I n September, the Monmouth County Historical Association will host a Civil War re-enactors encampment during the weekend of Sept. 22-23 on the grounds of the association’s museum and library, 70 Court St., Freehold. The public will be welcome to tour the encampment between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Tours of the current exhibition “Marching Away: Monmouth in the Civil War” will be offered inside the museum.
The event, which is organized by the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Company D re-enactors group, will feature military activities and demonstrations as well as craft demonstrations from the Civil War era.
According to Antoinette David, of the 2nd Rhode Island, “The re-enactors really enjoy engaging the public as they practice their drills and demonstrations, and they are ready to answer any questions about the life of a Civil War soldier. This will be a terrific family event.”
Ongoing activities will include demonstrations of rug making, chair caning, hat box making and cooking over the open fire using recipes from the mid-19th century. There will also be displays of toys of the period and of models of naval vessels used in the Civil War. Mary Todd Lincoln will be on hand to talk with visitors about her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, and about her experiences as First Lady.
Another re-enactor group, the 6th New York Independence Battery, will be bringing a vintage 1863 Civil War cannon for display and giving demonstrations of how a cannon would have been loaded to fire.
Scheduled activities on both days will be as follows:
11 a.m. – Military Drills with discussion on types of formation. 1 p.m. – Rifle Shooting Contest with an explanation of gun fare.
2 p.m. – Victorian Tea.
3 p.m. – Dancing of the Period with instruction.
The exhibition, “Marching Away: Monmouth County in the Civil War,” will be on view at the historical association through March 2013. Admission to the encampment and the museum exhibition is free. Parking will be available at the Monmouth County Court House parking lot across the street from the historical association headquarters.