Our unit portrays Company E of the 81st Volunteer Infantry Regiment which was made up of men from the Southern Illinois counties of Union and Williamson.  Organized at Anna, IL, and mustered in August 26, 1862 . Ordered to Cairo, Ill October 8, 1862.   The unit participated in the Battles of Port Gibson, MS, Jackson, MS and Champion’s Hill.  In 1863 it assaulted Vicksburg during the siege on May 19 on June 22 and then again on the 25.  The unit stayed at Vicksburg after the siege was over on July 4, 1863 until  March of 1864.  Certain veteran elements of the unit also participated in the Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8 to September 8 and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3, 1864. The remainder of the regiment marched through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Missouri’s Confederate General Sterling Price Sept 17th through Nov 21 1864.  The entire unit participated in the Battle of Nashville December 15-16, 1864.  Chased Confederate Gen John Bell Hood to the Tennessee River Dec 17-28 1864. Moved to New Orleans, La., February 6-21, 1865, and duty there till March 12. Campaign against Mobile and its defenses March 21-April 12.  Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 14-25. Duty there till July. Mustered out August 5, 1865 in Chicago, Ill..  Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 66 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 292 Enlisted men by disease. Total 369.
\Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday 10 am – 2 pm
Skirmish at 1pm both days


SPEAKERS

9:30 am – 10:30 am
Phil Shappard - "Massac County Boys in Blue"

10:30 am – 10:45 am – Q&A


11 am – 12 pm
Glen Bishop - "HOLDING THE LINE AT ALL HAZARDS; Massac County Volunteers of the 56th Regiment Illinois Infantry in the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi,

October 3 & 4, 1862"
12 pm – 12:15 pm – Q&A
1:30 pm – 2 pm – Mock Recruitment
2 pm – 3 pm - Marlene Rivero - "The Hospital Ship Red Rover, the Mound City Marine Ways, and the Story of Ann Stokes"
3 pm – 3:15 pm – Q&A
3:30 pm – 4:30pm - Bob Swenson - "Civil War Steamboats built at Metropolis”

· Phil Shappard – Phil Shappard, a grand nephew of Massac County educator Howard Shappard, is National Operations Manager for Moody Radio in Chicago. His love for history and the knowledge of his family's roots in Pope and Massac County led to some significant local discoveries of the Civil War era. With his 2nd great grandfather Henry Shappard serving in Company K of the 29th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, he plans to tell this storied unit's history through first person accounts of the Great War of Rebellion. 
· Glen Bishop - Civil War researcher Glen Bishop has been giving lectures on the involvement of Southern Illinois soldiers in the Civil War for over ten years and lately Southeast Missouri.  Mr. Bishop resides in Jonesboro, Illinois.
· Marlene Rivero – Marlene B. Rivero, a Southern Illinois born and raised storyteller, celebrates several ancestors’ adventures, in stories, song and costume. Through conjecture from two federal archaeologists, Marlene took their field and archival research notes coupled with local historical recordings, to develop leading historic woman personas and based on research surrounding the Historic African American communities.   She also incorporated the Underground Railroad activity into this educator workshop on their brand new floating classroom in St. Louis, Mo. 
· Bob Swenson – Robert Swenson, Metropolis native, practicing architect, and retired associate professor of architecture at SIU Carbondale, has been researching southernmost Illinois history for many years. His presentation will focus on Ohio River steamboat design and construction, especially those built at Metropolis and Mound City that served during the Civil War.

BIKE RIDE

Join the Kiwanis Club of Metropolis and BikeWorld of Paducah at Fort Massac State Park on Saturday, October 27, 2012, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a family biking experience on the George Rogers Clark Discovery Trail.  This event will start next to the park Visitors' Center at the Kiwanis tent/awning.  There will be free water and peanuts and the BikeWorld experts will provide safety checks of bikes, riding tips and have several new models on display.  Helmets are strongly encouraged for all riders.  Transportation will be available to anyone who needs assistance on the trail during scheduled hours of the ride.  Participation is free and the event will be held rain or shine.  The route will be monitored from the Visitors' Center to Strawberry Road and back--- a total of about 7.5 miles, all paved--- however, you can reverse course at any point.

BELLE OF CINCINNATI

The Belle of Cincinnati will stop by Metropolis, October 27, 2012, for a dinner cruise. The flagship of BB Riverboats, the Belle of Cincinnati is a majestic and ornate beauty. Cruise in ultimate comfort and luxury surrounded by a lavish Victorian decor appointed with sumptuous details. Each climate-controlled deck includes a full bar, dance floor and elevator for fun on every level. The Dinner cruise is on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 5:30 pm.  Loading begins at 4:30.  For reservations call (800) 261-8586 or visit their web page at http://www.bbriverboats.com.

VENDORS

During the Civil War Commemoration the Boy Scouts will be selling food and beverages.