CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTMENT IS OCT. 26-27

When people visit the campsites of Civil War re-enactors participating in the re-enactment of the Battle of Belmont, they will hear authentic Civil War-era music played by the Battle Cry Band.

The 10-piece band from the Rockford-Moline, Ill., area is among special events scheduled.

The two-day re-enactment will take place Oct. 26-27 on the same ground on which Federal troops, under the command of Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant, and Confederate troops, under the command of Gen. Leonidas Polk, fought on Nov. 7, 1861. The battleground is southeast of East Prairie.

About 1,200 re-enactors from throughout the nation representing Federal and Confederate infantry, cavalry, and artillery units are expected.

Mississippi County Presiding Commissioner Fred DeField, who is involved in the planning of the re-enactment, said the Battle Cry Band will perform at two military balls and in the campsite areas on Saturday and Sunday.

"They will play for the public ball Friday night and the private military ball for the re-enactors on Saturday," said DeField. "They will also perform in the campsite areas for the public."

He said the repertoire of the band includes songs and dances that were popular during the Civil War. Although titles of many of the songs they play may not sound familiar, DeField said everyone will recognize them.

"About one-third of the selections have lived to the present day, sung by grandparents and parents, taught by elementary school music teachers, and are still used by camp counselors."

DeField said a few of the songs include "The Bonnie Blue Flag," "Camptown Races," "Dixie," "Garry Owen," (of Custer 7th Cavalry fame) "Devil's Dream" and "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground."

It will be the band's first appearance in the area since it was formed nearly three years ago. The band has played a number of two-day engagements, nearly all of them re-enactments of various battles of the Civil War. The band has been asked to return for performances because of its popularity among re-enactors and visitors, DeField said.

He said the re-enactment committee has received calls from tour-bus operators about the re-enactment.

DeField said: "We even got a call from one of the directors of the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. in New Orleans. He's a Civil War buff and said he was coming to the re-enactment. He also told me the company was trying to reschedule either the Delta Queen, or the Mississippi Queen so one of them could make a stop during the re-enactment."

DeField said plans have been finalized for a ferry that will carry re-enactors and visitors across the Mississippi River from Columbus-Belmont State Park, Ky., to attend the re-enactment. The park will host a Civil War living history and craft fair during the re-enactment weekend.

Visitors to the Belmont re-enactment will be transported by tram from the parking site near the levee on a 25-minute ride to the battleground and campsite area. The route is the same used by Grant and his troops after his gunboats and troop transports landed near Belmont. Visitors will be briefed on events leading up to the battle and the battle.

"I urge everyone to come early for the tram ride because the camp activities will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue through the day and evening," he said.

The re-enactment of the battle will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Following the battle, the campsites will be open to visitors. There will be a night firing of the artillery at 6:30 p.m.

To reach the parking area from Cape Girardeau, take I-55 south to Route 80 south of Sikeston. Turn right on Route 80 and go east through East Prairie. Signs will mark the route to the parking area near the levee.

The re-enactment is sponsored by the Mississippi County Industrial Development Authority and the Battle of Belmont Re-enactment Committee.