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Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hillary-clinton-meets-sri-lankas-foreign-minister-to-discuss-strained-ties-with-us/2012/05/18/gIQASOBdYU_story.html

Where: Cheadle Lake Park, Lebanon

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday; (Friday for students only.)

Time: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Admission: $8 adults; $5 seniors/students with ID; Under 6 free.

LEBANON — Normally tranquil Cheadle Lake will explode with the sounds and smoke of cannon fire Friday as some 1,500 children learn about the Civil War by visiting the Northwest Civil War Council encampment.

More than 500 Civil War reenactors dressed in period-correct clothing will breathe life into the event, according to Scott Ingalls, board chairman.

The encampment will continue Saturday and Sunday for the general public of all ages.

“We have about 1,100 members from Oregon, Washington, Northern California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana,” Ingalls said. “It’s really a great day. There will be kids from all over the valley, southern Oregon and Washington.”

Ingalls said the program is geared toward middle school through high school students. It will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and there will be a battle at 1:15 p.m. He said the reenactors will give more than 160 school presentations throughout the northwest every year.

“The kids will learn that the weapons used in 1863 weren’t very accurate and that unlike what they see on television, soldiers spent far more time away from the battlefield than in battle,” Ingalls said. “Sometimes, if they were near their home or near a relative’s farm, they would be allowed to leave their unit and visit.”

Ingalls had no interest in becoming a reenactor when he auditioned for an announcer’s job with the group 10 years ago.

He was hired and soon he and his wife, Jill, were hooked on the action and way of life.

“At first, he had to drag me kicking and screaming,” Jill said. “I was busy with 4-H and the kids. But, it’s great. We really enjoy getting together with people.”

There will be many demonstrations over the weekend, including medical practices, music, artillery, cavalry and a daily fashion show.

The public is invited to wander through the encampment and talk to the reenactors, who will interact as though it was the middle of the Civil War that raged from 1861 to 1865.

The Ingalls started out like many other reenactors with a single uniform or dress. And like the others, their wardrobes and accessories have grown to the point they now pack everything neatly away in an enclosed cargo trailer.

“We each have two or three uniforms and dresses and we carry two tents and cooking utensils,” Scott said.

Scott has even constructed wooden boxes with the company’s logo on them. But they are insulated on the inside and act as coolers since plastic hadn’t been invented in the 1800s.

“They really keep things cold,” Scott said.

The Cheadle Lake event is one of four major encampments held each year and the Ingalls have a long list of things to do before each one.

“We rolled powder for the cannons the other day,” Scott said. “We rolled about 150 rounds for two cannons. It’s black powder and foil. The artillery will go through about 1,000 pounds and the infantry will go through another 2,000 pounds per year.”

Repairs and maintenance are needed for the two cannons fielded by the members of Pelham’s and McGregor’s Battery. Ingalls said the barrel of each cannon weighs more than 1,200 pounds. The carriage adds another 700 pounds.

“These cannons make plenty of noise, but think about the fact that there were 650 cannons at the battle of Gettysburg and what that must have been like,” Ingalls said.

Women spend many hours mending or sewing new costumes, Jill said.

“I’m working on a mourning dress,” she said. “There was a very formal system of mourning lost loved ones. For the first six months, the widow was expected to wear all black.”

Most women wear up to nine layers of clothing, Jill said.

An Army marches on its stomach and considerable planning goes into stocking up on food that is period-correct such a beef roast or chicken, fresh vegetables and fruit.

Since there was no electricity or natural gas in 1863, meals are prepared on wood-burning stoves or over camp fires. That can be especially treacherous for the women, who wear dresses that almost touch the ground.

“Women weren’t allowed to show their ankles,” Jill explained.

“One of the important jobs is making sure our cast iron cookware is seasoned properly,” Jill said. “When it’s done right, it’s almost like a modern, non-stick pan.”

The Ingalls say they are happy to be members of an artillery unit.

“Think about the cavalry members. They have to take care of their horses and equipment,” Scott said. “The horses have to be specially trained before they can take part in a reenactment.”

During the day, the reenactors will wear clothing and act like soldiers or community members from 1863. That means the soldiers will wear hot, scratchy wool clothing.

“At one event, the air temperature was 105 degrees and there was a heat index of 118 degrees,” Scott said. “We drink lots and lots of water.”

At times, even though most of the battle scenes are scripted, “It can seem very real. War is horrible, gory. You have to remember that 620,000 Americans died in the Civil War.”

“People are amazed at how real this is,” Jill added. “They can touch it, smell it, see it. It’s extremely loud. It’s not a movie.”

