I agree that it seems crazy and hardly worth the while of re-enacting it at all.
A few years ago I watched a re-enactment of the second battle of Dunbar (Cromwell's New Model Army versus The Covenanters). Most of us locals turned out for what was a very good day of both education and entertainment. Historically, the Battle of Dunbar was one of the biggest defeats in Scottish history and we sat and watched it all over again.
None of the locals took any offence and went home peacefully (but with our tails between our legs yet again :biggrin
