Civil War Days Canceled in Lake County, Illinois: Something's Mighty Rotten

The 2019 Civil War Days has been canceled by Lake County Forest Preserve District (Illinois) President Angelo D. Kyle.  He doesn't like it because it includes Confederates and that means the flag will be there.

He is a black man.

Talk about a racist move on somebody's part.  This has been going on for over twenty years and is a well-attended event.  And, it is also one of the biggest Civil War re-enactment events in the state.  People really got to see first-hand what it was like to be a soldier during that war.  But not any more.

And, Mr. Kyle probably did not know this, but the show is open to members of USCT re-enactment groups.  That stands for United States Colored Troops.  That means his people.  So, in effect, he was being racist against his own race, besides just whites and Confederates.

It sounds like he made this move without the support of the rest of the Forest Preserve Board.  Definitely grounds for removal from office.  He first canceled it, then, under pressure said this year's would go on, but then canceled it again because of security issues.  It is doubtful there were security issues and the Lake County Sheriff's Office has even offered to look into the issues, but Mr. Kyle evidently doesn't want that.

Something Stinks in Lake County.  --Old Secesh

Threats Over Civil War Days Investigated-- Part 6: Who's a Racist?

Angelo Kyle also described the Civil War as "the most gruesome, pathetic, despicable war on American soil" and questioned why it should be reenacted.

My question to Mr. Kyle:  What about the Indian Wars and removal of Indians (Trail of Tears)?

Matt Evans explained on the Facebook post calling for people to show up at the July 10 forest preserve district board meeting what he thought about reenacting.

"This Mr.Kyle gentleman has used the Lake County Civil War Days to push his own agenda along with the help of a very racist black person.  Yes, I said it,"  Evans wrote.  "This isn't about race for us as a community, it's about family, it's about good friends that we made in this hobby, it's about the educational things we teach to boys and girls at these events."

Mr. Evans Had It Right.  Mr. Peterson and Mr. Kyle Are Very Racist People.  --Old Secesh

Threats Over Civil War Days Investigated-- Part 5: So, What Is Mr. Kyle?

Continued from July 3, 2019.

Matt Evans said Ralph Peterson Jr was a racist for some of his remarks in local news stories and his Facebook live post.

Forest Preserve president is Angelo Kyle, who is a black man, originally called for the event to be canceled after describing  how he attended a past Civil War Days encampment at Lakewood Forest Preserve and saw  "a considerable number of Confederate flags and a number of other things" that concerned him.

Those other things would be Confederate re-enactors.

This makes Mr. Kyle a racist.

It Is So Sad Wgen Black racism Hits An Event Like This.  --Old Secesh

Threats Over Civil War Days Investigated-- Part 4: Mr. Peterson's View: "Glorifying the White Man"

Matthew Evans said he was also taken aback by comments made by Ralph Peterson Jr. where he called for protests against the Civil War Days event.  Mr. Peterson is a self-acclaimed community activist.  He said that the "re-enactment was culturally insensitive and had no place in Lake County," and added that the spending of taxpayer money was an insult to him.

"The reenactment was just glorifying the white man.  It's whitewashing history to glorify the white man," and further the slaves were not really freed because of subsequent Jim Crow policies, a point also made by Kyle.

Evans says Peterson is racist for the comments.

Have you been able to guess what race Mr. Peterson is yet?  I looked him up on the internet, and found that Mr. Peterson is a black man.  Does Mr. Peterson know that a whole lot of the white men who fought and died in the war were fighting for the Union?  Also, as the war continued, a whole lot of the soldiers were also Blacks:  the USCT.  Wouldn't he want them honored?

What he meant to say is that he has a problem with re-enactors who play the part of Confederates.

Where Have We Heard This Before?  --Old Secesh

Threats Over Civil War Days Investigated-- Part 3: Another View of the Situation

Matthew Evans, 35, of Genoa, Illinois, suggested that Civil War re-enactors should show up at the Lake County Forest Preserve District's board meeting.  He is the captain of the 154th Tennessee Company K, Confederate re-enactor group who goes by the nickname Johnny Reb.  He thinks the cancellation is a power play on Kyle's part.

"I think what the president (Angelo Kyle) did was wrong," Evans said about the abrupt cancellation, reinstatement and now cancellation again and added that Kyle should resign because he is pushing his own agenda.

Evans said he has 16 or 17 ancestors who fought in the war, one for the Union and the rest for the Confederacy.  He is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (and also camp commander of the Camp Douglas Camp based in the Chicago area).

