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Darke County Parks
Civil War brought to Life at Shawnee Prairie
By Bob Robinson
It was 1863 in mid-June as Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan led raiders into
Indiana, Southern Ohio and up into northeastern Ohio over a 46-day span
of time (according to Wikipedia).
The first photo is what Morgan might have seen as he moved deeper into
Ohio. The photos below depict what Morgan and his raiders would
eventually see… a determined Union army that finally captured him and
the remnants of his men in Salineville in far NE Ohio.
For many Shawnee Prairie visitors over the weekend it was an
entertaining display by a talented group of re-enactors about the
procedures and conditions for troops during the Civil War. It was just
as good as any movie made about the era.
For others it was living history.
The military precision - and lack of precision where appropriate –
seemed perfectly executed and natural, and the information provided by
the participants was far more detailed than can typically be found in a
textbook.
No matter who you started talking to, they were happy to provide
details and background that would send the average Civil War enthusiast
into overload. They were that good.
Dave Bock was sitting next to the telegraph key that was clicking away, sending Morse code signals to some unknown destination…
“I had ancestors who fought here,” he said, then emphasized “right here!”
Turtle Creek.
Bock, a proud veteran of the Vietnam War – he was thanked for his
service – said his ancestors fought in the French and Indian War, the
Revolutionary War, 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, World Wars I
& II, Korea and… and they were on both sides in the Civil War.
Only one ancestor ever died during a war… it was from a case of measles.
Bock couldn’t recall any other Civil War battles fought on Ohio soil… only Morgan’s Raiders.
Another re-enactor thought that fighting might have occurred as far north as Versailles. Neither, however, was sure.
Bock then began talking about the three different versions of
telegraphs he had… while one continued clicking away. Information
Overload.
Something about one belonging to Samantha French, who was the only telegrapher at the Battle of Gettysburg…
The Ohio unit being portrayed was First Ohio Light Artillery Battery.
Demonstrations were provided with the Artillery (cannon), the Infantry
and the Sharp Shooters.
“If you have small children, you need to prepare them for the noise
when the artillery goes off… it has been known to blow out windows.”
The speaker also said it is typically difficult for dogs and other animals.
Yep. It was loud… but the impact was lessened by the advance warning.
Detailed information was provided about the seven positions required to
fire the cannon… Overload, but it was fascinating to watch.
Again, detailed information was provided (and portrayed) about the
movements of the infantry… and the necessary skills of the sharp
shooters. The cartridge/chamber loading rifle was evidently also
introduced during the time of the Civil War, as a demonstration was
provided on the speed at which one soldier could fire versus that of
the regular infantryman with powder-load rifles.
Inside the Shawnee Prairie House, ladies were preparing lunch for
hungry soldiers. One lady noted that the only woman ever to ride out on
the battlefield was Annie Ethridge… she gave drink and comfort to the
wounded and dying.
Most of the women and kids around a battlefield encampment, usually officers’ wives and children, were simply camp “followers.”
Cooks?
“Nope. That was a man’s job… but sometimes the women helped out.”
There was a variety of tents and lean-to’s displaying the equipment,
supplies and other belongings of the soldiers. For the casual observer,
it was an entertaining picture of the Civil War in the North.
For the novice Civil War enthusiast, it was a fascinating journey into a past… one that took place nearly 150 years ago.
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