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Cider Fest to feature Civil War encampment, re-enactors

If you always had a hankering to speak to a general and future president, you'll get your chance Sunday when General Ulysses S. Grant drops by the McHenry County Historical Society's Cider Fest.

The 39th annual festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the museum, 6422 Main St. in Union. In addition to free access to the museum, guests are invited to participate in an Apple Bake-Off, take home a variety of homemade apple treats and experience what is was like in a Civil War encampment with the 36th Wisconsin Voluntary Infantry.

General Grant and future first lady, Julia Boggs Dent Grant (Margot Jackson), will be on hand to converse with guests and answer questions.

"I got involved in re-enacting in 1989 as an infantry soldier with the 36 Wisconsin," said Wayne Issleb, who portrays General Grant. "Things kind of petered out until the 150th anniversary of the Civil War when a lot of us got together again. We started doing an infantry guard with General Grant and we've been doing that for six years."

The brother-against-brother nature of the War between the States and its far-reaching effects have given it staying power. And re-enactors help to tell that story in a very personal way.

"You will be able to see our infantry drilling and listen as they talk about the muskets and weapons that were used," Issleb said. "The load-and-fire demonstration really gets people going."

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