Saturday, April 28, 2012

Civil War Rages in Western Pennsylvania!




OK not really, but a bit of history came alive with the 6th Annual Civil War Weekend sponsored by the Andrew Carnegie Free Library. The library is home to the restored Thomas Espy GAR Post 153.


The event included exhibits, a Civil War era tea, and military drills and skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces.


Civil War Medicine displays, Infantry drills..

artillery, small arms and civil war recruiting demonstrations were all part of the event.

One of the reenactments (pictured above too) was the Battle of Mechanicsville, also known as The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek. The actual battle took place on June 26, 1862, in Virginia.
It was the start of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's counter-offensive against the Union Army of the Potomac, which threatened the Confederate capital of Richmond.

General Lee attempted to turn the Union right flank, with troops under "Stonewall" Jackson, but Jackson failed to arrive on time.


Instead Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill, reinforced by one of Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill's brigades,  threw his division into a series of futile assaults against the Union V Corps, under Brig Gen Porter, which occupied defensive works behind Beaver Dam Creek.

Confederate attacks were driven back with heavy casualties. Porter withdrew his corps safely to Gaines Mill.
Well, after an inspiring day, back to the workbench!

Have a Great Battle!
The Old Crow



No comments:

Post a Comment