JACKSON BECOMES BATTLEGROUND

Union and Confederate soldiers met once again during a Civil War reenactment event held in Jackson last weekend.

The event was sponsored by the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railway. Visitors from the area and from St. Louis and Southern Illinois got the opportunity to ride the old-time steam train, tour the authentic campgrounds of the Union and Confederate reenactors and see firsthand a reenactment of a battle which took place at Sedalia during the Civil War.

The event got started Saturday morning with a reenactment of a Civil War soldier recruitment in Courthouse Square after which the 100 reenactors, volunteers who traveled from throughout the state and from Illinois, had mock street skirmishes in Jackson's downtown.

The finale of the opening ceremony was the rededication of the grave of Civil War officer William L. Jeffers. In addition to presentations, the ceremony featured a 21-gun salute and the playing of bagpipe music.

Reenactments of the Sedalia battle were held three times Saturday and three times Sunday. Union and Confederate soldiers alternated riding the steam train while the other side attacked from near the campsites, located near Lee Avenue and the railroad tracks.

In all, St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railway officials estimate that over 1,000 people attended the event.