Hearthside - The House That Love Built

CIVIL WAR WEEKEND

GENERAL INFORMATION

Admission

Admission for one-day is $10 for adults; $7 seniors/students; $5 age 5-10; under age 5 free. A family up to 4 members is $25. The Candlelight Tour and Night Firing ticket may be purchased at $5. A two-day admission ticket may be purchased for $15.

Parking

All parking for this year's event will be onsite, unlike previous years where shuttle buses provided transportation from an offsite lot. The encampments and battlefield have been moved to the top of the hill in the Park, allowing for parking in the lower meadows.

Advice for Spectators

The Civil War reenactors (men, women and children) you will encounter come from all over New England , as well as further south. Re-enacting is a weekend hobby for them, and they are passionate about the history they are portraying, from military personnel (infantry, artillery, medical) along with Civil War era civilians and sutlers). They welcome you to visit the Federal (Union), the Confederate camps and the civilian Town of Unity . Listen to the soldiers and civilians and ask questions. Watch as soldiers make ready for battle, meals are prepared and daily "goings on" in the Town of Unity . Don't be shy; approach them with your questions, and you will find they are anxious to start a conversation with you and share their knowledge. Please remember, the camps are their homes for the weekend. If a tent is closed, please do not enter.

No Dogs Allowed

Chase Farm Park is a popular spot with dog lovers. But, during the Civil War Weekend, dogs will not be allowed at the Park. There are hundreds of people coming to the Park to enjoy this event, and there are too many different and LOUD noises that could startle dogs and disrupt the activities and create uneasiness among the crowd. Please leave your favorite pet at home.

Sutlers

Sutlers are Civil War-era merchants. During the Civil War every regiment or brigade had a sutler licensed to follow along and sell "extras" to the men. These extras included food items, such as cans of sweetened condensed milk (a favorite with the men); to clothing, such as civilian-style shirts; to some items hidden away from the eyes of the Provost (military police). Modern sutlers (Merchants)now sell numerous items to the Reenactor as well as the Spectator.

Food Vendors

Food vendors will be on site throughout the weekend.

Schedule of Events

Click here for a full Schedule of Events for the weekend. Hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

THE RE-ENACTORS

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN – Portrayed by Phillip A. Chetwynd

Phillip A. Chetwynd has been a devoted scholar of Lincoln since grade school, dedicated to studying the character, philosophy, and common sense of this simple country lawyer who became the definitive leader of our nation. He began his road to this portrayal in 1976, reenacting during the American Bicentennial. By the late 1980s, Chetwynd transferred his interests to the American Civil War, finding a long-sought outlet for his first passion: Abraham Lincoln. The only professional Lincoln presenter to enter the field of Lincoln impressions directly from reenacting,

Chetwynd portrayed the President for the first time in 1988, and hasn't stopped since. He brings to his presentation a strong, convincing sense of Lincoln in the first person. His strength and challenge are in the press conference, where he fields questions from every quarter on any aspect of Lincoln: his White House administration during the Civil War, foreign policy, reconstruction, the place of the Negro in American society, his law practice, family life, and growing up on the nation's frontier. Hard-nosed historians cannot shake him from his first-person portrayal, supported by his wealth of knowledge of Lincoln as a whimsical and devoted family man, as a shrewd and determined politician, as a private and troubled individual burdened by personal loss and national tragedy. For more information, visit his website at www.lincolnfortheages.com

Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant – Portrayed by Sam Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was described as an “ordinary, scrubby-looking man with a slightly seedy look…he had no gait, no station, no manner.” While unimposing in appearance and excessively humble in demeanor, Grant's aggressive approach to war led to a series of military successes in the Western campaign and eventually the end of the Civil War.

Since 1989, Sam Grant has dedicated his life to understanding and portraying the true identity of General Ulysses S. Grant, one of the greatest and yet misunderstood leaders this nation has ever known. After years of study and experience, his professional interpretation of the General's physical stature and character have won him the intellectual admiration and heartfelt appreciation of the most serious students of Civil War history and novice spectators alike. In Sam's own words, “If that's what I look like, then that's why I'm here, to teach people about the greatest average American that ever lived.” For more information, visit www.usgrant.org

General Lee – Portrayed by Kent Sinram

Kent Sinram has been, since 1990, studying the history of the 1860s which, of course, includes the American Civil War. During the past 17 years he has reenacted, done living history, and presented school programs. He is convinced that this period of history is so special that more people need to know what happened. History must not die.

Starting in 2003, he has been portraying Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. General Lee was the consumate gentleman and the premier hero of the South. Lee was the son of a Revolutionary War hero, "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, and was married to Mary Custis, the great granddaughter, of George Washington. His home is the Lee-Custis Mansion, Arlington , VA which is surrounded by the Arlington Cemetery . It is said that Kent looks a little like General Lee.

