The Christian Reenactor's Network presents:
Echoes from the Battlefield: A Critical Review
Chapters 15-16 and Reviewer's Thought and Comments
Chapter 15: Brian: A Historian's Heart
Easily identified by many Civil War reenactors, the eminent historian Brian Pohanka is esteemed by many, including this writer, for his commitment to, passion for, and extensive knowledge of the Civil War period. He has appeared in numerous Civil War documentaries and is a published author. As a reenactor, Brian had, at the time of the regression session, fifteen years of experience, always being particular about the authenticity of his presentation. His family background is stated as having Union ties. His preference for Federal impression, according to Lane, was to be "aligned with the morality and philosophy of the north" (p.194). He acted in the motion picture "Glory", which left lasting impressions on him. Lane states Pohanka's view on how reenacting affects many reenactors:
"This connection to the Civil War soldiers and their sense of compelling patriotism has elevated 'the hobby' to spiritual levels that fulfill some reenactors' inner quests" (p.195).
As a postulate derived from this view, Pohanka noted that "He saw this spiritual search, in which people look for a connection outside themselves, as a search for the frontier, a vehicle for transcendance like Civil War reenacting can become for those who participate" (p.195). Pohanka subscribed, at that time, to the genetic or cultural memory view, or possibly "controlled dreaming" and, according to Lane "was skeptical about the possibility of reincarnation" (p.196).
As Brian Pohanka's regression commences, he relates that there is an explosion near a wooded area as he marches with a column of soldiers. He then transitions to another scene wherin some Union men are piling cabin logs on a hot day. Again, he shifts the scene and observes two men sitting in conversation. He notes that the surroundings exude peace and rest. The men in camp show the letter "A" or "K' on their forage caps. Muskets appear to be stacked reminiscent of a military campaign. Lane interjects her observation that "Brian's vast storehouse of Civil War knowledge and reenacting had given him the awareness to observe and recall an incredible depth of detail during his regression" (p.198).
Continuing, Pohanka describes another soldier's lighthearted antics and identifies the camp location as possibly winter quarters for the defenses of Washington. He then finds himself in front of a house where either General Stoughton or General Chipman are present. More details are given regarding the surrounding vicinity, and he indicates the camp location again as near Washington or Fairfax, Virginia. He identifies himself as "Edward", last name an uncertainty, but an "M" stands out like "Mor", or "Morris". He notes that there "might be a 'd' in it" (p.200). His unit "could have an 'eight' in it". Again, the scene shifts to a location preparatory to a battle, near a woods. He states that he must be an officer. The soldiers are traversing a creek, a fire is burning in the woods, the enemy fires vigorously into the Union ranks. The Federals counterattack. Union troops move through the woods, passing the dead enemy soldiers. Finally, the Rebels are pushed out of the woods. A few more battle details and the regression session comes to an end.
Pohanka's second regression session begins with his company marching while on campaign (p.203). Lane encourages an event transition, he does so and begins to describe camp life, the soldiers' day-to-day activities, and his own appearance. Lane explains that Pohanka's regiment has been "a long time on campaign in the Shenandoah Valley" (p.204). Now reflecting on an encampment situation near Richmond, Pohanka describes himself as a senior captain or acting as major, attached to the 121st New York, Company A. His character's name is "Edward Henry Mergan" or "Morgan". The date is late 1864 or Spring 1865. He has since been promoted and leads "Company D". He describes a battle scene where his regiment engages the enemy in support of Union artillary. The enemy is in retreat. Pohanka states that it may be "The Battle of Saylor's Creek--it's the 6th Corps" (p.206). The brigade is ordered to prepare for advance, Pohanka's company is ordered to deploy as skirmishers. The battle scenario continues to unfold with a successful Union advance and resulting Confederate retreat. Enemy prisoners are mounting in number. He describes the enemy as "the rear guard of Lee's army" (p.209). Massive numbers are surrendering. Pohanka then clarifies that it may not be Saylor's Creek, but rather "just before Appomatox" (p.210). After a few more details, Lane asks Pohanka to "move to another event".
The next scene opens in Ogdensburg, New York. Music is playing, festivity and gaity abound now that the war is over. Pohanka's character is hugging his sister. Yet he relates sadness at Lincoln's death and uncertainty with regards to an Andrew Johnson presidency. The series of regression sessions conclude with his description of a ringing church bell and promise of a beautiful evening (p.211).
Lane recapitulates that her regression subjects, including Brian Pohanka, strive aggressively for authenticity in their representations of the Civil War era. As such, no "farb" (historically compromising) elements have any place in their reenactment characterizations. Such was the case consistently throughout the regression experiences (p.212). Additionally, Lane notes that "He [Pohanka] couldn't account for some of the information had retrieved, nor could he account for the personalities he described or the feelings he had experienced" (p.212). In support of this, Lane submits corroborative information on the construction techniques of log huts for winter quarters, and the existence of Ogdensburg, New York (although no reference is made to the verifying the actual events described). Several times Pohanka presented information and surrounding details for which, he admits, he had no previous knowledge.
