DeKALB | Rain poured over the battlefield Saturday afternoon and booming cannons mimicked thunder behind the Convocation Center.

As part of the Second Annual Heartland International Tattoo, a Civil War skirmish took place behind the Convo. The battle was used as the introduction to the Civil War Brass Band and Drum & Fife Corps.

Clouds of smoke resulting from cannon fire floated through the spectators standing on hill above the skirmish. A car alarm was repeatedly set off by the loud noises the cannons made when set off.

The skirmish began when two Union soldiers scouted out some Confederate soldiers and a shot was fired by a Union soldier. Union horses rode towards the battle to see what they were up against.

“There’s supposed to be some Confederates around here somewhere,” said re-enactor Jessi Martinez as Captain J. L. Martin. “We can’t see them. We can smell them. Yeah, there’s definitely a funk in the air.”

A couple of ‘wounded’ soldiers fell in battle and lay on the field for the rest of the skirmish.

The Confederates had the Union soldiers “advancing to the rear,” for a while, but the Union soldiers were able to corner the Confederates in some trees at the edge of the battlefield.

The two generals met soon after, with the Confederates surrendering.

The re-enactors took many safety precautions before starting the skirmish. The muskets were only filled with powder, and no balls or “rammers” for the guns were allowed, said re-enactor Patti Stonikas.

The entire camp was built from scratch by re-enactors. The re-enactors learned the history, went out, and bought all of the stuff that makes up their camp.

“What this is for us is a hobby,” said re-enactment Confederate Major Jerry Gurard “It’s a fun hobby.”