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A 3 day event to mark the 150th anniversary is in the planning stages. More activities will be posted as they become finalized along with specific times.
Please mark your calendar to attend,
March 28-30, 2014.

Saturday September 28, 2013
Charleston Riot 150th Annivesary Fundraiser
Charleston IL Moose Lodge
615 7th Street
Beef and Noodle Dinner
5:30-7:30
Tickets availaible at the door
Raffle
Music
Lincoln Trivia
"Official President Lincoln of the Charleston Riot"
Meet Joe Woodard


Illinois Historical Society History Symposium
March 27 and 28, 2014
"Civil War, Copperheads, Contraband and Rebirth of Freedom"
In conjunction with the Charleston Riot activities
*please visit Illinois Historical Society website for details

Charleston Riot 150th Anniversary
Friday- March 28, 2014
3:00 pm Event kick off, with wreath laying at the site of the Charleston Riot marker on the square by descendants of participants.
Civil War Encampment begins. *
7:30 pm (site tba) Opening of original Play,
                   "A Question of Loyalty"written for the event by Earl Halbe
Geocaching

Saturday- March 29, 2014
9:00am Union Soldiers begin march from the Mattoon Armory arriving at Coles County Fairgrounds.

11:00am Troops arrival greeted by 33rd Volunteer Regimental Band  and "President Lincoln" Joe Woodard
Historical Tours of the Charleston Square
Home Tour of Historic Civil War Era Homes
Period Music
Historical Tours of Old City and Mound Cemeteries, where participants are buried.
12:30 pm Speakers series begins at the Coles County Courthouse
          Michael Kleen author of "Tales of Coles County"
          Guy Fraker author of  "Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency"
          R. Eden Martin author and descendant of John R. Eden
Book signings by Lincoln/Coles County History authors
Civil War Encampment continues
Vendors selling period crafts and antiques around the square
Activities at local historical sites, Lincoln Log Cabin, Shiloh                                  Cemetery, Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum, 5 Mile                                  House, Oakland IL Rutherford House

5:00-10:00pm Charleston Riot Dinner  
                              The Charleston Moose Lodge 
                               Keynote Speaker: Harold Holzer, Lincoln Scholar  
 Information about tickets will be coming in the next few months.
Entertainment by The 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regimental Band

Sunday March 30, 2014
Cemetery and Square Tours continue
Vendors around the square
Period Music
1200:pm Speakers series at Charleston Public Library prior to Charleston Riot Reenactment
Speakers:
Dr. Bob Sampson, retired University of Illinois Professor
Dr. John Scott Parkinson, Assistant Professor of History Ball                                                          State University
Dr. Peter Barry, Retired University of Illinois Professor and                              author of " The Charleston Illinois Riot, March 28, 1864"
Harold Holzer, Senior VP of External Affairs for the Metropolitan
                Museum of  Art New York, Lincoln Scholar and author of                   "How Abraham Lincoln Ended Slavery in America"
3:00pm Live Reenactment of The Charleston Illinois Riot

 *Are you interested in joining
The Civil War  Encampment?  
 Contact Western Federal Blues    
Encampment Schedule March 29-30, 2014   
Visitors Welcome to view activites 
Saturday:
0600 Revelry
0700 Depart for trip to Mattoon
0900 Step off from Mattoon Armory for march to Charleston
1100  Arrival at Coles County Fairgrounds
1200  Mess Call
1300  Battalion Drill- company drill
1430   Guard Mounts
1700   Dress Parade
1830   Supper Call
2030   Tatoo

Sunday:
0700 Revelry
0800 Breakfast Call
1030  Church Service
1200  Mess Call
1300  Nap sack inspection
1500  Charleston IL Riot on Courthouse Square


If you are a descendant of a participant, we would like to hear from you. Please contact 
Ann Winkler Hinrichs @  Annewc615@aol.com

We are seeking vendors who would be interested in selling period (1860's) antiques and crafts. Please contact Ann at the above email address

Please join our Facebook Page
The Charleston Riot

We are adding more events on a monthly basis, so please check back with us for updates.