Thompson’s Independent Battery C
PA Volunteer Lt. Artillery

Artillery firing demonstrations are scheduled
for 2 PM on Saturday and 11 AM on Sunday.

Present-day reenactors of the original, Civil War, Independent Battery C, PA Vol. Lt. Artillery will present scheduled Artillery demonstrations—1-2 cannon, with displays of Artillery artifacts and equipment, CW army food, and CW money. The station may be visited at all times during event hours. Station visitors will be able to talk with Battery members and learn about artillery as used by both sides, the Battery’s Civil War history, and fights from 1861 to 1865.  

In addition to its distinguished Civil War service, a unique distinction of the original Battery C was that four members were in Ford’s Theatre the night President Lincoln was assassinated and carried him from the building to the Pederson House.  

The 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
Company G

Infantry firing demonstrations are scheduled
for 11 AM on Saturday and 2 PM on Sunday.

The soldiers of Company G will have 1 or 2 A tents and a dog tent, also a fly and tables, as in a headquarters setup.  The setup will feature a weapon display, with some replicas and some original weapons. The station may be visited at all times during event hours.  Company G will demonstrate rifle drills, marching, and firing in scheduled demonstrations.  The unit will show and explain the soldiers’ uniforms, leathers, equipment, etc.  The display will include rations, personal effects, and things soldiers had during the war.

Life of a Confederate Soldier
John Wessner, 31^st Virginia Company C

Get the Confederate historical perspective.  An accomplished Civil War Reenactor of more than twenty years’ experience, John Wessner will present the uniform, equipment, and living conditions of a Confederate Infantryman.  The station may be visited at all times during event hours.  

His display will include typical Confederate Infantry arms and equipment. Will discuss with visitors the Confederate Army life.   

Jim “Doc” Hayden Medical Station
with 1860 Replica Army Ambulance

Doc Hayden brings his vast knowledge of 19th-century medicine to life.  His display will include two wall tents, a fly, a replica 1860 army ambulance wagon, surgical table, instruments, anesthesia supplies and equipment, surgical wash basin, medical box, scales, portable desk with medical references, and chairs.

Visitors to his aid station will learn about and can discuss topics like:

• Impact of the change from smoothbore weapons to rifled weapons and the Minié ball vs. round balls on the severity and volume of trauma cases.

• Resources and medical expertise at the start of the war in the Regular Army and in the State Volunteer Army. 

• Physician quality and surgical outcomes as the war progressed.

• Misinterpretation of data in the two books, Doctors in Blue and Doctors in Gray, regarding laudable pus and medical schools not owning stethoscopes and microscopes.

• Battlefield medical activity, including Stewards and the triage of wounded, Dressing Stations, Field Hospitals vs. Regimental Hospitals, Anesthesia, amputations vs. preservation of limbs, bullet extractions, trephining for closed head trauma, and truncal (chest and abdominal) surgeries.  

• Sick call and medications.

• Army camp conditions. 

• Death from disease vs. trauma through the course of the war.

• Union Medical Department vs. Confederate Medical Department.
  
• The first Geneva Convention, the Battle of Solferino, the American experience and its influence, the Lieber code, Lincoln’s statement of how the Union would treat Prisoners of War and wounded enemies.

Ralph Aitkin
Embalming Surgeon

A little-explored aspect of Civil War army medical arrangements will be presented to visitors by Dr. Aitkin. His display will have a typical field set up–wall tent and fly, embalming table, and simulated “patient” with embalming equipment.  He will explain and simulate for visitors how embalming was practiced in the Civil War period, especially for Civil War soldiers, and how it differs from modern methods.

Civil War Army
Rations and Cooking

More than just hardtack, US Army rations and mess gear evolved over the course of the war.  Cooking arrangements included the scientific and the slipshod, official issue and forage, good food and bad food. Rations in camp were different from individual marching rations.  Officers ate better than enlisted soldiers.  Young soldiers used to food prepared by women at home had to be taught how to cook, and there were several army cookbooks.  This station will display the typical food and equipment used to feed the soldiers, explaining all of that and much more.

Civil War Period Children’s Games and Toys

Will present demonstration and hands-on Civil War era toys, including: Hoop and stick, Grace’s hoops, Checkers, Captain’s Mistress (a colonial era connect four), Shut-the-box, tops, yoyo, cup-and-ball, jacks, nine-man morris, fox and geese, pick-up sticks, and some others.  I can set these up on 2 quilts that I bring with me. No tables needed. The station may be visited at all times during event hours.
 
Also available: Civil War children’s clothing – mostly girls’ items.  Will have girls’ clothes from age 2 to 17.  Will have one boy’s outfit – about size 8, plus several hats.