Welcome to the home of the

Shadows of the Blue and Gray

Civil War Re-enactment

No Event is Planned for 2009

Princeton, Illinois

 
 
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 Exciting history was brought to the present with accurate recreations of the sights and sounds of the

 American Civil War.

Click on the links below and to the left to start your tour!

Schedule of Events

Maps of our Event

The Shadows of the Blue and Gray was one of the Midwest's premiere Civil War Re-enactments for the past 12 years.  From the sounds of the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band, to the smell of wood smoke, to realistic military and civilian encampments to thrilling battles, to beautiful fall scenery, thousands of visitors enjoyed the visit to the past. 

Shadows of the Blue and Gray was held in the City-County Park 1 mile north of Princeton and I-80 on Hwy. 26.  Princeton is just 24 miles west of the I-39 / I-80 interchange and is an easy drive from the Chicago, Bloomington, Peoria, Quad City and Rockford areas. 

Photo Archive

Re-enactor Registration

                                        Here's where you can see photos  of previous Shadows of the Blue and Gray re-enactments.  You can also check out photos from each year - click the link buttons on the left.

 

There will not be an event in 2009.

Shadows of the Blue and Gray NEWS

Click on the link below to see a special virtual tour of the event.

Tribute Edition Virtual Tour

___________________________________________________

March 2, 2009 - Due to unfortunate circumstances, The Princeton Civil War Committee will not be hosting the Shadows of the Blue and Gray in 2009.  If possible, there may be an event in 2010.  If you have questions or comments, please send an e-mail to the address below.   Thank you!

 For event information, questions or suggestions, send an e-mail to:  info@shadowsbluegray.com

 

Civil War Trivia

Question:  When and where was the last shot of the American Civil War?

Answer:  The last shot was fired on June 22, 1865 by the Confederate commerce raider CSS Shenandoah which fired one shot at the Northern whaling ship Jerah Swift in the Pacific's Bearing Sea to obtain it's surrender.  The last shot in the American Civil War was not fired on U.S. soil!

 

Question:  So, one Civil War soldier walks up to another and says, "I've got a 10 lb. Parrott".  Should the 2nd soldier get out a bag of crackers and say "Polly want a cracker" or would a bag of gunpowder be more appropriate?  What is a Parrott?

Answer:  A Parrott is a rifled cannon designed by Robert Parker Parrott.  The first size was a 10 pounder in 1860 and was replaced in 1864 by the 3" rifled Parrott.  Parrott's are easily recognized by the reinforcement band around the breach.  A 10 pound Parrott is scheduled to be displayed at Shadows of the Blue and Gray this October - come check it out!

 

Question:  The revolutionary Henry lever-action rifle, patented in 1860 and improved before the war, gave soldiers a rapid fire capability unattainable with muskets - up to 45 rounds per minute.  Muzzle velocities were up to 1,125 fps and the .44 caliber copper-cased ammunition gave 10 times the muzzle energy than other repeating rifles.  The 15 round magazine was said to offer a rifle that for sporting and hunting purposes, "you could load on Sunday and shoot all week long".  But in the Civil War the Henry did not enjoy wide use because of the cost ($42) and most soldiers had to buy them themselves.  Around 10,000 Henry rifles were used in the war.  The question - how many were issued by the military?

Answer:  The military supplied their soldiers with 1,731 Henry repeating rifles.  Undoubtedly, the Confederates used weapons found on the battlefield and a few soldiers may have had Henry rifles from before the war but it was the Union Army that perhaps missed an opportunity in not supplying the rifle in greater numbers.  However, when it was deployed, it was said of the rifle that it helped turn the tide of several battles and thus potentially brought the Civil War to a quicker end.  In current military speak, the Henry would be a "force multiplier".

 

Question:  Berdan's Sharpshooters were an elite Union unit of expert marksmen set apart from regular troops by their green uniforms.  The uniforms were of a conventional design except for the buttons - what were they made of and why?

Answer:  Non-reflective black rubber so they wouldn't reflect light and give away the soldiers position.

 

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