Civil War Encampment

The Lombard Historical Society will host a Civil War encampment at Four Seasons Park in Lombard from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29. This event is expanded from last year and will feature both Confederate and Union soldiers recreating an 1863 military campsite, military drills and demonstrations, cannon fire during a skirmish, Civil War era music and games, horse-drawn wagon rides, and other living history activities. Stanford's Battery and the 8th Veteran Reserve Corps are co-hosting this event.
Stanford’s Battery is a seasoned reenacting unit that has been performing in regional events and parades for many years.  They interpret a Confederate battery unit from Mississippi and have several cannons in the unit.  In the past they have been invited to be part of local and regional reenactments and one of their cannons was featured in the movie “Glory”.  Stanford’s is always looking for Civil War history enthusiasts to join their ranks.
The 8th Veteran Reserve Corps is a new living history group that is associated with the Historical Society and portrays soldiers, prisoners, and women-folk who were associated with the 8th VRC or the “Invalid Corps”. The unit interprets men and women who were encamped at Camp Douglas, Chicago, under the command of Colonel (later General) Benjamin Sweet.  Sweet moved to Babcock's Grove, renamed Lombard in 1869, and was one of the founders who platted this town in 1869. The 8th VRC is open to anyone 15 and older who is interested in reenacting the Civil War.
 
Other units attending the event include: 17th Corps Field Hospital, Battery G, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery, 17th Mississippi Co. D,  2nd Kentucky Calvary, Co. D, 3rd Tennessee Co. D, Orphan Boys, 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics, 104th IIllinois, and the 154th Tennessee Infantry.
 
Saturday’s activities include: horse and wagon rides, living history activities, a skirmish at 2pm, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and a lantern tour of the camps (registration required). Sunday’s activities include: wagon rides, living history activities, raffle award ticket pulled, a skirmish at 2 pm, a ladies tea, and much more.
 
The event is free and open to the public.  The horse-drawn wagon rides will be $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12 and children under 3 are free. Sutlers will be selling Civil War themed souvenirs at the event. There will be food and beverages vendors selling water, pop, root beer, sandwiches, chips, and more and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Lombard Historical Society.