CIVIL WAR WEEKEND PROBES BATTLE OF BULL RUN

MAKANDA, Ill. -- The sound of cannon and musket fire, rebel yells and Federal cheers will echo through the Southern Illinois countryside this weekend during the eighth Makanda Civil War Weekend.

The two-day event will be held Saturday and Sunday on the H.H. Hartline Farm near the intersection of new Highway 51 and the Makanda Road in Jackson County, south of Carbondale. Other activities will be held in the Village of Makanda.

"We're expecting about 300 re-enactors will participate," said Harvey B. Hartline Jr., chairman of the Civil War weekend committee. "I understand there will also be a lot of cavalry and horses. The audience really seems to like that. We should also have a large number of field artillery pieces coming in for the re-enactment."

The event is co-sponsored by the village of Makanda and the Makanda Township Volunteer Fire Department. The host military unit are men and officers of Company C, 31st Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry (USA)

Hartline said the re-enactors have selected the First Battle of Bull Run, or Manassas Junction, if you happen to be a Confederate, because it was the first battle in which Maj. Gen. John A. Logan Jr. of Murphysboro saw combat against the Confederate Army.

Logan went on to become what some historians call "the best fighting general in the entire Union Army and the commander of some of its toughest solders, the XV Corps."

Logan is also remembered in history as the founder of Decoration Day, now called Memorial Day.

Before July 21, 1861, the names of Bull Run Creek and Manassas Junction held little or no significance to anyone living outside of that small Virginia community 20 miles south of Washington. By the end of the day, the names would be engraved forever in American history as the first great battle of the War Between the States.

A very green and only marginally trained Federal force of about 35,000 men marched out of Washington, overly optimistic that they could end the war in several months. In Richmond, Va., the battle cry was, "On to Washington."

The battle began at sunrise and ended at 4 p.m. with the exhausted Confederates the victor only because they still occupied the battlefield. The Union Army suffered nearly 2,900 casualties while the South suffered nearly 2,000 deaths and wounded.

Both sides realized it was going to be a long war that would not end for another four years.

Hartline said the re-enactment of the First Battle of Bull Run will take place Sunday at 2 p.m. on the Hartline Farm east of Route 51.

During the weekend, visitors can tour the Federal and Confederate campsites and talk with the re-enactors, watch authentic 19th century military drill and tactical demonstrations, and view working artisans and craftsmen producing authentic 19th century crafts.

Saturday's schedule of activities includes a live shoot of Civil War-era weapons by the Federal and Confederate troops at 8 a.m. and instructional drill demonstrations based on the military drill manual of the 1860s.

After lunch, the troops will move from their campsites to Makanda for skirmish and tactical operations in the wooded hills behind the town. Because of extensive tree cover, Hartline said this part of the operation will not be easily visible to visitors.

Following the skirmish, Federal troops will demonstrate how rails were bent to disrupt Confederate railroad operations during the war. The demonstration will begin at 4 p.m. in Makanda.

Sunday's public activities begin at 7 a.m. with the flag-raising ceremony followed by a traditional 19th century, Civil War-era church service.

There will be drills and other military demonstrations at 10 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the troops form for open-ranks inspection. From 1-1:30 p.m., the troops will perform battlefield demonstrations followed by the First Battle of Bull Run at 2 p.m.

Hartline said the arts and crafts booths, and sutler tents will open to the public at 10 a.m. each day. Food and other concessions will also be available.

Hartline said authentic musical entertainment in the arts and crafts area will start at 10 a.m. each day.

Hartline said that in the past, on a good-weather weekend, as many as 8,000 to 10,000 people have attended the two-day event."

He advised those planning to attend the re-enactment to come early to avoid last-minute traffic congestion along Highway 51.