With regards to characters "Edward M." "Edward Mor", "Edward Morris", "Henry Mergan" or "Henry Morgan", an assortment of names are presented, none of which match. Lane presents the following statement with regards "a perfect name and unit match" (which does not exactly corrolate with what she writes):
"A perfect name and unit match, although not a viable life match, was Lieutenant James H. Morgan, 18th New York Volunteer Infantry, who mustered in as 1st lieutenant and resigned September 1861 because of back pain. He later served in the 7th New York Heavy Artillary and died in Salisbury Prison" (p.215).
Then, in an apparent attempt to derive some degree of success with this imperfect match, Lane states that "Interestingly, Brian had back problems in this life" [emphasis mine] (p.215).
In her final appeal and bolstering of her reincarnationist presupposition, Lane concludes:
"Brian's Love of history might allow us to conjecture that he--and others like him--may actually be the very people among us who remember past lives without knowing it. For them, it seems, history comes alive in their imagination [sic]. One could even suspect that historians who specialize in a specific period might well have lived at that time. (emphasis mine) Perhaps the freshness of their memory [sic] is what even leads them to fall in love with history" (pp.215-216).
Chapter 16: Echoes Revisited
In her final chapter, Barbara Lane seeks to underscore reincarnation and its karmic underpinnings, subtly blending history and philosophy, fact and hypothesis, psychology and occult spiritism, without making any direct reference to her agenda. Throughout Echoes, Lane presupposes the fact of the reincarnation model, focuses the bulk of her commentary to this end, appeals to a plethora of reincarnationist researchers, yet she provides a volume of inconclusive data, no concrete or verifiable outcomes. Amazingly, she states that "While these regressions don't prove that reincarnation exists..." (p.222), while with nearly every paragraph written there is an appeal to the reincarnation paradigm.
She noted that "Following the regression experience, three-fourths [of the reenactors] raised their belief in the possibility of reincarnation by nearly twenty percent" (p.219).
Regarding career choices, Lane states that "These statistics on career choices and educational interests correlate with Edgar Cayce's philosophy of a continuity principle--that individuals bring forward talents and interests from other lifetimes" (p.219).
Again, with regards to Federal vs. Confederate preferences among Civil War reenactors, she appeals to Edgar Cayce's writings and philosophy "This was in line with the theory, borne out in the Edgar Cayce readings, that--like our talents--our actions, biases, and predjudices continue from lifetime to lifetime [emphasis mine] (p.221).
Revealing more of the occult spiritism/eastern mysticism foundation, Lane writes:
"Perhaps the roots of soldiering lifetimes could be traced to their origins and, when understood on a soul level, the patterns could be released. Conceivably, some individual and group karma could be transmuted. In turn, this may make an impact on beginning to heal the devastating wounds the Civil War left on the country--a war that was the ultimate in fratricide. Such research could also make a positive impact on beginning to heal current issues of racism" (p.222)
Therefore, through reincarnation, the end of racism may be in view. [reviewer's comments]
Finally, to raise the speculative question (never directly stated) about the existence of "ghosts", Lane adds the following as she draws her book to to a conclusion:
"More than 620,000 soldiers perished in the Civil war, and evidence would indicate that most souls have continued on to live other lives. [emphasis mine]. We have no idea how many of those are alive now, perhaps suffering inwardly from more than a century-old form of post-traumatic shock syndrome. Still other souls, however, linger at the battlefields [emphasis mine] and around individuals. Through spirit releasement techniques, these earthbound entities could be liberated" (p.222)
The final few pages of Echoes From The Battlefield include research references; Bibliography of works cited; For Further Reading (a list both historical works and a collection of singularly reincarnationist/occultic/paranormal researchers); promotional space for the Civil War News and the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS); About the Author (biographical information); promotional space for the Association of Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) Press which is the publishing division for the A.R.E., producing Edgar Cayce research materials and reincarnationist literature; and finally, a promotional page for the A.R.E. as an organization advancing the mystical/occultic views of Edgar Cayce, being dedicated to dreams, reincarnation, ESP, meditation, soul growth, among other areas.
Reviewer's Thoughts and Comments on
Echoes from the Battlefield by Barbara Lane
Barbara Lane has admirably and tirelessly pursued her field of specialization, demonstrating in Echoes from the Battlefield, that she cares about people. She is evidently quite sincere in her support of the reenactor's cause and Civil War battlefield preservation, commendably donating a portion of the proceeds of her book to the APCWS.
However, Echoes from the Battlefield begs the questions which have captivated mankind's deepest spiritual longings: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? It offers no definitive answers, but only speculative ponderings.
This reviewer would encourage the sincere seeker of Truth to first read what the Bible says about life and the afterlife. If you have personally experienced a "regression", undoubtedly you have already demonstrated a longing to understand "Truth" and the meaning of life. Compare for yourself the teachings of Christ and the teachings of Echoes. If you are a Civil War reenactor, do not be surprised if what you discover is that reincarnation and the Bible are totally and entirely "incompatible messmates".
Stuart R. Zaharek, reviewing for the Christian Reenactor's Network
Return to Chapters 11-14
Forward to "Incompatible Messmates"
