Arkansas Civil War

Miss Sandra Jackson made the following viedo for a college project. It’s comprised of battle reenactments from Reed’s Bridge, White Sulpher Springs, Old Washington and a few others. She inerviewed Civil War Reenctors about their experiences in the hobby. This is a great video for someone interested in becoing a living hstorian here in Arkansas. If you are interested in trying it out, email us at info@arkansastoothpick.com. Dn’t worry if you don’t have any equipment, as there is equipment that you can borrow. Join the ranks during the 150th!!! We need families and individuals of all ages! From children 1 year old and up!

It is Mardi Gras time again in Ouachita Parish! February 11 is the date to mark on your calendars for the Monroe/West Monroe Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras parade. We are hoping for a big turnout this year as we had a down year last year due to conflicting dates with sesquicentennial events that were unavoidable. This year’s parade will coincide with the Army of Trans Mississippi’s leadership workshop being held at the Clarion Inn in Monroe, La. The workshop will be ending at 2:30 so bring your CONFEDERATE UNIFORM and head for the parade gathering site as soon as it is over.

There are a few things that need to be said about our parade. While, overall, parade goers are Confederate friendly there will always be some narrow minded people who will say things to our folks that are out of line. The response to these individuals is to smile and wave, smile and wave. Do not give them fuel to use against us. We do not buy insurance for the parade and couldn’t afford to if we were required to buy. As a result of this NO THROWS of beads, candy, or anything else is allowed by our unit. No exceptions. Remember, this is a Confederate unit portraying Confederate people, please come in period dress or uniform. Kind of looks odd in a bunch of Confederate soldiers when some guy with a flag is wearing blue jeans and a checked shirt. Also the owners of the float are asking that there be no smoking on the float due to worries about their flags getting burned. One last thing. If you decide to have a little too much to drink and can’t control yourself or you cause an embarrassing situation that endangers our participants you will be ejected from our unit and you can find your way back the best you can.

We do hope that you will come and join the Monroe and West Monroe camps for a fun night of marching, shooting, and hearing the shouts of Rebels! Rebels! as we meander the 4 miles of parade route through the Twin Cities. Bring plenty of rounds for your musket as we traditionally fire 60 to 70 times over the course of the evening. If you don’t have a musket stick your favorite Confederate flag on an 8′ pole and join the flag corp. We will have transportation waiting at the end of the parade to get you back to your vehicles.

The parade will begin at our usual spot across from the West Monroe health unit. To get there from I-20, get off on the Stella-Mill street exit and go south until you reach the first red light, this is New Natchitoches Road. Take a left at this light and go for about 300 yards and there we will be. I feel sure you will recognize our unit. Please come fill our ranks with enthusiastic Confederate soldiers and ladies.

Any questions, please contact me at 318-376-2898 or tcrusader@juno.com.

Thomas E. Taylor
Northeast Brigade Commander
Louisiana Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans

The Arkansas Toothpick endorses several Civil War events throughout the next few months. Soldiers and Living Historians from Arkansas are highly encouraged to attend the following events officially released by the 2nd Arkansas Batl’n Volunteers.

If you are interested in reliving the Civil War during the 150th Anniversary, contact Captain Guy Taylor, 2nd Arkansas Infantry, CSA (870) 794-6262 or by email: gtnoshot@yahoo.com

The next Arkansas Civil War event will be the annual living history at Arkansas Post on January 28, 2012 at the Arkansas Post State Park located near Gillet, Arkansas. Note: this is the State Park, NOT the National Park. The event will consist of military drill, artillery demonstrations, static as well as dynamic exhibitry, and infantry demonstrations. Meal will be provided to living historians and there is no cost to the public to attend this event.

The annual Arkansas Post event is a time to reflect on the Battle of Arkansas Post in January, 1863 that turned the tide of the War in the Trans-Mississippi. Also the location of an American Revolution Battle, Arkansas Post is a great place to relive Arkansas History from its beginning.

The National Memorial Park is located near the State Park and has original rifle pits and a great interpretative center.

