A Civil War experience is coming to International Falls Public Library.
The Arrowhead Library System will present Historical Experiences – Minnesota’s Civil War Experience, a free program being offered at the International Falls Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
This year is the final year of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, according to a news release. Arn Kind will visit libraries across the Arrowhead region to share information about the events that threatened to break up the nation. The American Civil War was America’s bloodiest conflict, with 620,000 Americans losing their lives over the four years of the struggle.
Through drama, role-playing and living history experiences, Kind’s presentation will give participants an understanding of this turbulent time and bring history alive. What caused this horrific conflict? What events led to the war? What motivated young men to sign up and fight as soldiers for the Union? Was it just patriotism or were there other, more selfish motivations for enlisting? What was the everyday soldier’s experience? What were his uniform, equipment, weapons, and food like? What were his chances of surviving his 3-year term of enlistment?
Kind dresses in the uniform of a Union soldier and goes through the uniform, equipment, and weapons used by soldiers in the American Civil War.
A very important part of Kind’s presentations, the release said, are the artifacts, uniforms and equipment participants observe, handle, and interact with as part of this hands-on history experience. At the end, audience members may choose to play an active role in historical events by becoming recruits in the Union Army as they are sworn in and learn some of the basics of Hardee’s Light Infantry Tactics Drill Manual while handling wooden replicas of Civil War muskets.
Kind is a member of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment; a reenactment group based out of Fort Snelling. Because this group is noted for its authenticity, they have appeared in many documentaries and historical feature films such as “The Blue and the Gray,” “North & South,” “Glory,” “Gettysburg,” “Dances With Wolves,” and “Gods and Generals.” Kind brings this authenticity to his presentations.
This program, sponsored by Arrowhead Library System, was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. To learn more about Arrowhead Legacy Events, please see the organization’s calendar at www.arrowhead.lib.mn.us/whats-new, find it on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArrowheadLegacy or Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArrowheadLegacy.