And, even though no real ammunition is used, the battlefield can be dangerous.

“A musket will shoot fire about 15 feet,” Jill said. “A cannon will shoot fire about 75 feet. You quickly learn to not be in front of them.”

On Saturday and Sunday, battles will begin at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Battles last from 45 to 90 minutes.

There will also be a Civil War-era church service at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

For Jill Ingalls, the biggest reward comes at the end of the day.

“When the sun goes down, we get out the gas lanterns and sit around the campfires,” she said. “There are no modern radios. We sing period-correct songs and tell stories. It’s a very special time. Very family-oriented.”

For more information about the Northwest Civil War Council, visit www.nwcwc.org.

Civil War Trivia

 — More than three million men fought in the Civil War and 620,000 died.

 — There were 10,450 recorded battles. Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri hosted the most battles.

 — During the three-day battle at Gettysburg, the combined total of dead, wounded and missing was more than 51,000. More than 3,000 horses were killed.

 — For every man killed on the battlefield, another two more died of medical care or disease. For the Confederates, it was three to one.

 — A campaigning army of 100,000 men required 2,500 supply wagons and at least 35,000 animals. They consumed more than 600 tons of supplies per day.

 — Firsts that came from the Civil War: submarines, land mines, flame throwers, torpedoes, machine gun, ironclad navies, hospital ships, the Secret Service, “Taps”, the draft — then called conscription.

 — Weapons were so inaccurate, soldiers estimated it took a man’s weight in lead to kill a single enemy in battle.

Spectator’s Guide to NWCWC Events

 — Dress comfortably and plan to stay the day.

 — Do not bring animals — it will be noisy.

 — Turn off car alarms. The concussion from the canons can set them off.

 — Take time to walk through the camping area and visit with the reenactors. Learn about cooking, a soldier’s daily schedule and more.

 — Wear a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and water.

 — Don’t forget your camera.

 — Watch yourself, especially around fire pits and cooking stoves.

 — Supervise children at all times.

 — Do not sit, play or pose on cannons.

 — Do not approach or feed the cavalry horses on the picket line without permission.

Article source: http://democratherald.com/news/local/fa0bb01e-a039-11e1-aa12-001a4bcf887a.html

Where: Cheadle Lake Park, Lebanon

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday; (Friday for students only.)

Time: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Admission: $8 adults; $5 seniors/students with ID; Under 6 free.

LEBANON — Normally tranquil Cheadle Lake will explode with the sounds and smoke of cannon fire Friday as some 1,500 children learn about the Civil War by visiting the Northwest Civil War Council encampment.

More than 500 Civil War reenactors dressed in period-correct clothing will breathe life into the event, according to Scott Ingalls, board chairman.

The encampment will continue Saturday and Sunday for the general public of all ages.

“We have about 1,100 members from Oregon, Washington, Northern California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana,” Ingalls said. “It’s really a great day. There will be kids from all over the valley, southern Oregon and Washington.”

Ingalls said the program is geared toward middle school through high school students. It will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and there will be a battle at 1:15 p.m. He said the reenactors will give more than 160 school presentations throughout the northwest every year.

“The kids will learn that the weapons used in 1863 weren’t very accurate and that unlike what they see on television, soldiers spent far more time away from the battlefield than in battle,” Ingalls said. “Sometimes, if they were near their home or near a relative’s farm, they would be allowed to leave their unit and visit.”

Ingalls had no interest in becoming a reenactor when he auditioned for an announcer’s job with the group 10 years ago.

He was hired and soon he and his wife, Jill, were hooked on the action and way of life.

“At first, he had to drag me kicking and screaming,” Jill said. “I was busy with 4-H and the kids. But, it’s great. We really enjoy getting together with people.”

There will be many demonstrations over the weekend, including medical practices, music, artillery, cavalry and a daily fashion show.

The public is invited to wander through the encampment and talk to the reenactors, who will interact as though it was the middle of the Civil War that raged from 1861 to 1865.

The Ingalls started out like many other reenactors with a single uniform or dress. And like the others, their wardrobes and accessories have grown to the point they now pack everything neatly away in an enclosed cargo trailer.

“We each have two or three uniforms and dresses and we carry two tents and cooking utensils,” Scott said.

Scott has even constructed wooden boxes with the company’s logo on them. But they are insulated on the inside and act as coolers since plastic hadn’t been invented in the 1800s.

“They really keep things cold,” Scott said.

The Cheadle Lake event is one of four major encampments held each year and the Ingalls have a long list of things to do before each one.

