Medicine and music return to Old State Capitol during June 7-9 encampment

[May 31, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Old State Capitol will morph into a Civil War field hospital injected with a healthy dose of fun and music as the annual Civil War Medical Encampment returns June 7-9.

Before the encampment begins in earnest, Dr. Guy Hasegawa will speak Wednesday at 5 p.m. about artificial limbs available to wounded soldiers during the war. He is the author of "Mending Broken Soldiers: The Union and Confederate Programs to Supply Artificial Limbs."

The encampment includes a day of hands-on activities for children, a display of medical equipment on Friday, Civil War songs around the campfire, a visit from Abraham Lincoln, concerts and more.

The event, which kicks off a summer schedule of "History Comes Alive" programming in downtown Springfield, also will highlight the role of the Soldiers' Aid Society and Illinois' mobilization effort.

During the Civil War years, the Springfield Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society often used the Illinois Capitol as a base of operations. The society was formed in August 1861 to gather food, clothing and other supplies for Illinois soldiers, especially the sick and wounded. The building served as a collection point for donations of food, clothing and other necessities.

The Capitol also housed the office of the adjutant general, who was responsible for organizing the state's effort to raise troops. Illinois would eventually send 250,000 troops to the front. During the encampment there will be mustering events and attempts to recruit people to serve in Mr. Lincoln's army.

___

Highlights

Friday, June 7

An Education Day is planned for June 7, with sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Participants in each session will rotate through interactive activities ideal for youth camps, families or anyone who enjoys Civil War history. The sessions are free but require reservations; call 217-558-8911 or send an email to [e-mail].

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., historian Herschel Stroud will display a large collection of artifacts inside the Old State Capitol. This is one of the largest private collections of Civil War medical artifacts in the country and will feature both ordinary items used by soldiers in the field and horrifying medical instruments used in hospitals.

At 5 p.m., Stroud will give a presentation as Dr. Benjamin Woodward. A native of Galesburg, Woodward volunteered as a surgeon with the 22nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, stationed at Cairo.

The programming continues with Civil War songs around the campfire at 7:30 p.m. on the south lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Musicians will include Steve Staley, Chris Vallillo and the 97th Regimental String Band.

Saturday, June 8

The program for June 8 begins with a flag ceremony and an address by Abraham Lincoln presenter Max Daniels on the south lawn at 9:30 a.m.

Afterward, guests can enjoy living history programs and presentations, listen to live period music, meet the generals and political leaders of the Civil War, participate in a Civil War scavenger hunt, view artifacts, and spend time with re-enactors camping on the grounds.

Saturday evening brings a 6 o'clock concert by the 97th Regimental String Band, a trio of talented Civil War musical artists, in the Old State Capitol's Representative Hall. The concert is free but reservations are required; call 217-558-8911.

The 97th Regimental String Band, described as a "eudaemonious concatenation of jocular harmonists," has been performing for over 20 years. They mimic an actual string band of the Civil War era singing traditional American songs in authentic living history style. They provide a history lesson with stories and songs about the real people and events that shaped America.

Sunday, June 9

June 9 features Civil War camps on the Old State Capitol grounds and several re-enactments and presentations, with activities ending at noon.

The Civil War Medical Encampment, sponsored by Memorial Medical Center, is the kickoff event for the summer's History Comes Alive program.

For a complete schedule of History Comes Alive events, visit www.visit-springfieldillinois.com.

___

A detailed schedule of activities follows:

Wednesday, June 5

2-5 p.m. -- Herschel Stroud Collection on display. Media event.

5 p.m. -- Guy Hasegawa, "Civil War Amputation and Artificial Limbs"

Friday, June 7

10 a.m. -- Education Day morning session begins.

2 p.m. -- Education Day afternoon session begins.

1-5 p.m. -- Herschel Stroud Collection on display.

5 p.m. -- Herschel Stroud will speak about Dr. Benjamin Woodward.

7:30 p.m. -- Campfire music, south lawn (blankets and chairs welcome)

Saturday, June 8, outdoors

9 a.m. -- Old State Capitol Historic Site opens.

