Below is a press release from the Sanilac County Historical Society:
Civil War Days at the Museum-August 5 and 6
What could be more exciting for kids than cannons blasting, bullets flying and soldiers dying right before their eyes? It is a teachable moment as Civil War re-enactors fight the Battle of Shiloh, recreating the drama of this major Tennessee battle, fought April 6 and 7, 1862. “Visitors will be able to interact with the Shiloh townsfolk beforehand and after the battle, see who helped take care of the wounded,” reports Ken Giorlando, one of the re-enactors organizers.
Are you familiar with the greatest maritime disaster in history, with even more lives lost than the Titanic? On April 27, 1865, the overloaded steamship Sultana, carrying home mostly Union soldiers, exploded on the flooded Mississippi near Memphis, Tennessee. On a vessel rated to carry 376 passengers, the Sultana traveled with over 2,500 passengers, many of whom had been recently released from prison camps and just wanted to be back home. More than 1,800 soldiers lost their lives in this horrific accident.
Bill Moskwa, local Civil War historian, has made arrangements for his friend, Brian Smith, to give a presentation on the local Civil War soldiers who died or survived the Sultana. Smith describes himself, “I am member of the Sultana Association, and a bit of a northern Sanilac County historian, as my ancestors settled near Forestville in 1863.” Smith will talk about his relative, Henry Koon, who survived the Sultana explosion, and other local soldiers caught up in the disaster. He will provide background as to why historians believe there was a cover-up of the story of the Sultana.
Other events for Civil War Days on August 5 and 6 at the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum include Female Faces of the Civil War. Visitors are invited to witness these women tell their individual stories as Anna Lorinda Etheridge, a.k.a. Michigan Annie, Clara Barton, organizer of the American Red Cross, and Sarah Emma Edmonds, whose exploits were described in the bestselling book Memories of a Soldier, Nurse and Spy. Expect even a visit from President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln too.
All these events are only part of the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum Civil War Days, being held August 5 and 6, from 10 am to 5 pm. There is a nominal admission fee with children five and younger being free. Museum tours include memorabilia from the Grand Army of the Republic on display in the Military Room. Guided tours are scheduled at noon and 3 pm. For more information, contact the Museum at 810.622.9946 or go online to www.sanilaccountymuseum.org.
