GEAUGA COUNTY Civil War comes to life

Re-enactors will restage the Appomattox, Va., surrender of Lee to Grant.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
BURTON -- Visitors to Geauga County Historical Society's Century Village will be invited to observe Civil War camp life, military drills and battles during the 16th annual Civil War re-enactment May 26 and 27.
The re-enactment is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Proceeds benefit the historical society.
Re-enactors portraying Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant will restage the 1865 surrender of Lee to Grant at Appomattox, Va.
Visitors are invited to stroll through the Union and Confederate camps and talk to re-enactors portraying the life of "Billy Yank" or "Johnny Reb," the common soldiers of the Civil War.
Drills and battles: Two veteran re-enacting commanders will drill troops in the morning both days, and lead them into battle each afternoon.
Tim Perry of Summit County, commander of the 7th Battalion Army of Northern Virginia, will lead Confederate forces. A re-enactor for more than 20 years, Perry is a native Virginian whose family history includes more than 40 men who fought in the Army of Northern Virginia under Lee.
Burdell Waffler of Cuyahoga County will lead Union forces. Commander of the First Regiment United States Volunteers, he began re-enacting during the Civil War centennial in the 1960s.
Besides the military activities, there will be a civilian camp and Civil War displays. Period-themed items will be offered for sale.
Available for purchase: Visitors may browse through sutlers' tents and make their own purchases, or watch as re-enactors search for mercantile items such as clothing, footwear and stationery items.
During the Civil War, sutlers were merchants who followed the armies offering goods for sale not supplied by the military. Today's sutlers also follow re-enacting armies to weekend events, offering books, music and gifts and reproduction Civil War supplies.
tullis@vindy.com