9:30 a.m. -- Flag ceremony, south lawn

10 a.m. -- Surgical field hospital, northeast lawn

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Living history camps open to the public.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Scavenger hunt. Pick up scavenger hunt at the Emporium (North Gate) and turn it in for a prize at the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office, corner of Sixth and Adams streets.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Blacksmithing, north lawn

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Civil War camping and cooking, northwest lawn

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- U.S. Christian Commission, northeast lawn

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Civil War weapons display, auditor's office

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Herschel Stroud Collection on display.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- 19th-century tailor demonstrations in secretary of state's office

10 a.m.-5 p.m. -- Soldiers' Aid Society working in the Senate Chamber

10:30 a.m. -- Infantry drill, southeast lawn

11 a.m. -- School of the cavalry, south lawn

11:30 a.m. -- Medical demonstration with surgery, northeast lawn

Noon -- Tea party and fashion show

Noon -- 97th Regimental String Band entertainment, northwest lawn

12:30 p.m. -- Firearms, fencing and saber tactics, south lawn

1 p.m. -- School of the soldier, southeast lawn

1:30 p.m. -- Bugle calls, south lawn

1:30 p.m. -- 97th Regimental String Band entertainment, northwest lawn

2 p.m. -- Surgical field hospital, northeast lawn

2:30 p.m. -- Infantry drill, southeast lawn

3 p.m. -- Medical demonstration with surgery, northeast lawn

3:30 p.m. -- School of the soldier, southeast lawn

5 p.m. -- Dinner for re-enactors, staff and volunteers, inside Old State Capitol

6 p.m. -- Concert: 97th Regimental String Band, Representative Hall

7:30 p.m. -- Civil War dance, south portico, lawn

Saturday, June 8, indoors

10 a.m. -- Soldiers' Aid Society program, Senate Chamber

10 a.m. -- The story of Albert Cashier/Jennie Hodgers, Supreme Court

10:30 a.m. -- Meet Gen. Grant, outside adjutant general's office

10:30 a.m. -- Dulcimer music, Nona Huber

11 a.m. -- Civil War dancers, lower rotunda

11 a.m. -- Soldiers' Aid Society program, Senate Chamber

11:30 a.m. -- President Lincoln discusses the Emancipation Proclamation, Representative Hall

Noon -- "1863: Year of Decision," generals discuss the war, Representative Hall

Noon -- Civil War music by Chris Vallillo

1 p.m. -- Gen. Benjamin Grierson of Jacksonville, Representative Hall

1:30 p.m. -- Herschel Stroud as Maj. Benjamin Woodward, Representative Hall

1:30 p.m. -- "Everyday Life of Civil War Ladies," Carol Norman, Supreme Court

2 p.m. -- Soldiers' Aid Society program, Senate Chamber

2 p.m. -- Civil War dancers, lower rotunda

2:30 p.m. -- Juneteenth celebration, Representative Hall

2:30 p.m. -- Dulcimer music, Nona Huber

3 p.m. -- Soldiers' Aid Society program, Senate Chamber

3:30 p.m. -- Civil War music, Chris Vallillo

3:30 p.m. -- President Lincoln discusses the progress of the war, Representative Hall

4 p.m. -- Meet and greet the generals, Representative Hall

6 p.m. -- 97th Regimental String Band, Representative Hall

Sunday, June 9

9 a.m. -- Old State Capitol Historic Site opens.

9 a.m.-noon -- Living history camps open to the public.

9 a.m.-noon -- Blacksmithing, north lawn

9 a.m.-noon -- Civil War weapons exhibit, auditor's office

9 a.m.-noon -- Herschel Stroud Collection on display.

9:30 a.m. -- Civil War field chapel

10 a.m. -- Medical demonstration, northeast lawn

10 a.m. -- Soldiers' Aid Society program, Senate Chamber

10 a.m. -- 97th Regimental String Band, Supreme Court

10:30 a.m. -- Meet the generals, Representative Hall

10:30 a.m. -- Firearms, fencing and saber tactics, south lawn

11 a.m. -- "Cyclone in Calico: Mother Bickerdyke," Jacque Stroud, Senate

11 a.m. -- Infantry drill, southeast lawn

Noon -- Closing ceremony, Farewell Address, north steps

___

More information about the Civil War Encampment is available at www.illinoiscivilwar150.org, or follow the Old State Capitol on Facebook.

The Old State Capitol, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week through Labor Day.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]