Civil War Days 
Sat., May 16; 10 am-5 pm
Sun., May 17; 11 am-5 pm
Free with general admission
One weekend only, Conner Prairie transforms into a Civil War battleground. The historic areas become Union and Confederate Camps, the field is made into a battleground and the woods are converted into ideal hiding spots for soldiers. Reenactors from across the country bring the 1860s to life so you can discuss battle tactics with soldiers, march in their infantry, sit around their campfires and witness a battle complete with cannons, horses and guns.
Schedule
| Saturday |
May 16 |
| 10 am |
Artillery Drill |
| 11 am |
Meet Abraham Lincoln |
| 11 am |
Infantry Drill (Union and Confederate) |
| 11:30 am |
Cavalry Demonstration/Drill |
| Noon |
Storytellers Drum, "Life in the 28th U.S. Colored Troops" |
| Noon |
Lew Wallace |
| 12:30 pm |
Historic Base Ball Game |
| 1 pm |
Saxton's Cornet Band |
| 1 pm |
Meet the Infantry |
| 1 pm |
Ladies Tea |
2 pm
|
Battle
|
| 3 pm |
Meet Abraham Lincoln |
| 3:30 pm |
Lew Wallace |
| 4 pm |
Saxton's Cornet Band |
| 4 pm |
Meet the Cavalry |
| All Day |
Recruiting and Drilling |
| All Day |
St. Paul Ladies Aide Society |
| Sunday |
May 17 |
| 11 am |
Artillery Drill |
| 11 am |
Lew Wallace |
| Noon |
Storytellers Drum, "Life in the 28th U.S. Colored Troops" |
| Noon |
Infantry Drill (Union and Confederate) |
| 12:30 pm |
Cavalry Demonstration/Drill |
| 1 pm |
Saxton's Cornet Band |
| 1 pm |
Ladies Tea |
| 2 pm |
Battle |
| 3 pm |
Meet Abraham Lincoln |
| 3:30 pm |
Lew Wallace |
| 4 pm |
Saxton's Cornet Band |
| 4 pm |
Meet the Infantry |
| All Day |
Recruiting and Drilling |
| All Day |
St. Paul Ladies Aide Society |
Sutlers (Vendors)
Stop by the shops for authentic Civil War uniforms, period civilian clothing, re-enacting supplies and period-related books and toys!
Conner Prairie Food Options
The Overlook-Buffet
The buffet will take place in the Overlook Room on Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am to 3:00 pm.
Cost is $9.95 age 13 and over, $6.50 age 2 through 12.
Menu
Ham
Chicken Fricassee
Cole Slaw
Whipped Potatoes
Country Style Green Beans
Corn bread with (honey and butter)
Chefs Choice Desserts
Ice Tea
Lemonade
Coffee
Food Court
Grilled Turkey Legs
Roasted Corn
Italian Sausage
Funnel Cake
Fries
Fried Biscuits
BBQ Sandwich
Corn Dogs
Nachos
Fresh Fruit Cup
Fresh Granola Bars
Outside Food Vendors
Aunt Dorothy’s Southern Cooking
Catfish, gumbo, cornbread, red beans and rice
Jan’s Village Pizza
Pizza sold by the slice (Pepperoni, cheese, sausage, buffalo chicken)
Kettle Master
Kettle Corn, Frozen Flavor Ice
Pop Jack’s Root Beer
Fresh made sodas (Root Beer, English Lemonade, Green Apple Jack)
Pretzels, cookies, gum drops, peanuts, meat sticks
For more information, call Guest Services at 317.776.6006 or 800.966.1836 or e-mail info@connerprairie.org.
Civil War slang and phrases:
Greenbacks—Money
Breadbasket—Stomach
Bully—Yeah! Hurrah!
Fit to be tied—Angry
Goobers—Peanuts
Grab a Root—Shouted in a crowd if someone tripped to point out their clumsiness. It also means to have dinner.
Indiana and the Civil War
| Number of... |
Total |
Indiana |
| Enlisted Men |
In 1861: 16,000 Union
By 1865: Over 1.5 million Union |
Nearly 200,000 (74% of Indiana's eligible men) |
| Casualties |
624,000 Union and Confederate |
7,000 from battle wounds
19,000 from other causes, primarily disease
Overall, 1 in 8 men did not come home |
| Enlisted African Americans |
By 1865: 180,000 Union |
By 1865: about 1,500 |
| Regiments (infantry, artillery and cavalry) |
Over 2,000 Union |
195 |
Women and the War
Women served in a variety of non-military roles during the Civil War, including as nurses and aid workers. Not allowed to join as soldiers, women sometimes disguised their gender to serve their country in that capacity. If discovered, though, they were immediately discharged. But what if they weren't?
Jennie Hodgers, aka Albert D. Cashier, served as a man in an Illinois Infantry regiment, a disguise that went undiscovered throughout the war and beyond. It wasn't until she was hit by a car around 1910 and treated at a hospital that her deception was realized. Upon hearing that her government pension would be revoked for the ruse, her fellow soldiers came to her defense and successfully argued on her behalf.
Unlike the military of 150 years ago, today's forces rely on the expertise of women in all areas. Women like Jennie Hodgers were ahead of their time!