Baxter Springs Fall Festival features Civil War encampment

  • Visitors to the Baxter Springs encampment Saturday were treated to a slice of Civil War history Saturday when both the Union and Confederate re-enactors took up residence on the Museum grounds. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic the crowds spent time letting their minds travel back to another time.
    Visitors to the Baxter Springs encampment Saturday were treated to a slice of Civil War history Saturday when both the Union and Confederate re-enactors took up residence on the Museum grounds. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic the crowds spent time letting their minds travel back to another time.
  • Pat Outa, Matt Wright, Bill Bader, and Wayne Pease from the Confederate army are completing a drill in loading the cannon. The cannon was fired during the Civil War re-enactment held during the Baxter Springs Fall Festival held Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Amber Helwig.
    Pat Outa, Matt Wright, Bill Bader, and Wayne Pease from the Confederate army are completing a drill in loading the cannon. The cannon was fired during the Civil War re-enactment held during the Baxter Springs Fall Festival held Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Amber Helwig.
  • Planning the days activities the re-enactors were deciding what group would do this or that in the battle. Some of the soldiers had two uniforms so they were fighting for one side on Saturday and the other side on Sunday.
    Planning the days activities the re-enactors were deciding what group would do this or that in the battle. Some of the soldiers had two uniforms so they were fighting for one side on Saturday and the other side on Sunday.
  • Both Confederate and Union soldiers at the re-enactment paused to listen to the words of General James Blunt who commanded the Union Army in Kansas and was a delegate to the Wyandotte constitutional convention that framed the Kansas state constitution in 1859, and served as chair of the committee on militia.
    Both Confederate and Union soldiers at the re-enactment paused to listen to the words of General James Blunt who commanded the Union Army in Kansas and was a delegate to the Wyandotte constitutional convention that framed the Kansas state constitution in 1859, and served as chair of the committee on militia.
  • Sgt. Jason Brassfield stands beside his tent. The reenactor was portraying a soldier in the first Arkansas division of the U.S. Army. The small camp of soldiers directly behind the Baxter Spring Museum kept a campfire going through the entire encampment.
    Sgt. Jason Brassfield stands beside his tent. The reenactor was portraying a soldier in the first Arkansas division of the U.S. Army. The small camp of soldiers directly behind the Baxter Spring Museum kept a campfire going through the entire encampment.
  • Nothing like stopping on the back of a railroad caboose for a short rest, no matter which army you are portraying. The Union and Confederate soldier re-enactors appear to be as tired as a real soldier might have been.
    Nothing like stopping on the back of a railroad caboose for a short rest, no matter which army you are portraying. The Union and Confederate soldier re-enactors appear to be as tired as a real soldier might have been.
  • Portraying James Gillpatrick Blunt following the Battle of Baxter Springs, Jim Spillers gave a speech overlooking the re-enactment battlefield. General Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to the rank of major general in the Union Army.
    Portraying James Gillpatrick Blunt following the Battle of Baxter Springs, Jim Spillers gave a speech overlooking the re-enactment battlefield. General Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to the rank of major general in the Union Army.
  • Rosalie Peterson from the Camp Followest Band provided music at the confederate camp. The Civil War re-enactment held during the Baxter Springs Fall Festival held Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Amber Helwig
    Rosalie Peterson from the Camp Followest Band provided music at the confederate camp. The Civil War re-enactment held during the Baxter Springs Fall Festival held Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Amber Helwig