Hearthside - The House That Love Built

2007 Civil War Re-enactment Brings a Big Bang to Great Road

Cover your ears! The boom of cannon fire will once again bellow through the hills of Great Road on the weekend of September 15-16, 2007 when the Battle of Chase Farm takes center stage in the usually quiet, idyllic park. Amidst the meadows of Chase Farm Park, spectators will be brought back in time as they become part of a historic Civil War encampment and battle scene straight from the 1860s, complete with colorful military uniforms and hoop skirts, blasts of musketry, mounted cavalry, the blast of cannon fire, and the smell of open campfires. Sponsored by the Town of Lincoln and the 21st Mississippi Infantry Company H, the Battle at Chase Farm is being cited as the largest Civil War event in New England this summer, drawing close to 400 re-enactors in addition to the medical unit performing at the Field Hospital. Battle scenarios will take place on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the hills of Chase Farm Park. When the battles are not being fought, visitors are encouraged to walk through the Union and Confederate encampments and talk to the re-enactors about life in the 19th century.

A special feature of this Civil War Re-enactment is the inclusion of a field hospital set at Hearthside. Just as it would have been done back at that time, the homestead will be “taken over” by the soldiers and cleared out of its furnishings in order to set up a field hospital for the wounded soldiers. Real-life military medics will demonstrate 19 th century medical techniques and use period instruments as they perform realistic procedures, such as amputations, using stage blood of course. The Field Hospital and all the rooms at Hearthside will be open for viewing throughout the event hours on both days with demonstrations as well as displays of artifacts, antiques and period clothing. Because of the graphic nature of the medical scenarios, it is not advised for young children or those uncomfortable with such procedures to visit during the surgical demonstrations following each day’s battles in the mid-afternoon.

Artillery and cavalry demonstrations will help to bring the past alive each day, complemented by other historic scenarios. A group of women re-enactors will portray a township, known as Unity, which is affected by a nearby battle. They will be supporting the medical scenarios taking place . The role of all the re-enactors is to teach history, so they encourage visitors to spend time talking with them and learning about this important period in our country’s history. On Saturday evening, there will be a Candlelight Tour of the camps at dusk, which is limited to 100 ticket holders. Tickets for this special tour are available at Lincoln Town Hall. A concession stand will be available throughout the weekend to provide refreshments and lunch, making it a perfect outing for families to spend the afternoon and get an unforgettable, up close and personal look at history.

Hours for the event are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Since no parking is allowed at the site during the event, continuous shuttle bus transportation is available from the parking lot of the Community College of Rhode Island located one mile from the site on Rt. 246, located just off Route 146 at the Breakneck Hill Road exit in Lincoln. Signs directing visitors to the free parking lot will be posted. Cost for general admission to the battlegrounds is $7.00 per person and children under 12 free.

For re-enactor registration information, please contact John.Wrona@verizon.net.

Click here for photos from past Civil War events.

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