Old State Capitol mustering in participants for Civil War Medical
Encampment Education Day June 8
Send a link to a friend
[May 12, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD -- Young Civil War
soldiers, doctors and aid workers are being recruited for the June 8
Education Day, the first event of the annual Civil War Medical
Encampment, June 8-10, at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site.
|
Education Day is free and is an ideal individual, family or youth
camp activity. Sessions are planned for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and each
includes six interactive activities for all ages to help
participants enjoy a Civil War history education experience. The
sessions are free but require reservations, which can be made by
calling 217-558-8911 or emailing
mike.burke@illinois.gov.
This popular program fills up quickly, so those interested in taking
part are encouraged to make reservations as soon as possible.
The annual Civil War Medical Encampment, sponsored by Memorial
Medical Center, will kick off a summer schedule of "History Comes
Alive" programming in downtown Springfield. This year's events,
which focus on medical and health issues during the Civil War, will
highlight the role of the Soldiers' Aid Society.
During the Civil War years, the Springfield Ladies' Soldiers' Aid
Society often used the Illinois Capitol building as a base of
operations. The society was formed in August 1861 to gather food,
clothing and other supplies to aid Illinois soldiers, but especially
the sick and the wounded. The sudden, huge expansion of the U.S.
military had exceeded the government's ability to provide some types
of clothing and other supplies, leading groups of volunteers across
the nation to step in "to meet, in some degree, the obvious and
unavoidable deficiencies."
[to top of second column] |
State officials strongly encouraged the efforts of the aid
societies that were formed across Illinois and often allowed the
Springfield women the use of the Capitol building for their
activities. For months during 1862, members met in the Senate
chamber to create clothing and bandage material for use in
hospitals. The rotunda served as a collection point for donations of
food, clothing and other necessities.
A complete list of Civil War Encampment activities is available
on the
Calendar of Events section of the Illinois Civil War website,
www.illinoiscivilwar150.org, or follow the Old State Capitol on
Facebook for the latest information.
The
Old State Capitol State Historic Site, 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]
|