Civil War Encampment: A Living History

Civil War Encampment, sponsored by the Adirondack Trust Company, is a free educational and interactive demonstration of Civil War camp life, featuring living history exhibits with period clothes and costumes, and battlefield medical procedures. 

Event Chair Lance Ingmire started the Encampment in 2007 to educate Saratoga County students and residents about the Civil War. Last year's Encampment, which drew a crowd of over 2,000 people, was an even bigger success than the year before.

Approximately 100 Civil War soldier re-enactors will recreate camp life as it was in 1863. They will represent both the Confederacy and the Union from all three branches of the military: infantry, cavalry and artillery.

Special appearances will include General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, General Robert E. Lee and President Abraham Lincoln re-enactors. Abraham Lincoln will replicate the reading of the Gettysburg Address on Saturday. 

This year Civil War Encampment is extending the living history to classrooms by bringing special presentations to Saratoga Middle School on Friday. General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant along with Ingmire will read poignant letters from the Civil War Era, display period artifacts and show an historical documentary film about the War. Superintendent Janice White will also dress up in a period costume and read letters.

Ingmire's goal is to get students interested and involved with their country's history. 

"Unfortunately the pressures of the school curriculum don't allow for enough time to concentrate fully on a lot of the important events in our history," Ingmire said. 

According to Ingmire, the first 300 students that show up will receive an original minié ball, which is a period bullet picked up from a battlefield in Virginia.

"It's just a very, very good opportunity to step back 150 years and realize what the soldiers went through, and how the same trauma experienced by all soldiers throughout history is experienced by our soldiers today," Ingmire said.

On Tuesday, September 15 an unknown New York soldier's remains will be transported from the Antietam National Cemetery and brought to Saratoga National Cemetery. The soldier, who was killed in action on September 17, 1862 near Millers Cornfield at the Battle of Antietam, will be buried at 10 a.m. on September 17 in the cemetery.

"It's a lucky coincidence that the soldier's burial is taking place the same week as the Encampment," Ingmire said.

An Antietam battlefield visitor discovered the remains of the Unknown Soldier in October of 2008. After a detailed archeological evaluation, the remains and recovered artifacts were sent to the Smithsonian Institution for further evaluation. During this period it was confirmed that the young man was between 17 and 19 years old. The soldier's uniform identified him as a New York Soldier.

General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant are also participating in the burial ceremony. 

"Civil War Encampment is just building on itself, it's exponentially increasing in size and having it dovetail with this special ceremony is such an honor," Ingmire said.

For additional information please visit www.saratogacivilwarencampment.com