Genesee Country Village & Museum is once again the setting for its highly regarded Civil War Reenactment & Encampment Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16.
Distinctive not just for it size – with nearly 1,000 participants and one of the largest Civil War events in the Northeast – but its attention to authenticity, inviting visitors to witness how battles would have been fought within the confines of a small village.
Not that there’s anything small about this event; it has hundreds of Union and Confederate soldiers, more than two dozen cavalry and hundreds more civilians depicting civilian life during the war.
It recently was listed by FoxNews.com as one of six historic re-enactments “every American should see.”
Each day sees two battles, one in an open battlefield at 11:30 a.m., featuring cavalry and live fire from nine canons; and another encounter in the Historic Village at 2 p.m.
Lincoln historian and professional impersonator Fritz Klein will visit the Union camps, survey the battle, inspect activity on the Great Meadow and visit with the children.
The military camps will also open for inspection during the day with mounted cavalrymen moving about the grounds, warming up for the afternoon battle. Artillery commanders will host a firing demonstration prior to the morning battle.
Meanwhile, the Historic Village takes on the guise of a border town, with civilians busy trying to maintain a normal life, yet dealing with the wartime shortages, mixing school lessons and farm duties with rallies, sewing for soldiers, caring for the wounded and dealing with soldiers encamped around their homes.
The townsfolk will also offer musical concerts, specialty shopping and a fashion show of period clothing.
Regiments from throughout Western New York took part in dozens of skirmishes and battles during the war. One of the most famous was Rochester’s 140th New York Volunteer Infantry whose valor under the leadership of Col. Patrick O’Rourke is legendary. The 140th New York and 33rd Virginia are the hosting re-enactment units.
For further information, visit www.gcv.org or call 294-8218.
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