Rebs establish their firing line
Union troops scramble for position
Last year it was, at least for Calhoun County, an exciting, panoramic extravaganza, the reenactment of the Battle of Sycamore during Calhoun Days. The production took lots of planning, hard work and dedication.
A new 2010 version of the battle will be performed during Calhoun Days at the Calhoun County Park, continues today and Sunday. Admission is free with donations requested to keep the park going.
Calhoun Days, a much-needed fundraiser for the county park (donations) features lots of entertainment and special events, including tours of Heritage Village, music, bingo, cannon firing, square dancing, tournaments and a Period Church Service Sunday morning.
There will be firing of a large cannon at night during
the festivities (Photo courtesy of Terry Harris)
Events include a cornhole and horseshoe tournament, apple butter making, sausage and biscuits at the barn, and a period church service Sunday morning followed by a gospel sing.
A Civil War drama production by the PSHS Drama Department of the play, "The Breaking of Bread" by William Watson will be presented ar 9 p.m. Saturday. Eli Tracewell will portray the Yank and Adam Shaffer the Reb.
CALHOUN DAYS SCHEDULE
www.calhouncountypark.com
THE BATTLE OF SYCAMORE
Saturday/Sunday - 2 p.m.
Battle heats up with firing on Union soldier
Last years reenactment featured performers from Calhoun's own 19th Regiment of the Virginia Cavalry Company A - "The Moccasin Rangers," with a large accompanying cast of regional groups, 17th VA Calvary Company F Nighthawk Rangers, 5th Kentucky Infantry, 2nd VA Infantry, Kanawha Lite Artillery, Carlins Battery, 11th West Virginia Infantry, and 13th West Virginia Infantry.
The battle is spread across the county park's hillside, an exiting crowd pleaser for adults and children.
History says Colonel Adonijah McDonald, commanding officer of the county's 186th Regiment of Virginia Militia, lived on the divide between the forks of Sycamore, where the battle broke out.
The action was an exchange of gunfire lasting about forty-five minutes between Captain Perry Conley's band of irregular Southern partisans, a splinter group of the Moccasin Rangers, and a detachment of Captain James L. Simpson's Company C, Eleventh (West) Virginia Infantry, which had not yet been mustered into Federal volunteer service.
When union and rebel soldiers encountered near Adjoniah McDonald's cabin, gunfire erupted with firing lines reminiscent of most Civil War clashes.
See
HERITAGE VILLAGE WORTH A SUMMER VISIT - Recalling Calhoun's Early Days
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