By: Kathryn Fenstermacher

Take the hill, boys! This weekend, the rolling acres surrounding Hartford City 3M will transform into a bustling, booming Civil War battlefield as the site of the 32nd annual Civil War Days, Indiana’s largest Civil War reenactment and artillery firing night.

Started in the late 1990s by a group of local 3M employees, Civil War Days is a living history exhibit where visitors can converse with reenactors who look, act, and sound the part of soldiers and merchant “sutlers” who would have camped around the field of battle in 1861, the year the Civil War broke out in the United States. From President Abraham Lincoln to Indiana-born General Lew Wallace, important historical figures will be strolling the grounds, presenting orations in the grand tent, and answering questions from history buffs and curious novices alike. “[These] are people that love history, and . . . want to share that knowledge and encourage other people to love history as well,” said Judith Smith, treasurer of the Blackford County Civil War Reenactment Club. “It’s truly a historical educational event.”

Civil War Days begins Friday with the 27th annual Student Discovery Day devoted to educating students from area schools about Civil War history. Small groups of students and chaperones can move throughout the grounds for an immersive educational experience: not only will they listen to presentations, they’ll get to watch a demonstration from a ropemaker in the sutlers camp, sample some historically accurate food in the Civil War kitchen, and cover their ears as thundering cannons fire down by the swamp. “If you’re near Hartford City you’ll hear them,” Smith said.

The Club works hard year-round to maintain the grounds that 3M granted them as a permanent site for their annual event that draws close to 3,000 visitors to the county. Volunteers mow the grass to allow comfortable camping and foot traffic through the site. They fell trees and split wood so reenactors have plenty of fuel for the campfires where they cook and keep warm throughout the chilly fall weekend. The Club also works hard to advertise the event to local schools and on radio stations, reaching audiences as far as Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. For the Club’s active members, the thing that motivates these “worker bees” is their love of history and sharing it with others. “I believe that it brings our community together,” Smith said. “It adds that value of knowing that there was a period of great distress and tumult in our country, but that our country was able to heal from that and move forward.”

Most visitors will recognize beloved Abraham Lincoln and infamous Jefferson Davis when they make appearances during the weekend by paid professional portrayers. But perhaps a lesser-known character is General Lew Wallace, who was born in Brookville, Indiana in 1827. Wallace is most widely known as the author of Ben-Hur, but he also served as a celebrated general during the Civil War and later was appointed as the US Minister to Turkey. “He’s an interesting character,” Smith said.

“I am glad that I have had the opportunity to travel and learn a little of other lands, but if my life has taught me anything, it is that our own is the best, the freest, the happiest one beneath God’s sunshine – worth living for and worth dying for, too, whenever the need arises.”

General Lew Wallace

For those with a competitive side, Saturday will include a Ladies and Gentlemen’s Clothing Competition, where the public can gather information on what was worn and what goes into creating a reenactor’s wardrobe, as well as a Cooking Contest offering a cash prize of $200. A Ball Gown Competition will occur at the Grande Ball, which is open for anyone to attend, even those with two left feet –  a caller will provide step-by-step dance instructions. “It’s always a treat to see the ladies in their ball gowns,” Smith said, “and the gents in their military or formal attire.” 

Civil War Days takes place September 30 – October 2. The site entrance is located at 0304 S 075 E, Hartford City, IN 47348, and admission is $7 per person. For more information, visit https://www.hartfordcitycwdays.com/. Live updates to the schedule will be posted on the Club’s Facebook page.