Day #3 The Reenactment

After Saturday's event, Sunday was not as busy with events.

And might I say......... the weather was beautiful.

early breakfast and time to get the info booth up!

people were out and about early

the courthouse was suppose to be closed but they had so many come on Sat they decided to open and give more tours. I wanted to go thank the vendors I never saw on Saturday.

This is Professor Farquar and Pole Cat Annie who had a old time Medicine Man show.

loved these, I bought one to thank the twins and cousin Marty and one for myself.

they had pizza in 1864..didn't they! 

Mr., Sheryl and I went to get Harold Holzer for lunch and as soon as we were done it was time for the speaker series at the courthouse.

what a distinguished group we had 

people were beginning to gather

My brother even showed up!

It meant so much he was there.

TV stations and our documentary crew were discussing filming

the crowds were beginning to gather

VIP section for the committee

Mr visiting with Harold and a old friend from HS taking my picture

But I spotted our 2 Abe Lincoln's taking the day off!

the crowd went down the west side of the square, and 1/2 way around the south and north side too!

the Director of the Historical Society and committee member was situated in the 

bell tower to ring the bell for each person killed and wounded after the reenactment.

yes, I had a lump in my throat when they said my ancestors name.

I told myself I was not going to take pictures of the Riot and I did not.

I wanted to take it all in.

They did great.

Many videos have been loaded on You tube

Video

This one is from someone from Chicago who contacted me.

I see I am in it yuck! She had the camera right in my face.

But she gives us credit at the end and I thank her.

There are many on their now if you want to see other parts of the weekend.

The end of her video shows a man with the "I had a Riot in Charleston IL" tee shirt.

I have to laugh it is cousin Fred........the first person to purchase a tee shirt months ago!

Well,

After the riot I just had to walk around, it was almost too much for me, but Mr,

had a tight grip on me. I think it was knowing years of planning were now over.

we asked all the reenactors to get together for a picture.

the man who played my GG Uncle Robert Winkler

he is Chad the Colonel of Western Federal Blues

cousins...Karen here with the cousin who played her GGGrandfather

a mini Galbreath reunion

the twins celebrating our conclusion

the evening ended with the presentation of our play

"A Question of Loyalty" 

Took Harold to Dirty's for supper.

We shared some pinot nior and a toast.

Then he talked me into another project!

I have until 2019 for this one, but when he said he wanted me to explore Sarah Bush Lincoln and commemorated the anniversary of her death......I could not say no!

When we left he gave the twins a hug and a kiss,

he did the same to me as I dropped him off at his hotel.

Then he told me I was a amazing person.

It was a truly memorable day

Day # 2

Saturday the 29th was suppose to be sunny and in the 50's

RIGHT..............

It was one thing after another

3 out of my 4 food vendors cancelled

the wind broke one of the vendors tents

I had to head out to the Fairgrounds for our

troop arrival and political rally

the "Irish Lady' Sutler

she called from Arkansas on Wednesday and wanted to know if she could come

Why not!

She arrived on Thursday and people were already buying from her.

Every time I saw her she had a different dress on. 

the tents for the encampment were up and the horses were out and about

I made my cousin pose with one of the race trophy's!

the mayor and wife arrived and we were taking refuge from the wind!

President Lincoln and cousin Fred

(abe is his wifes cousin!)

I felt like a true "wrangler" getting the mayor, US Congressman and State Rep all there in place

the 33rd IL Volunteer Regiment Band played for their arrival

I was very pleased the EIU ROTC joined them

we honored those who serve and those who had served from 150yrs ago

Time to run back downtown, but not until some lady starts yelling at me about the shuttle bus

I wanted to say "the free shuttle bus we are providing to all the FREE venues?'

I offer to personally drive her and her mother downtown, so I did.

She complained because I did not have seat warmers in the back seat of my BMW like her Volvo"

I wanted to say "you can get out now!"

I got them downtown and they did not even bother to say "thank you"

As they walked away I shouted "remember all events are FREE"

But it got better

My cousin Judy from SD whom I have never met but have

written to her for 15 years!

then cousin Greg from Indiana found me

he was portraying our GGUncle for the weekend

It was too cold at the gazebo for the band so we moved them to the library

The speaker series was going on at a packed courthouse!

they had over 500 people go through

And the House tour was in full swing

this courthouse is where my Great Grandfather was the County Clerk

Then I ran to the Moose to decorate and just as I was a block from there

I saw my friends who had gone to get Harold Holzer.

There was Harold Holzer, the best known Lincoln Scholar and someone I admired for years

waving at me from the car!

I was in awe, it was like meeting a star to me!

Got him settled at his bed and breakfast and told him I would be back to get him for the dinner at 4:45

Are you tired yet!?

Got the place decorated

After that.......I do not remember

but Mr. had arrived and was my backbone!

Home to get ready for the dinner

Harold with the man he knows so well

Mr and Harold

we sold the dinner out and ended up with 216 people

Harold was shocked so many came to hear him speak!

Well, we do not get authors like him in Charleston very often.

a great moment when the band played

"rally round the flag boys"

everyone got on their feet and sang

Harold is the nicest person, so congenial, willing to speak to everyone, give a handshake a autograph.

He was easy to talk to and he and Mr. became quick friends, you see his Grandfather was a painter like Mr. who is 3rd generation.

Got back home by 10

what a day

A day I will never forget, some ups and downs but mostly ups!

Wreath Laying

The Wreath Laying 

we had to honor the participants of the Charleston Riot

went very well.

The weather was chilly, but I could not believe how many descendants we had.

I was interviewed on 3 different TV stations afterwards.

That was so weird, they were standing in line to interview me?

I also made the front page that day!

Weird to see yourself on the newsstand?

Our friends Kim and Marylee came along with their minister who presided for us and their son Tim who helped lay the wreath. His GGGrandfather was in the IL 54th that was in the Riot

Glad Doc Ramsey came out to. He delivered 1/2 of Charleston, not me I had Dr Harper!

He had portrayed Orlando Ficklin during the 1994 CSPAN Lincoln Douglas debates.

He asked if he could wear his Ficklin outfift... I thought it was great, after all he is only

in his 90's! His former home was also on the House Tour.

Colonel Mitchell and President Lincoln arrive

Committee member and our play write Earl with President Lincoln's

Secretary of War Edwin Santon's Great Grandson!

I did the opening...was waiting till the courthouse clock chimed 3PM

it was stated that was what time the Riot occurred, exactly 150 years ago.

Cousin Marty got us all flag scarfs to wear.

Committee member David, gave a brief history and introduced 

descendants

the mayor dressed all weekend, I can see my cousins behind him

The President spoke

To represent the Copperheads we asked my cousin Mary to lay the wreath

with her triplet Great Grandaughters.

What a experience for them, I know their Grandmother was so proud.

we made sure we took pictures of the descendants

Cousin Mary is the Grandaughter of Benjamin Franklin Toland, Copperhead

who was never heard of again after the Riot.

Dr Cobble is the Grandson of John Rennels.

Only 2 surviving Grandchildren of participants and they were both there.

Mary is 90 and Dr. Cobble is 95

I was so glad they were present as we remembered their Grandfathers.

I was very pleased at what a moving, meaningful event we created to kick off

the 3 day event.