By MARIDEE LAWSON
This article originally appeared on October 16, 2013
The Battle of Fredericktown took place Oct. 21, 1861, mostly due to interest in lead mines in the local area. The southern states had control and the northern states wanted control.
This weekend, the Big River Volunteers are hosting the Battle of Fredericktown re-enactement and hoping specators will come and experience what it was like during the Civil War times. This weekend’s battle will take place at the end of Commercial Drive, past Bening Ford and God’s Country Cowboy Church.
Photo by Alan Kopitsky, Democrat News
Anthony “Tony” Thomlinson, re-enactor, said they try to add at least one new event each year. This year they are hosting school days, which will be Friday.
“We are going to have students from local schools come out and see what it was like to go to school back in that time,” said Thomlinson.
School days will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday at this weekend’s battle site.
Denver Lunsford, also a re-enactor, said during school days there will be cannon demonstrations, however, they will not be firing them off. They will also have the camps set up so students and the public can go out and ask questions.
Locla historian Carole Magnus says a dedication will be held Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in front of the Christian Cemetary.
Magnus said two markers will be dedicating, one to Old Abe War Eagle and one to William J. Wisecarver, who was killed in the Battle of Fredericktown.
“He (Old Abe) was the mascot of the eighth Wisconsin Regiment of the Civil War. The eagle was the confidence builder during the war. Those they were battling against felt if they killed the bird it ruined the morale of the soldiers. However, Old Abe was not wounded, he was retired and returned home to Wisconsin. He is known world wide,” said Magnus.
“Old Abe was on tour and was used as a fundraiser as the war continued until 1865 because they needed donations. He was a rally point and enjoyed the crowds. Old Abe enjoyed being taken from town to town,” said Magnus.
Thomlinson said Saturday is the big day for events. The camp opens to the public at 10 a.m.
“There will be vendors set up for the public to visit with, there will be period time food and current day food vendors also. The battle begins at 1 p.m. and there will be a period time dance at 7 p.m.,” said Thomlinson.
Thomlinson said they will re-open to the public Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and the battle Sunday will be at 2 p.m.
This weekend’s battle is expected to have about 200 re-enactors present throughout the weekend.
Lunsford said a lot of the re-enactors come from St. Louis and out of state.
“A lot of the weekend activties are outdoors and we try to keep it as close to the era as possible, including tents and sleeping outdoors,” said Lunsford.
Thomlinson added, The Battle of Fredericktown was a one day battle, which had fighting that lasted off and on all the way through Greenville, Mo. and into Arkansas.
“Missouri was the fourth bloodiest state during the Civil War. The other three were on the east coast to give you an idea where we were during the war,” said Thomlinson.
Lunsford said it is a free event for everyone.
“It is living history of what went on in Fredericktown. There will be wagon rides down the hill to the battlefield and they will burn a mock town on both Saturday and Sunday after the battles. Both events are new this year,” said Lunsford.
Thomlinson said 2016 is the next Battle of Fredericktown and it will be held the third weekend of October. The group plans to host one every third year.
