a lot of research into uniforms, with many reenactors making their own and working to get the right type of shoes, socks, all the way down to underwear.
He’s put a lot of effort into his own uniform and supplies, making alterations to his Columbus Depot jacket himself. Conley also has a beehive cap and brogans (period-accurate shoes), along with other accoutrements. He takes a lot of pride in these items, displaying and explaining each one in detail.
He attends several events a year, with the next coming up at Living History Days in April at Harbor Village in Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Conley added that while he does tend to stick to being on the Confederate side during bigger battles, he’s joined the Union at smaller events.
For him, taking part in reenactments is more about the social aspects. “I definitely enjoy hanging out in camp with other people and making friends. That’s one of the most important parts of reenacting. It’s not just the battles. To get in with people, to see, just hang around the campfire and talk with people,” he said.
Conley encourages other high schoolers to get involved with historical reenactments, though he fully understands that it’s not for everyone.
“But I definitely encourage some who do like history to learn a little more about it,” he said. There are a lot of kids in his reenactment group, he added.
Conley, who is Cheyenne Arapaho, said what he loves most about history is the history of Native Americans.
“Just because I am Native American, I study a lot about Native Americans in Oklahoma and actual Natives who fought in this American Civil War for both the North and the South,” he said.
It’s important to keep history alive, he continued. So many people only read little details, while for others, it triggers hate or arguing. Still, others would rather forget.
“Some people want to remember it for what it was, not basically for the cause,” he said.