BOSCOBEL, Wis. -- Boscobel is hosting the 17th annual Muskets & Memories Civil War-era Reenactment Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2.
Organizers tout the event as one of the largest and most popular Civil War-era reenactments in the upper Midwest, attracting nearly 1,000 participants and more than 8,000 spectators annually. Activities for the weekend include a ladies' garden party, fashion show, children's activities, band concerts, church service, first-person impressions, medical history demonstrations, workshops, sutler vending period goods and garments, guided tours of the Union, Confederate and civilian camps, competitive military drills and battle reenactments.
Saturday's 1 p.m. reenactment features the First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas that was fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas, Va. According to Marie Leifheit, a Muskets & Memories committee member, the North thought it would be a decisive battle. Picnic-basket-carrying civilians gathered to watch the battle, which turned out to be a decisive victory for the Confederates. Union forces, severely beaten,
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What: Muskets & Memories Civil War-era Reenactment When: Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2 Where: Kronshage Park, Boscobel, Wis. Cost: General admission is $8 per day; ages 7 to 12 is $4; younger than 7 is free. Group, family and weekend rates are available. |
Sunday's 1:30 p.m. reenactment is the war's last full battle near Appomattox, Va. Following is the Confederate surrender at 2:15 p.m. in the event tent. The generals' meeting (reenacting the actual surrender in the McLean House) features U.S. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The surrender was signed on April 9, 1865, at the house of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Courthouse.
"Signing the treaty is one of most profound experiences I've ever had," Leifheit said. "The respect the North and the South displays just gives me goose bumps talking about it."
Reenactors portraying Union generals William T. Sherman and George Armstrong Custer are expected to perform.
"People have studied and studied different aspects of the war," Leifheit said. "Our event is educational and they know it."
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville offers college credit to individuals participating in the event. Reenacting units recruit, equip and train candidates, who then earn credit by participating in the unit's weekend activities.
Civil War era reenactment schedule - The citizens of Boscobel are proud to host the 17th Annual Muskets & Memories Civil War Era Reenactment and GAR Heritage Encampment the first full weekend of August.
