WATSEKA -- The Old Courthouse Museum in Watseka was the setting for historians Sunday. More than two-dozen people gathered, some camping out, to re-enact the Civil War days.
The event, which included educational presentations, was part of Iroquois County’s Civil War sesquicentennial. It’s hoped the day’s event will draw more interest to what the Old Courthouse Museum offers Iroquois County.
The historians are well-schooled professionals, who take the time to educate the rest of us what the Civil War was all about and how it played its part in local history.
The Battlefield Balladeers provided musical entertainment on civil war days instruments. Civil War souvenirs were also available for sale at the museum.
The Civil War encampment began at 9 a.m. Later in the afternoon, The Iroquois County Slow Boys Tractor Club provided trolly-transportation during a parade to the G.A.R. cemetery. The Grand Army of the Republic cemetery, tucked along side Oak Hill cemetery, is the resting place of many civil war soldiers.
Several descendants of Iroquois County soldiers marched to the graves to lay a wreath at G.A.R. cemetery. Re-enactor Rod Miller read a list of local men who died serving in the Civil War 76th Infantry.
American Legion Post #23 and the Watseka High School Band also played in the re-enactment.
Those attending were invited to sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The Battle Cry of Freedom," songs originated during the war.
The re-enactment activities are made possible through the Illinois Humanities Council, the Illinois General Assembly, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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