Cassadaga celebrates local history
By JOAN JOSEPHSON
OBSERVER Staff Writer
CASSADAGA - The Red House on Frisbee Road in Cassadaga was a more than fitting site for a Civil War reenactment Saturday.
It was like taking a step back in time as the house is thought to have been built in the Civil War era and reportedly was part of the Underground Railroad used to help slaves escape from the South.
Representing the 155th NY infantry, the reenactors, most of them from the Buffalo area, brought in tents, cooking equipment, uniforms and guns to display to a yard full of visitors.
There were civilian portrayers as well, one of whom was Mary Mariques of East Aurora, who has been a Civil War reenactor for the past six years.
"My daughter Vanessa and my sister, Margaret Tyrcz, have joined me in this reenactment. We all enjoy it tremendously," she said.
According to a history of the 155th NY Infantry, its soldiers were recruited in Buffalo in late summer 1862 with most of its members made up of Irish immigrants who marched under the flags of the U.S. and Ireland.
One hundred forty-seven years later, those who reenact these soldiers march under the same flags.
Mary said she and her sister come from Irish stock and when the Irish flag representing the 155th Infantry was rededicated in a very meaningful ceremony, the emotional feeling it evoked was tremendous.
"Peggy and I had tears streaming down our faces," she said.
These tears could have been shed for the original unit's members who didn't return.
Again, according to the 155th history, when the the original soldiers were mustered into service in 1862, the regiment numbered 820 men and when the war ended in 1865, 130 men remained in its ranks.
Small wonder the number of survivors was small because the 155th fought in 16 different battles including the one at Cold Harbor, Va. where the Union ranks were decimated.
The 155th regiment was led into battle by Brigadier Gen. Michael Corcoran whose name is prominent on the Irish flag carried by the original unit and its replica carried by the reenactors.
"According to legend, the original was hand-sewn by women in the Buffalo Irish community," Mary said.
Also replicated were the meals the soldiers ate.
"We had bacon and eggs for breakfast and will be having beef stew and dumplings for dinner all cooked over an open fire," Mary said.
Capt. David Bertuca heads the 155th reenactors whose membership numbers approximately 120 and is known as one of the largest units in New York State.
He said the unit participates in other reenactments throughout the year including Mumford, NY near Rochester and historic Gettysburg where approximately 1,000 reenactors take part each year.
