FLORIDA: Battle of Townsend’s Plantation Returned to Renningers

MOUNT DORA — Some people might not be surprised that black people served in the Civil War. They may have read about the war or have seen the movie, “Glory.”

Or they may have heard the stories of re-enactor John Russell at the annual Battle of Townsend’s Plantation and Civil War Festival, which took place this past weekend on 100-plus acres behind Renninger’s Antique Market.

File photo shows Civil War re-enactors taking part in the annual Battle of Townsend's Plantation in Mount Dora. (Sentinel file photo)

File photo shows Civil War re-enactors taking part in the annual Battle of Townsend’s Plantation in Mount Dora. (Sentinel file photo)

But most people may not realize that blacks clamored to enlist

“Black people were trying to sign up since day one,” said Russell, a retired Orange County firefighter, teacher and journalist. “Confederates basically said, ‘Hell no.’ They were adamant not to put weapons in the hands of colored men.”

But in the North and the South, white volunteers were scarce and white soldiers were deserting the endless, bloody war at an alarming rate.

Finally, about 200,000 black men did serve. About 20,000 to 40,000 died. No one knows because there were no records that many of these people even existed.

One who survived was Sgt. Dave Johnson, who was born a slave in Vicksburg, Miss. By 1863, he could join the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry, a unit re-formed by Russell for re-enactments. Russell’s character is based on Johnson.

“He was owned by his father, a plantation owner, so he could read and write and do numbers,” Russell said. “So he was not a typical Southern slave. At first, he stayed on the plantation, assuming the attitude of a docile slave.”

But Johnson was a guide, or spy, passing along relevant information.

When he went north, Johnson discovered people were just as prejudiced against blacks as Southerners.

“Look at the riots in New York City — massacres,” Russell said.

Visitors to Renninger’s asked Russell about blacks’ experiences during the Civil War as well as the Emancipation Proclamation.

About 1,000 Union and Confederate re-enactors participated, among them three sons of Orlando attorney Clay Townsend, who founded the festival more than 20 years ago.

His oldest son, Clay, 23, a medical student at the University of Central Florida, and star punters at the University of Florida — Johnny, 21, and Tommy, 20 — will participate. Johnny Townsend was No. 1 in the NCAA in 2016 with a punting average of 47.9 yards.

“Last year, the Boy Scouts wanted to see Johnny fire the cannon,” Townsend said. “But they also wanted to see him punting the football.”

–orlandosentinel.com

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