The Civil War Days came to South Dakota when nearly 150 re-enactors spent two days in August on a field near Canton, SD.
Civil War re-enactors from across the midwest participated in the Action of Mark Mills and the Second Battle of Newtonia. Since all three On the Dakota Frontier books are set during or immediately after the Civil War, I was excited to visit with people who immerse themselves in this time period. And “immerse” is an understatement. They live and breathe the Civil War era, from actual uniforms and encampments, to campfires and cannons.
The Confederates won the Action of Mark Mills on Saturday, just as they did during the real engagement on April 25, 1864, in Cleveland County, Arkansas. The Union soldiers came back the next day to defeat the Rebs at the Second Battle of Newtonia, which took place on October 28, 1864, in Missouri. The soldiers fought with enthusiasm and energy during both battles. The roar of the cannons really brought the battles to life!
However, just as the Civil War was about more than battles, the Civil War Days event presented historical programs, including speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. On Sunday, the day began with a ceremony at Forest Hill Cemetery, where many Civil War veterans are buried.
Thank you to all the participants and attendees who stopped by to talk about and purchase copies of my books. A special thanks to the Civil War Days organizers, Dave Renli and Bill Peterson, who invited me to the event and kept things running with military efficiency.