La Porte went through a time warp this past weekend. Our modern town was transported back to a day when the nation was divided, and the main newspaper headlines covered disastrous battles. Civil War Days took place at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum the weekend of June 21-23rd.
This event marked the fifth year of the Civil War reenactment. The “soldiers” and families kept busy all weekend with reenactment skirmishes, fancy balls, artillery drills, traditional church services, and craftsmanship demonstrations.
“This year marks our 5th reenactment. The first year was a one-day event, but the reenactors like to stay longer so now they set-up on Friday and stay until Sunday. We have several acres here, and it just seemed like a natural thing to do. People really seem to love the battles and the Ball,” said museum curator Susie Richter.
A Civil War battle would not be complete without some raucous pep talks. This year two Generals, one being the famed General George Pickett, spoke. While the men were on the battle lines the ladies attended a traditional Ladies Tea on Saturday. On Sunday there was a church service that proved moving for all. Beneath the expansive trees on the property the “soldiers”, guests, and families sang “Amazing Grace.”
When I took my visit to the Civil War camp on Sunday morning, I arrived to the scent of cooking eggs and the sound of chatter. Outside the white expanse of tents, soldiers and families sat around fires cooking breakfast, polishing weapons, and talking battle strategy. In my time there I was inundated with information. I learned that you have to constantly stir food over a fire so it will not burn and how to hold a rifle-which is much heavier than you would imagine. I learned about the true motives of the Civil War and about the history of the Confederate flag.
General Henry Heath, Army of Northern Virginia, otherwise known as Hawk Van Lew, explained, “I am a firm believer that a country that forgets its history will repeat it. I have been doing this for twenty-five years to educate the public. What good is entertainment without education?”
The two camps, Union and Confederate, were situated on two different sides of the field, but at 2 p.m. the soldiers merged in a battle skirmish. This dedicated group of reenactors camps through rain, shine, heat, and chill. Many of them will be traveling to Gettysburg at the beginning of July to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg along with roughly 30,000 other reenactors.
The La Porte County Historical Society Museum hosts many other entertaining events and exhibits throughout the year. Click here for more information about the museum.
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