Civil War re-enactors at Frontier Village this weekend

By SHARON KIESEL

“We’re not using live fire, just blanks on Saturday,” said Bill Thurman of Archie. “We’re also going to try and set up camp. Most of all though, we’re just going to have fun.” Bill is part of about 10 men who are in a newly formed Civil War re-enactors group. This Saturday at Frontier Village, the guys, Bledsoe’s Battery, will be practicing the shooting of an 1857, 12 pound, full scale replica of a Napoleon cannon.

The cannon, which was on display at Frontier Village during the recent WMAT&MA Tractor Show, takes approximately one pound of black powder per shot. The price of black powder today makes it cost about $15 per shot.

Col. Bledsoe was from Pleasant Hill Missouri and during the 1880’s he was a member of the Missouri State Senate. He died in 1906 and is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Because of his life in Cass County and is thus part of local lore, the re-enactors named their group in his honor.

This Saturday, if you hear a series of booms coming from the area of Frontier Village, beginning around 1 p.m., no need to worry. It will be Bledsoe’s Battery at cannon practice. Anyone interested in civil war history and/or are interested in enlisting in Bledsoe’s Battery re-enactors, you’re invited to come out and watch the practice session and talk to the guys about their part in the living history of America.