“We rolled powder for the cannons the other day,” Scott said. “We rolled about 150 rounds for two cannons. It’s black powder and foil. The artillery will go through about 1,000 pounds and the infantry will go through another 2,000 pounds per year.”

Repairs and maintenance are needed for the two cannons fielded by the members of Pelham’s and McGregor’s Battery. Ingalls said the barrel of each cannon weighs more than 1,200 pounds. The carriage adds another 700 pounds.

“These cannons make plenty of noise, but think about the fact that there were 650 cannons at the battle of Gettysburg and what that must have been like,” Ingalls said.

Women spend many hours mending or sewing new costumes, Jill said.

“I’m working on a mourning dress,” she said. “There was a very formal system of mourning lost loved ones. For the first six months, the widow was expected to wear all black.”

Most women wear up to nine layers of clothing, Jill said.

An Army marches on its stomach and considerable planning goes into stocking up on food that is period-correct such a beef roast or chicken, fresh vegetables and fruit.

Since there was no electricity or natural gas in 1863, meals are prepared on wood-burning stoves or over camp fires. That can be especially treacherous for the women, who wear dresses that almost touch the ground.

“Women weren’t allowed to show their ankles,” Jill explained.

“One of the important jobs is making sure our cast iron cookware is seasoned properly,” Jill said. “When it’s done right, it’s almost like a modern, non-stick pan.”

The Ingalls say they are happy to be members of an artillery unit.

“Think about the cavalry members. They have to take care of their horses and equipment,” Scott said. “The horses have to be specially trained before they can take part in a reenactment.”

During the day, the reenactors will wear clothing and act like soldiers or community members from 1863. That means the soldiers will wear hot, scratchy wool clothing.

“At one event, the air temperature was 105 degrees and there was a heat index of 118 degrees,” Scott said. “We drink lots and lots of water.”

At times, even though most of the battle scenes are scripted, “It can seem very real. War is horrible, gory. You have to remember that 620,000 Americans died in the Civil War.”

“People are amazed at how real this is,” Jill added. “They can touch it, smell it, see it. It’s extremely loud. It’s not a movie.”

And, even though no real ammunition is used, the battlefield can be dangerous.

“A musket will shoot fire about 15 feet,” Jill said. “A cannon will shoot fire about 75 feet. You quickly learn to not be in front of them.”

On Saturday and Sunday, battles will begin at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Battles last from 45 to 90 minutes.

There will also be a Civil War-era church service at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

For Jill Ingalls, the biggest reward comes at the end of the day.

“When the sun goes down, we get out the gas lanterns and sit around the campfires,” she said. “There are no modern radios. We sing period-correct songs and tell stories. It’s a very special time. Very family-oriented.”

For more information about the Northwest Civil War Council, visit www.nwcwc.org.

Civil War Trivia

 — More than three million men fought in the Civil War and 620,000 died.

 — There were 10,450 recorded battles. Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri hosted the most battles.

 — During the three-day battle at Gettysburg, the combined total of dead, wounded and missing was more than 51,000. More than 3,000 horses were killed.

 — For every man killed on the battlefield, another two more died of medical care or disease. For the Confederates, it was three to one.

 — A campaigning army of 100,000 men required 2,500 supply wagons and at least 35,000 animals. They consumed more than 600 tons of supplies per day.

 — Firsts that came from the Civil War: submarines, land mines, flame throwers, torpedoes, machine gun, ironclad navies, hospital ships, the Secret Service, “Taps”, the draft — then called conscription.

 — Weapons were so inaccurate, soldiers estimated it took a man’s weight in lead to kill a single enemy in battle.

Spectator’s Guide to NWCWC Events

 — Dress comfortably and plan to stay the day.

 — Do not bring animals — it will be noisy.

 — Turn off car alarms. The concussion from the canons can set them off.

 — Take time to walk through the camping area and visit with the reenactors. Learn about cooking, a soldier’s daily schedule and more.

 — Wear a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and water.

 — Don’t forget your camera.

 — Watch yourself, especially around fire pits and cooking stoves.

 — Supervise children at all times.

 — Do not sit, play or pose on cannons.

 — Do not approach or feed the cavalry horses on the picket line without permission.

Article source: http://democratherald.com/news/local/civil-war-reenactors-prep-for-weekend-battles-at-cheadle-lake/article_fa0bb01e-a039-11e1-aa12-001a4bcf887a.html

Annie Lee is one of 70 cannons produced in Rome at the Noble Foundry located on the Etowah river.

The celebration is free to the public.

Festivities will include an 8th regiment reenactment band concert featuring Civil-War era instruments and full costume battle dress.

