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Elgin's first Civil War re-enactment effort 'impressive'

John Braese knows when he puts on his gray wool uniform to embody a Confederate captain in the Civil War, it's not going to be the real thing.

For one, the 54-year-old won't be fearing for his life like soldiers did in battle more than 150 years ago.

Re-enactments are great fun and help educate people about history, said Braese, who spearheaded next month's Elgin Civil War Experience, the first Civil War re-enactment organized in the city.

"We are trying to teach history, so people don't forget what happened and it doesn't repeat itself," he said.

Braese, of Rockford, is a city public works mechanic who has participated in about 150 re-enactments the last 20 years. Three years ago, he started pitching the idea of having one in Elgin, and the city council approved $25,000 in funding in February.

For a first-time effort, the Elgin event - which will include nearly 500 re-enactors, cannons and horses - is shaping up fantastically, according to members of the organizing committee.

"The support we are getting from Elgin is incredible," said Gerald Morin of Antioch. "They've offered us a generous amount to be able to put this on and they've given us a spectacular place to re-enact."

Jack Pickup of Barrington says he expects up to 3,000 people, possibly more.

"It's extremely impressive how Elgin is doing it," he said. "It's going to be one of the largest events in Illinois the first time out."

As a re-enactor, Braese is a captain with the 9th Virginia Calvary, on the Confederate side. Pickup is chief of staff for the First Confederate Brigade, and Morin is a Union colonel with First Illinois Batallion.

Civil War history is a touchy subject, and re-enactors do their best to recount it fairly and accurately, the men said.

"I love the history of this period," Morin said. "And I get to spend time with people from all walks of life that have similar interests that I have."

The re-enactors, who range from youths to people in their 70s, will spend at least two nights camping out in Elgin, and typically ride out all but the most dangerous rainstorms.

"We've done it in snow, we've done it in 103-degree heat," Braese said. "I mean, they did it (in the Civil War)."

Most sleep in tents, but the hard-core ones sleep outside, like many did back then. "A lot of people that get into this hobby like to get into the mindset of what those guys actually faced," he said.

Battle scenarios are discussed ahead of time, such as which side will take the most casualties, but the action isn't choreographed in great detail.

Women participate, even if not on the battlefield, he said. "Everybody has job - from the food prep, camp cleanup, horse detail, changing flags," Braese said. " The camaraderie is very high."

A Civil War aficionado since childhood, Braese was introduced to re-enacting nearly 20 years ago by a former supervisor at United Airlines who invited him to an event in Minooka, Illinois.

When he got there, he was given a uniform and a musket, and told to take part in a drill.

"Up over a rise you start seeing bayonets, then you start seeing heads. And then rows and rows of shiny uniforms and bayonets glinting in the sun. All of a sudden I realized, 'This is what they were seeing back then,'' he said.

"I was hooked just like that."

  John Braese has been a Civil War aficionado since childhood and has participated in about 150 re-enactments the last 20 years. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

If you go

What: Elgin Civil War Experience

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 11

Recreated battles: The Battle of Fort Donelson at 2 p.m. June 10; the Battle of Milliken's Bend at 1 p.m. June 11

Where: 600 S. State St., Elgin

Cost: $5 tickets at <a href="https://elgin.force.com/s/lt-event?site=a5sd0000001Lw9JAAS&id=a6j0W000001chbKQAQ">cityofelgin.org/civilwar</a>, free with valid veterans ID and for children younger than 5

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