The 42nd annual Jackson Mill Jubilee will feature Civil War period re-enactors at the Annual event this Labor Day weekend. The men and women re-enactors will be portraying both Union and Confederate Soldiers from the period 1861 – 1865. There were no Civil War Battles fought on the grounds of Jackson Mill – however, many residents of West Virginia fought on both sides during that great war. Furthermore, Thomas Jackson, who spent his boyhood on the Jackson farm (which is now a conference center operated by WVU) – grew up to become one of the greatest Generals of the Confederate Army, second only in Stature to General Robert E. Lee.
The Historical Battle reenactments this year will be accompanied by narration (on the Chapel PA system) and will take place in the same area (follow the signs). The skirmishes will portray some of the military conflicts that General Jackson, participated in, such as the Battle of Bull Run (1861) also knows as the First Manassas Campaign, which is the place where he received his nickname “Stonewall.” Or the skirmish at Cedar Creek, where Confederate soldiers dressed in blue uniforms overran a Union Artillery position when they were mistaken for friendly troops.
Jackson’s untimely death at the hands of his own troops at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863 was a great blow to General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Forces. The skirmishes will take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, and will be followed by demonstrations of surgical techniques and care of wounded in a field hospital setting. Thus far, the Units that have signed up represent CSA Companies H, E and I of the 31st Army of Virginia which actually received their muster call at Vandalia in Lewis County, WV, while the North will be represented by two companies of the 7th West Virginia and the 140 Pennsylvania Union Army.
The types of battles to be re-enacted depend solely on the number of participants. Artillery units are still needed. A powder bonus is being offered to the first four Artillery Units that sign up. There is still time for re-enactors of both the CSA and the Union armies to join in the fight, or for young men to enlist for the battle. If you or your reenactment unit would like to participate at the 42nd annual Jackson Mill Jubilee, call Jason Studenwalt at 304-884-7710.
