Civil War returns to Pipestone

PIPESTONE — Citizens of Pipestone beware, for the Rebels are heading in your direction. Of course, the Union soldiers are coming also, so all is not lost.

Civil War Days returns to Pipestone Saturday and Sunday, allowing visitors to interact in the lives of soldiers and civilians of the era. The event includes living historians and individuals re-creating scenes from camp life and daily life, as well as authentic battle scenarios from the war.

Civil War Days takes place on the grounds of the Song of Hiawatha Pageant, and began in 1989 to honor Pipestone County settlers who had served in the Civil War and to commemorate the Grand Army of the Republic, which gathered in Pipestone for an encampment in 1886.

New programs for the 2010 event include School in Session, in which visitors will learn about the educational system during this era and be instructed straight out of the McGuffy Reader and Speller, the same book used by students in the 1860s.

Marty DeWitt, the O’Neil Family Band and Bob Welch will present music, storytelling and education about the songs of the Civil War, and celebrating women’s history will be a tea highlighting author Jane Austen. Information about the history of serving tea and Austen will be presented.

Minnesota author Michael Eckers will be present to talk about his two Civil War books, and magician Jesse Moffit will wander through the grounds demonstration his illusions and sometimes swindling the unsuspecting in a game of chance. Beware of strangers offering a game of “Three Card Monty.”

Mason and Dixon, renowned naval historians and comedians, will perform, and a Civil War reproduction quilt will be raffled.

Returning programs include “An Evening with the Lincolns at the White House,” which takes place at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. In the presentation, the Lincolns prepare to leave for Ford’s Theater April 14, 1965. Throughout the weekend, the President will review troops, discuss the causes and effects of the war and give a press conference.

The 5th Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Company C, based out of south central Minnesota, specializes in Minnesota frontier history of the early 1860s. Members of Company C will discuss current events of the 1860s; the men from Minnesota who enlisted to save the Union; and the conflicts that arose with the area Dakota people, who were struggling to survive.

The public is invited to a grand ball at 8 p.m. Saturday night on the courthouse lawn. Re-enactors will dance in their Sunday best, and the O’Neil Family Band will play.

Other programs scheduled during the weekend will feature quilts, the love letters of soldiers sent to their wives, daily life, medicine, camp life and children’s games — all from the Civil War era.

Visitors can also learn about blacksmiths, artillery, attire and photography of the time.

The following is a complete schedule of events and their locations on the pageant grounds:

Saturday

9:15 a.m.: Funeral program, Winchester; phrenology, Sharpsburg; St. Paul Ladies Aide Society program, all day

9:30 a.m.: Lincoln inspects the troops

9:45 a.m.: Mason and Dixon, Sharpsburg

10 a.m.: Lincoln Mankato trials, Dixie; quilting bee, Cedar Creek; hot air ballooning, Shiloh; children’s games, Ford’s Theater

10:15 a.m.: Mrs. Henry Sibley’s Tea, Ford’s Theater; Ladies Aide Society sewing program

10:30 a.m.: Songs of the Civil War, Winchester; photography, Sharpsburg

10:45 a.m. Medical program, Dixie; the Battle of Allatoona, Shiloh

11 a.m.: A child’s life in the war, Cedar Creek; Minnesota and the war, Sharpsburg; Cannon demonstration, CS Camp

11:30 a.m.: Abe Lincoln Gettysburg, Winchester; school time, Cedar Creek; phrenology, Sharpsburg; Dakota Conflict, Shiloh

11:45 a.m.: Letters from home, Dixie; women’s fashions, Ford’s Theater

Noon: History of music, Winchester; Mason and Dixon, Sharpsburg

12:15 p.m.: Medical program, Dixie

12:30 p.m.: the daily life of women, Cedar Creek; photography, Sharpsburg

1 p.m.: Songs of the war, Winchester; Minnesota and the war, Sharpsburg; Jane Austen tea, Shiloh

1:15 p.m.: Women’s fans, Dixie

2 p.m.: O’Neil Family Band, Winchester

3 p.m.: Battle, all sites (except Shiloh)

4 p.m.: Funeral program, Winchester; ballroom dance lessons, Ford’s Theater; phrenology, Sharpsburg

5:30 p.m.: An Evening with the Lincolns, performing arts center

8 p.m.: Grand ball, courthouse lawn

Sunday

9 a.m.: Phrenology, Sharpsburg

9:15 a.m.: Funeral program, Winchester; St. Paul Ladies Aide Society program

9:30 a.m.: Medical program, Dixie; daily life of women, Cedar Creek; Lincoln inspects Federal camp

9:45 a.m.: Mason and Dixon, Sharpsburg

10 a.m.: Quilting bee, Cedar Creek; hot air ballooning, Shiloh; children’s games throughout the day at Ford’s Theater

10:15 a.m.: History of music, Winchester; photography, Sharpsburg

10:30 a.m.: A child’s life in the war, Dixie

10:45 a.m.: Women’s fashions, Ford’s Theater; Minnesota and the war, Sharpsburg; Ladies Aide Society sewing program

11 a.m.: Medical program, Dixie; Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Winchester; 5th Minnesota Dakota Conflict, Shiloh

11:15 a.m.: Phrenology, Sharpsburg

11:30 a.m.: School time, Cedar Creek; Cannon demonstration, Union camp

11:45 a.m.: Songs of the Civil War, Winchester; Mrs. Henry Sibley’s tea, Ford’s Theater, Mason and Dixon, Sharpsburg

Noon: Letters from home, Dixie

12:15 p.m.: The Battle of Allatoona, Shiloh

12:45 p.m.: Minnesota and the war, Sharpsburg

1 p.m.: O’Neil Family Band, Winchester

2 p.m. Battle, all sites (except Shiloh)

3 p.m.: Funeral program, Winchester; Mason and Dixie, Sharpsburg

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