Community Corner

Re-Enacting the U.S. Civil War in Connecticut

Re-enactors and spectators gather in Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain for an encampment and simulated battle Saturday.

Hundreds of re-enactors continued Connecticut’s commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the start of the U.S. Civil War Saturday with ceremonies and demonstrations at Central Connecticut State University and Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain.

The re-enactors come from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. They portrayed units from Connecticut, West Virginia and Maryland on Saturday.

Duke Breon, of Woodbury, portrayed a corporal in the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, said he enjoys participating such events. He’s been a re-enactor for about 15 years and says when they aren’t demonstrating or educating others about the Civil War, they are studying more about themselves.

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“I really enjoy this,” Breon said.

Waterbury resident Martin Spring, portraying a private, says part of the reason he does it is to honor an ancestor his, Charles Spring, Newtown resident who fought in the Civil War. Martin Spring said a number of his ancestors fought in the Civil and Revolutionary wars.

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“I wear this uniform to honor my ancestor,” Spring said.

The Second Connecticut, has about 65 members and commemorates the artillery unit that left Litchfield to fight in the Civil War, Victor Scalora, Newtown resident, who portrays a captain, said.

Scalora says the members do living histories throughout the state in schools as well as participate in re-enactments. The 2nd plans to go to Virginia to participated in a re-enactment of the first battle at Manassas this summer.

The activities at Central Connecticut State and Stanley Quarter Park continue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.


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