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EASTON, Conn. Ten members of the 14th Regiment Connecticut Voluntary Infantry reenacted the Civil War experience of the Connecticut regiment that fought in every major battle of the war Saturday at the Historical Society of Eastons Civil War Reenactment Day.
A large crowd was on hand at the Bradley-Hubbell House to view the infantry, which lined up and demonstrated how Civil War soldiers loaded, marched with and fired their rifles.
Monroe's Bill Kalker, a member of the audience who has participated in Revolutionary War reenactments, said he enjoyed the event because "I like history and I enjoy talking to the troops."
The reenactors discussed many elements of Civil War history, including the number of Connecticut casualities there were slightly more than 1,000 men in the 14th Volunteer Infantry at the beginning of the war, and only 180 by the Battle of Gettysburg, Paul Martinello from Somers, who led the infantry said. Most of the deaths were caused by illness, not battle, he said.
Jeff Lawrence, a member of the infantry from West Springfield, Mass., told the audience about his third-great grandfather, Jeremiah Franklin Files, who fled the Confederate Army and joined the Union forces.
As the soldiers reenacted their roles, Marge Bucholz, from Meriden, showed her collection of toys and household items from the Civil War era, everything from toy solidiers to a camera and popcorn maker.
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