The Grierson Society (Ron Gray, Chairman), City of Jacksonville, Village of South Jacksonville, hosts, sponsors and reenactors invite you to step back in time and experience the life of a civil war soldier at the 13th Annual General Grierson Days Reenactment. This year's event promises entertainment, excitement and surprises for the entire family.

JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS - General Grierson Days is the largest Civil War Reenactment event in the Midwest, and is recognized by the reenactors as one of the best-organized events.  Battles on both Saturday and Sunday will feature more than 50 horses, 500 reenactors and families and several cannons.

General Grierson Days is one of Illinois' best reenactments for both family and soldier alike. It is one the largest civil war reenactment events in west central Illinois. Battles on both Saturday and Sunday will include lots of action! Each battle is different and there are always a few surprises.

All events are open and free to the public at the Jacksonville Community Park, with the exception of the Grand Ball, held at the Nichols Park Pavillion, Nichols Park, on Saturday night.

Grierson joined the Union war effort as a volunteer, from Jacksonville.   His family lived in Jacksonville and remained here during the Civil War.  He taught music in Jacksonville and was a merchant, owning his own General Store in Meredosia.  An unlikely candidate for a Cavalry Officer, he had been kicked in the head by a horse in his youth.  "Grierson's Raid", was a sixteen day foray through the South, from LaGrange, TN, to Baton Rouge, LA, pulling the attention of the Southern army from Vicksburg and allowing Grant to take Vicksburg.  Many Civil War scholars believe it was the turning point of the war.

For more information about Grierson Days, including lodging, please contact us at 1-800-593-5678.
 

Come early and visit both the Confederate and Union Camps. Experience life in military camps as it was lived in the 1860's. Watch the soldiers drill and prepare for battle; prepare meals; and, practice medicine. Stay late and retum to the camps after the battles to visit with the reenactors. Dressed in period clothing, they also eat, sleep and converse in period style. Ask questions! Want to know about their horses? Weapons? Food? Clothing? Lifestyle? Reenactors are walking history lessons and like to share their knowledge of the Civil War era with visitors. Watch for special areas and demonstrations like the artillery displays and Commanding Officer Tents. Also be alert to impromptu skits or perfommances in and around the camps and buildings. You never know what will happen next! Be prepared to visit the sutlers, craft and food vendors. Food will be available on the grounds both days. How about some homemade rootbeer and strawberry shortcake?!!

PLEASE BE CAREFUL!

Respect any and all barriers. These are erected for your safety and the safety of the participants. While in the camps be watchful of in-ground cooking pits used for wammth and meal preparation. And please be extra careful around the horses. They may kick! Keep all children and pets with you at all times. Thank you for joining us for this year's event. We hope you enjoy your journey to the Civil War here, in Jacksonville.  We hope you can find time to visit them and thank them for making this year's General Grierson Days possible.

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Location: Beautiful City Park wiht Convenient Parking
All events are free and the public is invited to join the fun.
Food available on the grounds

Related sites:
General Grierson's Home on East State Street
General Grierson's final resting place in Jacksonville East Cemetery

General Grierson Days is held annually under the shade of more than 200 trees in a 62 acre park located in the center of the community. Saturday and Sunday feature battle re-enactments and the opportunity for the hundreds of area families that this event attracts to step back through time to experience life during the civil war.

Ladies will be hosted at a Saturday afternoon tea and discussion of fashion followed by a discussion of hair styles. While across the park a rousing game of baseball will be played just as it was during the Civil War. Bring the youngsters out, because we'll be looking for some volunteers to help! Saturday evening will feature the Grand Ball held in the historic setting of the Nichols Park Pavilion. Sponsored by the 50 Year Pilot Club of Jacksonville, the Ball will feature Deborah Hyland as the Dance Mistress and period music by the Megan Green Ensemble.

Sunday morning will find us gathered together for church services and the weekend will culminate with a Sunday afternoon civil war battle.

Through out the day there will be demonstrations, drills and activities including the opportunity to wander through suttler row and see the period clothing, supplies and equipment for sale. There will also be food and craft vendors on the grounds. Have a sandwich and wash it down with a cold, homemade root beer and of course a piece of Strawberry Shortcake for dessert! All events are free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Related sites in town include the Grierson House at 852 E. State & Grierson's resting place in East Cemetary. Click here for more information on the Grierson Home and it's connection to the Underground Railroad.

Directions:
From Community Park, exit right onto Morton Ave, travel a few blocks to Clay St and turn left at that stoplight. Travel a littel over amile North on Clay to Independence Ave and turn right. Go about half a mile to Myrtle St and turn right - go half a block and turn left at the arch entrance way of East Cemetary. Once inside the cemetary go past the first road to the left till you goe to a Y intersection- take the left fork in the road to yet another Y intersection and take the left fork also. Travel just a little further straight and you'll see a street sign that says Hutchison Dr.- stop at that street sign and you will find the grave markers.

General Benjamin H. Grierson
1826 - 1911

 Grierson H. Grierson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1826. As an 8-year-old he was kicked in the face by a horse and lay in a coma for two weeks. His cheek bore a scar and he lost his vision for two months due to this injury. It is said he wore his beard to hide the scar on his cheek. Grierson move to 852 East State Street in Jacksonville, Illinois with his family in the fall of 1850 when he was 24. He taught the piano lessons. It was here he learned that he had been hand picked by Ulysses S. Grant to lead an important military mission, which would become known as Grierson's Raid. This mission encompassed 600 miles in just 16 days.

 General Grierson and his wife, Alice, are buried in the Jacksonville East Cemetery.

Benjamin Henry Grierson

©2005, 2007 Grierson Society