Cantigny Civil War event brings era to life
Karen Mattucci of Naperville had to admit that she didn't recognize famed military leader and former President Ulysses S. Grant when he appeared on the grounds at Cantigny Park, riding his horse, Jack.
"I thought he was just another soldier," she said, smiling. "If I'd known, I probably would have called him 'Mister President' or something."
Grant was just one of the historical figures who shared their stories with Cantigny visitors during the annual Civil War Re-Enactment, which took place Saturday and Sunday at the park in Wheaton.
The event included medical demonstrations, battles between Union and Confederate soldiers, Civil War-era music and more. The soldiers spent both Friday and Saturday nights camped out on the Cantigny grounds.
"It wasn't too bad - the wind got a little cold," said David St. John of Bartlett, who portrayed a Confederate weapons expert. He taught visitors about the different types of arms soldiers used during the war.
"I'm not sure people realize that a variety of guns were used," he said. "It was mostly single-shot weapons at the beginning, and by the end you started to see repeaters. Technology develops much faster during wartime."
A number of re-enactment groups contributed to the Cantigny event. St. John is part of the 2d Kentucky Cavalry, which portrays Confederate soldiers and civilians at events in Illinois and surrounding states.
On the Union side of camp. Colin Fagan of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry talked about the army rations of the time and how soldiers entertained themselves.
"Soldiers tended to be voracious readers and writers," he said. "And unlike what happened in later wars, the letters we have from soldiers are uncensored. One of the most fascinating things about studying the Civil War is reading the letters soldiers sent to their families."
Mattucci said she was happy to bring her son and daughter to Cantigny for the re-enactment.
"I've never gone to something like this, honestly, but it's really fascinating," she said. "I guess I never thought about how seeing people actually dressing and living like Civil War times would bring the era to life."