Thursday’s firings of the Annie Lee will be held at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Article source: http://www.gpb.org/news/2012/05/16/noble-cannon-150th-anniversary-celebration

The Columbus Dispatch

Thursday May 17, 2012 11:16 AM

The Ohio Village at the Ohio History Center will reopen for the summer after being closed for
nine years due to budget problems.

The re-created Civil War-era village, located at 17th Avenue and I-71, will be open June 2
through Sept. 2, the same hours as the adjacent museum: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
Sundays noon to 5 p.m.

Visitors will stroll the wooden boardwalks of the 19th-century village, but things will
operate somewhat differently than they have past years. The village originally opened in 1974, but
was closed in April 2003, except for special events, because of state budget cuts.

Megan Wood of the parent Ohio Historical Society said activities will change each day. “Part
of the adventure will be discovering who is ‘home’ in Ohio Village each time you visit,” she said.
There will also be a treasure hunt game to play, Ohio Village Quest.

Burt Logan, executive director of the Historical Society, said the re-opening is in response
to public interest. “We are excited for Ohioans to once again enjoy Ohio Village,” he said in a
statement. “You asked us to make the Ohio Village more available to you and we are listening; this
is a very important step in fulfilling a goal to make it easier for Ohioans to engage with the
strengths of the Ohio Historical Society.”

Admission to the Ohio History Center and village is $10 for adults and $5 for youths; OHS
members are admitted for free.

ajohnson@dispatch.com

Article source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/17/ohio-village-reopens.html

One group came together Tuesday in New Market to honor those lost in the war back in 1864.

The Women’s Memorial Society put the event together. They had various speakers, songs, poems and stories to share about the soldiers who died in the battle.

One student from Stonewall Jackson High School played taps in honor of those soldiers.

President of the Women’s Memorial Society Barbara Blakey said their group takes care of a 142 graves of the soldiers who died in the battle.

You can see many of those graves in the St. Matthew’s Cemetery in New Market.

Blakey said many people are looking forward to the reenactment of the Battle of New Market.

“Even though we might go forward in life, if we don’t remember those soldiers who gave their lives, it’s part of our history, it’s an important valuable part of our history and we very much want to tell their story in a dignified way,” said Blakely.

That will happen at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War this Saturday.

© Copyright 2012 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Article source: http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/Civil_War_Battle_Celebrates_Anniversary_151632625.html

But Taylor stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing or apologizing for atrocities committed by rebels he armed in exchange for so-called “blood diamonds,” mined in eastern Sierra Leone.

Taylor told the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague that his actions during the bloody conflict were “done with honor” to bring peace to Sierra Leone. Taylor said he was “convinced that unless there was peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia would not be able to more forward.”

The 64-year-old former president, who was convicted last month on 11 counts of crimes against humanity — including acts of terrorism, murder, rape and the recruitment of child soldiers — appealed for leniency. The court said that although Taylor did not have command and control of the rebels, he was aware of their activities and provided them with weapons and other supplies.

Prosecutors are demanding an 80-year prison term. But Taylor’s attorneys have argued that such a long sentence would be overly harsh and place too much blame on him.

The sentencing is scheduled for May 30.

During his remarks Wednesday, Taylor also accused the prosecution of paying witnesses to testify against him and accused the court of being part of a Western conspiracy against him and other black Africans.

Taylor is the first African head of state to be brought before an international tribunal to face charges for mass atrocities and violations of international humanitarian law.

Article source: http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/05/16/charles-taylor-tells-court-i-sympathize-with-victims-of-sierra-leone-civil-war/

If you go

What: Rally ‘Round the Flag! second annual Civil War living history event

When: 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: Most events are in Evansville’s Lake Leota Park, with others at Maple Hill Cemetery and Creekside Place, Evansville.

Cost: Most events free

Details: For a complete schedule with times and locations of events, visit grovesociety.org or call (608) 882-5528.

EVANSVILLE ? Scenes from patriotic gatherings held across the state 150 years ago and battlefield artillery firings will be reenacted this weekend in Evansville.

The local historical society, the Evansville Grove Society, will recreate the atmosphere and activities from the spring of 1861 in the second annual Rally ‘Round the Flag, a Civil War Sesquicentennial Event. The event starts Friday night, running through Sunday afternoon.

“We decided that it was so popular with people last year that we’d make it an annual event, so it’s back by popular demand,” said John Decker, president of the Grove Society.

Evansville was one of the sites for statewide gatherings held in 1861 to rally support for the national government, recruit volunteer regiments and encourage financial and material aid for those who volunteered and their families.

