CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTORS VERSUS TRAIN

Civil War re-enactments are becoming popular pastimes and entertainments, but the chance to see an attack on a train remains a rare treat, says Maj. Mark Westoff.

"Civil War re-enactments involving trains are significant," says Westoff, a major in the Illinois State Militia. "There aren't that many, maybe only three or four in the country."

Westoff and other Union and Confederate re-enactors will stage attacks on the St. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad Saturday and Sunday at Gordonville.

The Civil War was the first war in which trains were used, Westoff says. Troops, the wounded and artillery all were transported via train, making the Iron Horse an important target.

"It was very common to try to disrupt train travel," Westoff says.

He is a member of the host 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry of St. Clair County, a fighting force that existed during the Civil War and took more hits at Shiloh than any others.

Known as the "Bloody 9th," the 9th Illinois led Sherman's famous march to the sea.

The Confederate and Union forces will alternate attacking the train Saturday and Sunday. "In all instances, the train will be met with some kind of hostile fire when it comes into the Gordonville area," Westoff says.

There will be skirmishes on the field at 3 p.m. both days. No specific battle is being re-enacted. ""We are basically showing tactics that would have been used in that general time," Westoff says.

A cornfield has been left standing at the battle site so the re-enactors can fight through the corn.

"There were a lot of cornfield battles during the Civil War," Westoff says.

But Gordonville did see some action during the Civil War. Confederate forces are rumored to have dumped a cannon in the pond near the battlefield to prevent Union troops from getting it.

"They have turned up lead and cannon balls from there," Westoff says. "It's always nice to re-enact at a place where there was some action in one way or another."

Also skirmishing this weekend will be Clinton County's 1st Illinois Light Artillery, which includes cannons and cavalry, the 7th Kentucky -- both Union and Confederate contingents, and Clark's Battery out of Mississippi County.

The total number of troops will be between 65 and 85.

The first train Saturday will leave Jackson at 11 a.m. and arrive at Gordonville at 11:35 a.m., remaining until 2:20 p.m.

The next train will leave Jackson at 2 p.m. Saturday, arrive at Gordonville at 2:35 p.m. and leave at 3:20 p.m. The final train Saturday will leave Jackson at 5 p.m., arrive at Gordonville at 5:35 p.m. and leave at 7 p.m.

The Sunday trains will leave Jackson at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and arrive at Gordonville at 11:35 a.m. and 2:35 p.m.