Lt. Col. Walter H. Taylor Jr. – portrayed by Tom Bailey

Tom Bailey retired from the public schools after thirty years service and took the field to present little known aspects of American History. A lecturer for Civil War Round Tables, Historical, and Genealogical societies, he decided to bring to the public the voices, experiences and history of southern men who can no longer speak for themselves. After much research he chose to speak through Lt. Col. Walter H. Taylor Jr., third son of Walter Herron Taylor Sr., concession merchant of Norfolk , Va. , in the 1830s. The younger Taylor served Gen. Robert E. Lee as his chief of staff during the War Between the States. Lt. Col. Taylor presents a unique, clear and precise explanation of the causes of the greatest tragedy ever to afflict the American people. That war was the great tipping point which has brought us to where we are now.

Confederate Army – The Liberty Greys

The Liberty Greys is a New England based living history organization dedicated to the preservation of American Civil War history. The Greys is an umbrella organization made up of 19 separate units from throughout New England . These quality units represent infantry, artillery, cavalry, signals, staff and civilians of the great conflict. Totaling over 400 in number, our membership presents Civil War history through reenactments, living history displays, and often participates in classroom education at all levels from elementary through postgraduate.

The organization was originally founded in the early 1990s as a cooperative alliance of Civil War living history enthusiasts portraying the soldiers and citizens of the Confederate States of America . That alliance allowed them to field in larger and more authentic formations, thereby making a better public presentation and offering a more realistic portrayal. Without giving up individual unit identities, the various member companies form as a battalion or regiment. In 1996 the group joined the 1st Division, Army of Northern Virginia, which is the oldest, largest and most prestigious national Civil War umbrella organization. The Liberty Greys constitute the 6th Regiment and participate with the Division at large scale national events.

The Liberty Greys are known throughout the reenacting community for their proficiency in drill and the quality of their historical interpretation. In 2002 the Greys were selected to participate in the Gettysburg National Military Park living history program. This program is limited to only the finest living history units in the country.

For more information about the Liberty Greys and its member units, including enlistment opportunities, please visit their website www.libertygreys.org.

Union Army - The New England Brigade

The New England Brigade is an umbrella organization composed of Civil War reenactment units of the New England area. These living historians recreate Union soldiers and Civilians of the 1861 to 1865 period. Many of the units participate in battle reenactments, living histories and school programs teaching the historical aspects of the American Civil War. The Brigade exists to serve its member units. The New England Brigade also provides assistance to event organizers and sponsors to help them achieve their goal of hosting a high-quality event.

The mission of The New England Brigade is “To support the activities of Union Civil War re-enactors in New England by:

  • Providing fully-functioning Union regimental and brigade headquarters units for events.
  • Supporting civilian impressions at events by hosting dedicated activities and civilian camp locations.
  • Sponsoring re-enactments, living history events, and public educational programs.
  • Holding educational programs, seminars, and classes for living historians of the American Civil War.
  • Helping event sponsors organize and manage their events.
  • Providing a place for the exchange of news and information about Civil War re-enacting in New England and the Eastern U.S.

For further information, contact the New England Brigade at:

Telephone 508-378-2706
Postal address 467 Central Street, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02333-2023
Electronic mail General Information: info@newenglandbrigade.org
President: genburbank@yahoo.com
Military Commander: ltdan25th@yahoo.com

Civilian Camp - Unity

The Town of Unity was created as a civilian center for events. It frequently occupies a contentious area between both armies, where allegiances are fragile and are prone to change - often and quickly. In forming Unity, residents strive to represent a typical town near the conflict - Confederate sympathizers and Unionists live next door to each other, merchants conduct business, accepting all sorts of script as payment. As the Armies pass through the area, they exact their tolls on the residents in many ways, shapes and forms. Unity has been sacked and burned, raided and rebuilt many times over its short history.

The makeup of Unity changes with every event. Consistently, Unity boasts a Post Office and many different merchants. Its residents are varied both in allegiance and vocation. A recent poll of residents included a newspaper man, a laundress, social reformers, displaced families, a sheriff, and a number of refugees fleeing the devastation of the passing armies.

Each tent you see represents a home, each resident has a different story. All of these stories are built on personal research and interests - all are varied. Most residents belong to a reenactment group, so their story may parallel that of their military unit. Some residents reenact strictly from a civilian standpoint, and their interpretation stems from that perspective. Stop and talk with the folks who live in the town, and you'll see the War from a different viewpoint. Unity is not comprised of people who do this professionally, they are not paid performers, but do it because of a passion for history and to preserve our heritage.

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