The event includes reenactment camps, speeches, a parade, concert by the 1st Brigade Band, Civil War fashion show, supper with the troops, military ball, church service in period style with live music and artillery demonstrations.

More than 1,800 middle school students from around the area will learn from about 20 hands-on instructional stations during an invite-only portion of the event Friday.

Article source: http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/may/15/civil-war-relived-evansville/

Ratko Mladic, who is accused of orchestrating a horrific campaign of ethnic cleansing during the bloody civil war that ripped apart Yugoslavia, showed no remorse as his war crimes trial opened Wednesday, at one point even appearing to threaten victims in the court.

The former general drew his hand across his neck as if cutting a throat while staring at victims of the war that introduced the phrase “ethnic cleansing.”

At other times, the man accused of being “the Butcher of Bosnia” stared at them, fire in his eyes, and he once growled at the survivors.

The 70-year-old former Bosnian Serb general has been indicted on 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the 1992-95 war.

His trial is taking place at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands, a special court established to try those responsible for atrocities during the war.

Prosecutors say Mladic’s campaign included the massacre of 8,000 Muslims in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica.

On Wednesday, prosecutor Dermot Groome laid out details of the case against Mladic, saying that ethnic cleansing was not a byproduct of the war, but a specific aim of the Bosnian Serb leadership.

He will set out to show that Mladic was directly responsible for atrocities carried out by his forces, who were fighting for control of land in ethnically mixed Bosnia.

Sexual violence was a weapon of war, Groome said, describing a woman who said she had been raped more than 50 times, and women who were forced by Bosnian Serb forces to perform sex acts on members of their own families.

Prosecutors will use survivor testimonies and video clips to make their case at a trial that is likely to last for months or years.

Article source: http://www.wptz.com/news/national/Long-awaited-Mladic-war-crimes-trial-opens-Wednesday/-/8869978/13412344/-/118lfrz/-/

View larger image

Pete Cooper, from New Jersey, pulls the lanyard and fires a Union three-inch ordinance rifle in a demonstration cannon duel with Confederate artillery during the 146th anniversary of the Battle of New Market. This year’s event will also feature a re-enactment of the First Battle of Winchester, which was a key battle of ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign. Daily file photo

By Sally Voth — svoth@nvdaily.com

This weekend’s Battle of New Market re-enactment is a veritable one-stop shop for Civil War enthusiasts.

“The event has really grown and evolved,” Maj. Troy Marshall, director of the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, said Tuesday.

While the re-enactment’s earliest days focused on the battle itself, now there are food vendors and sutlers. According to the museum’s website, sutlers were people who followed troops so they could sell them items, such as coffee, sweets, tobacco, and other accessories they couldn’t get from the government.

So, if a re-enactor were to break a piece of equipment, he could go to the sutlers’ camp and buy a replacement, Marshall said. Likewise, a Civil War enthusiast could go select a museum-quality item.

“It’s its own little entertainment venue,” Marshall said.

As in years’ past, the battle reenactment will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, but rather than just have tactical exercises on Saturday, there will instead be a re-creation of Stonewall Jackson’s Battle of First Winchester starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, he said.

That’s being done in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Jackson’s Valley Campaign, according to Marshall. The Winchester battle’s anniversary is just a week away, he said, and the hill at the Bushong Farm on the New Market Battlefield is reminiscent of Bowers Hill at First Winchester Battlefield.

“We’ve taken this day, which usually is not a special day as a battle, and we’ve kind of commemorated a battle,” Marshall said.

Prior to the Saturday battle, there will be a “Valley Campaign in a Box” presentation by a National Park Service ranger, as well as living history demonstrations and a signal corps demonstration, according to the museum and the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park website.

Sunday’s visitors can also attend a Civil War camp church service and observe living history demonstrations, as well as the battle, according to the site.

Marshall is hoping for a big turnout.

“We were kind of concerned about the gas prices potentially being an issue, but they haven’t been,” he said. “If it’s a nice weekend [weather-wise], we would like to think it would be a good opportunity to come to New Market and take part in something that’s become a real tradition in New Market. Our re-enactment is one of the oldest continuous reenactments in the United States.”

The museum has a souvenir booklet from 1923 when Marines at Quantico played a football game at the Virginia Military Institute on a Saturday, and the next day re-enacted the battle before an estimated crowd of 60,000 to 100,000, Marshall said.

“We’re very excited to continue that tradition … of having a battle re-enactment as a history teacher,” he said.

Tickets are $10 each, with children under 10 getting in free, according to the website. New Market residents with proof of residency also get free admission.

For more information on the event, call 740-3101.

Article source: http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2012/05/extra-battle-with-new-market-reenactment.php