MONTICELLO - Civil War soldiers camped in Monticello over the weekend to help the village celebrate its history.
The Monticello Area Historical Society showed off a new exhibit about commerce at the Woelffer Drug Store museum.
The Civil War encampment was part of the weekend's festivities.
Civil War re-enactors allowed people to see the daily camp life of a soldier and were able to tell them about the times soldiers carried with them throughout the war.
"We try to make it as authentic as possible," Confederate soldier David Rengers, Kenosha, said.
For anyone who served in the military, attention to uniforms and equipment always is important.
"Some people are sticklers when it comes to authenticity," Rengers said with a laugh.
For Rengers, attention to detail shouldn't take away from what people see when they visit a Civil War campsite. People who come to the camps see as close to reality as possible. The soldiers have weapons, tents, informs and personal items from the period.
"The little boy that comes to see the camp will take the memories of what army life was like back then," Rengers said.
All of the re-enactors share a common bond - they're interested in history and the Civil War.
Confederate soldier Jim Schneider, Durand, Ill., has traveled to Gettysburg, Pa., and Franklin, Tenn., to take part in historical battle re-enactments.
"Some friends got me started in this and I really enjoy it," he said.
He's typical of the people who spend several weekends a year in living history events.
Maggie Palmer, Lodi, has been involved in re-enactments for 17 years. She began as a Union civilian who traveled to re-enactments with her dad. Eventually, however, she wanted to take a more active part. She dressed as a Union cavalry solider, rode her own horse and takes part in cavalry exercises.
"I had enough of the dresses," she laughed "I wanted to be a soldier."
Union soldiers Jerry Whitfield and Carl Palm, both from Madison, became re-enactors because they were interested in the cavalry.
"I was dismounted when I first started doing this. I realized fast that if I was going to be in the cavalry, I better get a horse," Whitfield said.
Other scheduled events included a parade and a performance from the 1st Brigade Band.
The Monticello Area Historical Society showed off a new exhibit about commerce at the Woelffer Drug Store museum.
The Civil War encampment was part of the weekend's festivities.
Civil War re-enactors allowed people to see the daily camp life of a soldier and were able to tell them about the times soldiers carried with them throughout the war.
"We try to make it as authentic as possible," Confederate soldier David Rengers, Kenosha, said.
For anyone who served in the military, attention to uniforms and equipment always is important.
"Some people are sticklers when it comes to authenticity," Rengers said with a laugh.
For Rengers, attention to detail shouldn't take away from what people see when they visit a Civil War campsite. People who come to the camps see as close to reality as possible. The soldiers have weapons, tents, informs and personal items from the period.
"The little boy that comes to see the camp will take the memories of what army life was like back then," Rengers said.
All of the re-enactors share a common bond - they're interested in history and the Civil War.
Confederate soldier Jim Schneider, Durand, Ill., has traveled to Gettysburg, Pa., and Franklin, Tenn., to take part in historical battle re-enactments.
"Some friends got me started in this and I really enjoy it," he said.
He's typical of the people who spend several weekends a year in living history events.
Maggie Palmer, Lodi, has been involved in re-enactments for 17 years. She began as a Union civilian who traveled to re-enactments with her dad. Eventually, however, she wanted to take a more active part. She dressed as a Union cavalry solider, rode her own horse and takes part in cavalry exercises.
"I had enough of the dresses," she laughed "I wanted to be a soldier."
Union soldiers Jerry Whitfield and Carl Palm, both from Madison, became re-enactors because they were interested in the cavalry.
"I was dismounted when I first started doing this. I realized fast that if I was going to be in the cavalry, I better get a horse," Whitfield said.
Other scheduled events included a parade and a performance from the 1st Brigade Band.