Eighth annual General W. H. L. Wallace Memorial Weekend and Cvil War Re-enactment on Aug. 17-18

MARSEILLES — The eighth annual General W. H. L. Wallace Memorial Weekend and Civil War Re-enactment will be Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18, at the FFA Land Lab in Seneca (2667 East 28th Road, Marseilles).

Presented by the Wallace-Dickey Cemetery Preservation Association in partnership with the Seneca High School FFA, this year’s living history program focuses on the Siege of Corinth, a major battle in northeast Mississippi and will include two battle re-enactments, blacksmith demonstrations, a Civil War flag display, a certified Civil War bugler and the Regimental Volunteer Band of Wisconsin. The band is composed of up to 10 re-enactors and will present period brass and drum band music on antique instruments. They will perform throughout the day on Saturday, both as musicians strolling throughout the camps and in a sit-down concert venue inside the picnic shelter.

A new addition this year is Kevin McDonald, a certified Civil War bugler. He, too, will perform through the day.

A favorite from previous years, the 17th Corps Field Hospital, will be back again, demonstrating Civil War era hospital and surgical techniques throughout the two days. As in the past, the Field Hospital is sponsored by OSF Medical Group.

Saturday’s events (camp opens at 10 a.m.) will include Union and Confederate encampments, training and military drills. Period demonstrations, sutlers, vendors and food booths will also be set up. After the battle reenactment at 2 p.m., the field hospital workers will deal with the injured and the dead. Later Saturday evening, about 8 p.m., a cannon fire demonstration will light up the night.

Sunday, the camp opens to the public at 9 a.m. The day will begin with a 10 a.m. nondenominational church service, followed by breakfast prepared by Seneca’s FFA students. The public is invited to the service and to breakfast ($4 per person). The battle re-enactment will be at noon on Sunday.

Admission (which includes both days) is $7 per person, with a family rate of $20. All money raised throughout the weekend will be used for the restoration and upkeep of the Wallace-Dickey Cemetery.