Experience the Civil War at the Lew Wallace Study

Crawfordsville, Indiana – The Sesquicentennial of the Civil War will be celebrated this Saturday and Sunday June 30^th and July 1^stwith an encampment and presentations at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum.  Larry Paarlberg, the museum director, announced today the event is open to the public and encourages everyone to attend. 

Mid States Living History Association and other reenactment colleagues will provide presentations from 9:00 to 6 on Saturday and 9:00am  to 5:00pm on Sunday including everything from horse and cavalry demonstrations to Civil War-era embalming. 

Students from the Lew Wallace Study and Museum Youth Academy will participate in a graduation ceremony at 12:00pm after seeing Civil War demonstrations and meeting Major General Lew Wallace, portrayed by Bernie O’Bryan, a Mid States Living History Association presenter.  The encampment will then remain open to the public for a closer look at our nation’s strife 150 years ago.    

The demonstrations by Mid States Living History Association, the 35^th Indiana Volunteers Infantry (1^st Irish Brigade), the 10^th Illinois Cavalry (Reactivated), 12^th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery (Reactivated) will tell interesting stories of military life including the formation of the first black brigade organized by Major General Lew Wallace. 

Other presentations will round out the offering including the Union Medical complex with Dr. Henry Wishard, played by Fred Schaefer – Indiana Society of Civil War Surgeons, embalmer Dr. Benjamin Lyford played by Jon Austin and Hospital Steward and Pharmacist, Rick McNutt both from Mid States Living History Association.  The U.S. Christian Commission will present a field church with Rev. Lance Stevens, and fellow  Cindy and Kevin Rushton of Anderson, Indiana.

Stars of the show include Major General Lew Wallace portrayed by Mr. O’Bryan of Covington, Ky., Major General Horatio Wright portrayed by Tom Kreinder from Covington, Ky., and Mr. and Mrs. Oliver P. Morton, Governor and First Lady of Indiana portrayed by James and Nancy Gossert of Indianapolis.

There will be a Ladies Tea Sunday afternoon with parlor music by The Emily Ann Thompson parlor musicians.  Other presentations will include the Civil War Ladies of Charity led by Cara Dafforn who will hold the Sunday afternoon Tea.  Camp Cooking presentations will be provided by Sgt. Lewis McVay and crew.  Sgt. Dave Brown and Pvt. Alvin Bartlett will present camp music and The Provost Marshall will be Brendan Mills, all of Mid States Living History Association.

Mid States Living History Association is a 501(c)3 not for profit association based in Indianapolis that assists historic sites, museums and other locations with presenting American history stories.  The Lew Wallace Museum and Study is a 501(c)3  not for profit organization telling significant Crawfordsville, Indiana history based on the life of Major General Lew Wallace.  Each year the museum holds a Youth Academy for 30 members of the community from the ages of 10 to 13.