Published: September 14, 2007 11:31 pm      

Civil War Days to be held at Kennekuk

DANVILLE — A unique form of entertainment comes Sept. 22 and 23 to the Bunker Hill area of Kennekuk County Park. The second annual Vermilion County Civil War Days offers visitors a realistic view of life during the mid-1800s, including those on the battlefield and those who waited behind the lines for them.

Local history buffs won’t have to travel far to watch portions of the Battle of Shiloh reenacted at Kennekuk. Thousands of troops from Illinois and Indiana fought for the Union during that 1862 battle in southwestern Tennessee.

Don Smith, Illiana Civil War Historical Society president and event chairman, will be on the battlefield next weekend. Naturally, he’ll be fighting for the North.

“My relatives would roll over in their graves otherwise,” the Danville man said. “My great-great-grandfather fought with the 12th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.”

That type of a personal connection with the Civil War isn’t a necessity to make this journey into the past.

Those who enjoy theater will have a chance to meet President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln as presented by Donna and Max Daniels. The couple writes their own scripts and has appeared throughout the state, garnering praise for more than 20 years for their way of bringing history to life.

Four generals from the war, including Grant, Sherman, Lee and Custer, also will attend the event. Like the Lincolns, they welcome conversation with visitors and will speak more formally during the weekend.

Paxton’s Foster family will participate in Civil War Days both on and off the battlefield. While the parents and their four daughters focus on camp life during the reenactment, son Russel will command the Confederate troops.

“Some people I knew who were in the group invited me to a meeting,” Foster said. “The Civil War struck a chord with me from day one.

“The battles are well-scripted,” he said, “but things do change. While I’m on the battlefield, I feel like I’m both an actor and someone who’s actually in the period.”

The rest of Foster’s family camps near the battlefield for the weekend. Families actually stayed as far away from the fighting as possible during the Civil War, but re-enactors compress the events of the times so that spectators get a sense of life during the period.

Foster encouraged visits with all of the 350 re-enactors who will participate in this event. He said they enjoy explaining the equipment they use, the crafts they do and the food they prepare.

The costumes re-enactors wear, whether on the battlefield or at the campsites, are a critical component of the event. For Emily Bencomo, it’s the part she most enjoys.

While her husband Eugene, one of the founding members of this Civil War group, commands the Union troops during Civil War days, she’ll be busy minding the store. Her sutlery, the term for a traveling store during the era, carries dresses, uniforms and accessories from the period. Bencomo makes many of the dresses she sells.

“There are lots of patterns available,” she said. “You can buy authentic ones and Simplicity has them in their costuming sec-tion.

“A typical dress sells for around $100, but by the time you add the bonnet, the hoop skirt and the shawl, prices reach the $300-400 range. It depends on the fabric you use. Ball gowns cost even more.”

Dresses of all types can be seen at some of the events that Bencamo called her favorites. Those include Saturday’s ladies’ tea, the weeping and dying contest the same day and the rolling pin and husband calling contests on Sunday, and fashion shows both days.

There’s also a dance Saturday night following the night fire cannon demonstration. “When they fire the cannons at night, it looks like flames coming out,” Bencamo said.

“We go to 12-15 of these events a year, all over the country,” the Oakwood woman said, “We usually go two days before to set up the store. I don’t get around much, but I stay busy.”

More than 500 Vermilion County school children will tour the site Friday. Both living historians and re-enactors will help the youngsters get a sense of life during the time period. This type of experiential learning results in an appreciation of history that’s hard to get from a textbook.

Those children may want to return for several events geared especially toward them — Saturday’s candy cannon shoot and the kids’ drill. According to Bencamo, a 9-year-old re-enactor will be in charge of the drill and teach other youngsters how to march in formation. Toy rifles will be used.

An 1860’s era baseball game featuring the Vermilion Voles will be played on Sunday.

Two indoor exhibits have been added at the Bunker Hill train station. One features the Underground Railroad and the other is a display of military side arms, especially Colt revolvers.

Don Smith said, “This re-enactment is designed to educate as well as to entertain, as people learn about the war between the states, and how people from our own area were involved.”

IF YOU GO

Vermilion County Civil War Days, hosted by the Illiana Civil War Historical Society, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and 23 in and around the Bunker Hill Historic Area at Kennekuk County Park. The location is five miles north of Danville on Henning Road.

Gates will open at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. A battle re-enactment will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.