PIKE: 20th Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment to honor Grant, Pike County soldiers
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
David Camphouse/Pike Press
Reenactors from Mattoon’s 21st Illinois Infantry Regiment, Sandwich’s 10th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Danville’s 35th Illinois Infantry Regiment, Springfield’s 114th Illinois Infantry Regiment and St. Louis’s 17th Missouri Infantry Regiment prepare for the Battle of Shiloh on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the 19th Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment. The 20th Lincoln Days will take place this Saturday and Sunday (June 4 and 5) at Lake Pittsfield. Reenactors will recreate a portion of the Battle of Vicksburg during the event.
The 20th Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at Lake Pittsfield.
Co-Chair of the Abe Lincoln Project/Looking for Lincoln in Pike County, Bob Norris, said the longevity of Pittsfield’s annual Civil War reenactment is unique in our region.
“This year’s reenactment represents our platinum anniversary,” Norris said. “That’s an important milestone, because there have been other reenactments here in the tri-state area that have since closed down. We’re still going and growing, so we must be doing something right.”
Norris said this year’s reenactment is designed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of General and President Ulysses S. Grant, as well as the important role played by Pike County soldiers in the western theater of the Civil War.
“With that in mind, we decided to come up with a battlefield script that would honor Grant and soldiers from Pike County,” Norris said.
This year’s reenactment will recreate a portion of the Battle of Vicksburg.
“That was a very large attack,” Norris said. “We’re doing the portion that took place May 22, 1863. It’s a small cross-section that involved the 99th Illinois Infantry. The 99th was all Pike County men.”
Norris said that dirt work has been done at Lake Pittsfield to better recreate the battlefield landscape at Vicksburg.
“The city has worked with us to develop more trenches this year,” Norris said.
An important role of the reenactment, Norris said, is to involve the public. Toward that end, Norris encourages attendees to feel welcome to visit with reenactors throughout the weekend.
“The camps open at 9 a.m. both days,” Norris said. “We encourage people to go into the camps and ask questions and engage with the reenactors. Many of the reenactors are like walking textbooks.”
Lincoln Days organizers anticipate at least 300 reenactors from several Midwestern and southern states to participate this weekend.
“We’ll have cavalry, artillery, infantry and naval reenactors,” Norris said. “We regularly have reenactors from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Tennessee, and Arkansas.”
Norris cautioned visitors that the road near the battlefield would be closed during the battle reenactment periods.
New this year, according to Norris, will be historical presentations about the role in the Civil War of the U.S. Christian Commission and the Soldiers Aid Society.
In addition, a period brass band will accompany performances by the Alton Jaeger Fife and Drum Corps this year.
Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment is sponsored by The Abe Lincoln Project/Looking for Lincoln in Pike County and the City of Pittsfield.
For more information, visit: pikelincoln.com/lincoln-days/lincoln-days-schedule or facebook.com/PittsfieldLincolnDays.
Lincoln Days Civil War Reenactment Schedule of Events – Lake Pittsfield, June 4 and 5
Saturday:
9 a.m. – Naval Colors in the Navy Camp
9 a.m. – Artillery, Cavalry, Infantry, Naval & Civilian Camps open for the public to visit
9 a.m. – Navies in the Civil War in the Navy Camp
9:30 a.m. – United States Christian Commission in the Blue & White tent
10 a.m. – Chris Vallillo in Concert in the Blue & White tent
10:30 a.m. – Soldier’s Aide Society in the Blue & White tent
11 a.m. – Alton Jaeger Fife & Drum Corps & Brass Band in the Blue & White tent
11:30 a.m. – Ladies & Gentlemen’s Fashion Show & Lemonade Party in the Blue & White tent
12:30 p.m. –The Magical Mysteries of Sean Lewis in the Blue & White tent
1 p.m. – Chris Vallillo in Concert at the Battlefield
1:30 p.m. – Battle Reenactment – Mayor Gary Mendenhall to open; Supt. Dale Phillips, Lincoln Home National Historic Site to Narrate the Battle
3 p.m. – Navigation in the 1860s at the Naval Camp
3:30 p.m. – President Lincoln, Gen. U S Grant & Gen. John C. Pemberton discuss the Battle of Vicksburg in the Blue & White tent
4 p.m. – Alton Jaeger Fife & Drum Corps & Brass Band in the Blue & White tent
4:30 p.m. – Pres. Lincoln & the crew of the Neversink have tea at the Naval Camp
9 p.m. – Night Cannon Firing at the Naval Camp
Sunday:
9 a.m. – Camps open for the public to visit
9:30 a.m. – 1860s Period Church Service & Memorial Service in the Blue & White tent
11 a.m. – Chris Vallillo in Concert in the Blue & White tent
11:30 a.m. –United States Christian Commission in the Blue & White tent
12 p.m. – Alton Jaeger Fife & Drum Corps & Brass Band in the Blue & White tent
1 p.m. – Chris Vallillo in Concert at the Battlefield
1:30 p.m. – Battle Reenactment – Mayor Gary Mendenhall to open; Supt. Dale Phillips, Lincoln Home National Historic Site to Narrate the Battle
