One day in the fall of 2007, we were wandering one of California’s backroads when we turned a corner and found ourselves in another time and place. As wisps of morning fog drifted above the nearby grape vineyards, two armies faced off across an open field.  Bugles sounded, flags waved, and gun crews rolled their canons into position. Before we knew it, the American Civil War began to unfold before us. Suddenly it was l861 and we were there.