There will be a Battalion Drill to prepare for the 150th Shiloh at Old Washington State Park on February 18, 2012. Living Historians planning on attending the 150th Shiloh with the 2nd Arkansas Batl’n are urged to attend this event but not required. Anyone interested in reenacting is likewise urged to attend this event to become familiar with Civil War military drill.

More information on the 150th Shiloh will appear here on arkansastoothpick.com, as this will be the largest Civil War reenactment EVER west of the Mississippi! Arkansas was directly affected by this battle in April, 1862 and therefore will be highly visible on this website.

Next week’s column “One Hundred and Fifty Years Ago…” will feature information on General Van Dorn taking control of the Army of the Trans-0Mississippi in Late January, 1862, setting the wheels in motion that will come to a grinding halt in April at the bloodiest day in American History up until the day at Shiloh!

The annual conference of the Arkansas Living History Association is coming up soon on March 2-4, 2012! The pre-registration fee is $40 per person by February 1. Register now to take advantage of this low price. After February 1, the registration fee is $60. Attached is the registration form and schedule for the conference. A downloadable version can be found at www.arkansaslivinghistory.com/downloads. Information on the conference hotel in Fayetteville is also included. The discounted rate of rooms will be held till February 10. Now is the time to register for this exciting upcoming conference. Hope to see all of you there on the first weekend in March. For more information contact Pody Gay at pgay@springdalear.gov.

Even though this event may be in Louisiana, this may be a good one to take the family to if you happen to be in the neighborhood! The Battle of D’Arbonne Landing is slated for March 10-11, 2112 with 2pm Battles each day.

For More Information, contact:
Kevin Adkins, SCV Commander
318-368-3611
kevin_adkins@bellsouth.net

or

Jon Witherington, Interpretive Ranger
318-368-2086
www.lake.darbonne_int@crt.state.la.us

The annual Arkansas Post living history is slated for January 28, 2012 at the state park near Gillet, Arkansas. Camps open to the public from 9am-5pm. Reenactors may arrive the night before to set up and camp. If you need more info on this event as either a spectator or a Civil War reenactor, email us at info@arkansastoothpick.com.

LITTLE ROCK—A Civil War symposium at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock is among the events the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has sanctioned for January 2012, ACWSC Chairman Tom Dupree announced today. A complete listing of scheduled sesquicentennial activities, as well as additional information on the activities listed below, can be found at http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/events/.

The Old State House symposium “Why Commemorate the Civil War?” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 28, and will feature speakers Bill Gurley, Ronnie Nichols, and William L. Shea. To register for the free symposium, call (501) 324-8641.

Other Civil War sesquicentennial events during January are:

·“Civil War Arkansas, 1863-1865,” the ACWSC’s traveling exhibit, will be at the Fayetteville Public Library January 9 through 22; call (479) 856-7000 for more information.

·“Brown Bag Lunch Lecture,” a lecture by Rebecca Howard on “Arkansas’s Union Forces: What Drove Madison County Men to Enlist?”, will be held on January 12 at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock; call (501) 324-9685 or email info@oldstatehouse.org for more information.

·“Camp Douglas Federal Prison,” a lecture by Robert Edwards, will be held January 23 at the Saline County Library in Benton; call (501) 778-4766 or email sperdue@saline.lib.ar.us for more information.

·“Civil War Arkansas, 1863-1865,” the ACWSC’s traveling exhibit, will be at Tolleson Elementary School in Jacksonville January 30 through February 12; call (501) 982-7456 for more information.

·Civil War in Northwest Arkansas Podcast Contest, in which students can submit audio podcasts about the Civil War in the region, continues during January; call (479) 750-8165 or email syoung@springdalear.gov for more information.

·“An Enduring Union” Exhibit, an exhibit at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock focusing on why Arkansas commemorates its Civil War veterans, will continue during January; call (501) 324-9685 or email info@oldstatehouse.org for more information.

·“Reel to Real” Exhibit, an exhibit at Little Rock’s Historic Arkansas Museum contrasting artifacts from the movie Gone with the Wind with items from Civil War Arkansas, will continue during January; call (501) 324-9351 or email info@historicarkansas.org for more information.