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Civil War weekend in Mercersburg in October Reprinted from The Mercersburg Journal Mark your calendars now for October 11-13. The 140th anniversary of J.E.B. Stuart's raid through Mercersburg will be commemorated then in the borough. Details of the weekend events are still being filled in. The schedule so far includes the following: Friday: Seminar On Friday evening at 7:30, October 11, there will be a presentation entitled "J.E.B. Stuart - The Man, The Times, and The Raid." Of interest to those who are well versed and those who wish to be well versed on J.E.B. Stuart and his raid, this presentation by leading by experts will cover the personalities of the key figures and how, in detail, the raid took place. Scheduled to speak are Ted Alexander, noted Pennsylvania historian and co-author of "They Came This Way"; John Thompson, local historian and author of "J.E.B. Stuart's Raid Through Mercersburg"; and Robert Trout, Stuart expert and author of the newly published book, "Rolling Thunder." The evening should be a definitive discussion on this historical event. The presentation will be free and open to the public. Saturday: Reenactment, Ball Saturday, October 12, will be the first full day of the event. Around 10:30 a.m., visitors to the town square will be treated to a reenactment of the events that occurred 140 years ago, when General J.E.B. Stuart drew his horse artillery into the square and threatened to blow up the town. The event will be staged as an open-air play, with actors mingling with visitors and interacting with the characters on the "stage". Similar events have been staged successfully in Hagerstown and Chambersburg in past years. This event will also be free of charge. At 2:00 in the afternoon, visitors will gather on the grounds of the Lions Club and the field adjacent for a "black powder" event. Here visitors will be able to wander through a Civil War encampment and see, first hand, how our soldiers lived during the war. In addition to the "black powder" event, which will include mounted charges, cannon barrages, and infantry skirmishes, there will be living historians who will speak on subjects such as medical practices, arms, and battle tactics. Tickets will be required for this event. At 7:30 in the evening, a Civil War Remembrance Ball will be held on the grounds of the Mercersburg Academy, in their grand Victorian ballroom. The ball will include period music, refreshments, and dancing. Period costumes are encouraged for the ball. This event will be under the direction of Nancy Walker, an expert in Civil War dance. Tickets will be required for this event Sunday: Wedding Sunday events will include a traditional "Civil War Camp" morning church service and a Civil War wedding. Around noon, there will be a 21-gun memorial salute to all the soldiers who served in the Civil War, with special recognition of the soldiers of the "54th Massachusetts" Afro-American regiment, many of whom are buried in a local cemetery. Early afternoon will include a cavalry demonstration, "living history" event and a final "black powder" skirmish. Tickets are required for these events. Refreshments, parking, and transportation between events will be available. Specifics, tickets and updates are available online at: www. PathsoftheCivilWar.com Half-price, discount tickets for some events will be available for a limited time through the Mercersburg Area Chamber of Commerce at (717) 328-5827, or through the web site starting May 1. All tickets sales will be final. Although the 140th Commemoration will be held rain or shine, specific events may be added (or deleted) as deemed necessary, at the time, by the coordinating committee. |