Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. - Commemorate the Civil War's 150th anniversary with two thrilling reenactments of the Battle of Monday's Hollow at a Living History and Civil War Reenactment Weekend, Sept. 15-16, at the Missouri Trapshooters Association Grounds, 51 Trapshooters Road off of State Road A in Linn Creek.

This event, sponsored by the Camden County Historical Society & Museum and the Fourth Missouri Cavalry Reenactors, will feature a full-scale reenactment of the battle on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free to this maximum-effort reenactment of the only Civil War battle fought in Camden County. Parking is available for suggested donations of $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle.

The Civil War festival will feature a multitude of activities and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The reenactment of the Battle of Monday's Hollow will start at 1 p.m. each day and is expected to last 45 minutes to an hour. According to period reports, the actual Battle of Monday's Hollow took place on Oct. 13, 1861 and lasted less than a day. Battle reenactments of this scale generally attract an average of about 400-600 reenactors and spectators can often number in the thousands.

"It's the only reenactment of its kind in the central portion of Missouri," said Valerie Thomas, event coordinator and museum archivist. "It's like having a front row seat to a live-action Civil War battle movie. These battle reenactments are quite a spectacle - Union and Confederate soldiers with sabers drawn, cannons firing, infantries shooting and the cavalry charging. Kids love it and adults are absolutely fascinated by it. And there's so much more to the reenactment than just the battle. It's really a spectacular two-day event."

Each day visitors can travel back in time to the 1860s with a variety of era-themed activities before, during and after the battle. Guests can walk through Confederate and Union military camps and interact with the soldiers on both sides. Patrons also can hear live Civil War-era music performed by singers and musicians on Saturday, as well as watch period reenactment speakers on both days. A Civil War-era worship service is also scheduled at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Other planned activities include a "sutler village" of period vendors, craftsmen, traveling museums and a Civil War-era medical tent. Inside the tent, visitors will learn how surgery was performed and how illnesses were treated in the 1860s, as well as observe Union and Confederate wounded soldiers as they receive medical attention in the heat of battle.

Additional 1860s-era stations will showcase a laundress, woodworkers and soapmakers. A children's area will feature an interactive air cannon, a station where kids can learn to make rope and other fun activities. A variety of food vendors also are scheduled to be at the site, featuring pulled pork, chicken and ribeye sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, nachos, funnel cakes, kettle corn, ice cream and more.

Three special guests will help "review the troops" during the reenactment: John Seward, a retired brigadier general and the last living male descendant of President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward, along with Brandon and Chase Mills, the great-great grandson and great-great-great grandson of a Union soldier who fought at the Battle of Monday's Hollow.

For more information, including an event schedule or for details on how to get involved with the reenactment, call the museum at 573-346-7191 or visit CamdenCountyMuseum.com. The Camden County Historical Society & Museum is at the corner of U.S. 54 and Route V in Linn Creek and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week (when volunteers are available).

Civil War reenactors and spectators who are looking for lodging can learn about the Lake's many resorts, hotels, condominiums, motels, bed and breakfasts, RV parks or campgrounds by calling the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visiting FunLake.com.

The event was made possible by a $5,000 grant from the Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) to the Camden County Museum and Historical Society in support of the reenactment. The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.

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