He started re-enacting in high school.

--Old Secesh

Threats Over Civil War Days Investigated-- Part 2: Fears for Public Safety

In announcing the cancellation of the Civil War Days re-enactment event, John Tannahill, the Lake County Forest Preserve's chief of ranger police and director of public safety said that reaction to the announcement were very concerning.

He did not respond earlier to a request for his safety concerns

Forest preserves President Angelo Kyle released a statement saying that safety concerns had come up, nothing specific.  "We cancelled it because of the unknowns -- there was potential for (people from) both sides of the issues (showing up), and we don't know their intent, Executive Director Ty Kovach said.

A petition to protest the cancellation on change.org and Civil War re-enactors who participate at the annual event went on social media.

Civil War Days has been held at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda for 27 years.

The forest preserve president is a black man which probably explains his distaste for the event as Confederates and their flag are at it.

Something Smells Out in Lake County.  --Old Secesh

Threats Over Civil War Days Investigated-- Part 1: Something Amiss In Lake County

From the June 26, 2019, Chicago Tribune by Frank S. Abderholden.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that it has requested information from the Lake County Forest Preserves about threats related to this week's cancellation of the annual Civil War Days event.

They are willing to conduct the investigation, but needed a request from them to start the investigation.  The Forest Preserve initially did not make one and this past Monday June 24, put out the announcement that they were cancelling because of "public safety concerns" after consulting with local and state law enforcement agencies.  They evidently did not consult law enforcement.

However, Tuesday, June 25, Forest Preserve District Commissioner Dick Barr did request a criminal investigation  to find out who made the threats.

There is a whole lot of opposition to the cancellation but I doubt that anything went further to threats and if they did, those responsible should be fully prosecuted.

--Old Secesh

Sure Got My Civil War On This Past Week: Civil War Days and Round Table Meeting

Sunday I went out to the 26th Annual Civil War Days event in Wauconda, Illinois, at Lakewood Forest Preserve.  Tuesday I went to Woodstock, Illinois,  for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting.

I always enjoy getting together with other persons of like interest.  And never a disparaging word was said about the Confederacy.

Now, this is the part of being interested in the Civil War that I really enjoy.  I do not much like all the Civil War II blog entries.  Growing up I could never have imagined something this horrible happening in the United States.

If the attacks cease, so will the Civil War II.

So Tired.  --Old Secesh

Confederate Soldiers Make Front Page

From the July 18-24, 2013, Lake County (Ill.) Journal "Civil War: Reenactment brings history to life."

This was essentially a photo essay of one page, but, there on the front page, Confederate soldiers, ranks formed, facing the enemy and those overwhelming odds.  And, I didn't hear that the group that must not be offended was offended.

On page 13, the headline "Lessons from the Civil War."  A photo essay of six pictures by Candace H. Johnson.

The front page and photo essay were taken at the recent Civil War Days Re-enactment at Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda, Illinois.  This year, the Battle of Champion Hill was re-enacted.

Photos were of Mike Lipe of Moline, Illinois, portraying a Confederate soldier in the 4th Texas Infantry, giving aid to the wounded.  Then, there were two young children receiving first-hand information about rifles from Mike Flaig, a member of the 10th Louisiana, Austin's Battalion Sharpshooters.

Dr. Emmett Miller was doing magic tricks.  Andrew Livesay, 11, of Wauconda was portraying a Union flag bearer with the 8th Illinois Cavalry. 

Larry Werline of Springfield portrayed Union General Ulysses S. Grant.  John Luna of Tinley Park portrayed Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.  Both these men did an admirable job portraying the generals.

Always good to have the kids getting interested in the Civil War or any aspect of history for that matter.

Forward the Colors.  --Old secesh

Those Poor Re-enactors At Lakewood This Past Weekend

Our weather here in northeast Illinois has turned from a whole lot of rain  (two floods in the Chain of Lakes) and cool temps to very hot, humid and hardly any breeze.  And, that is not even mentioning the bumper crop of mosquitoes we have from all that spring rain.

I can stand hot and humid as long as there is a good breeze so this is very hard on me.  Any bit of yardwork results in a total sweat soaking.

This past weekend, there was the annual Civil War Days Re-enactment at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda, Illinois (Lake County).  It is one of the largest in the state.

I didn't go because of the Ribfest festival in Lake in the Hills (featuring CCR and Eagles tribute bands) and our favorite local band, Soda, playing at Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake.

We had hot and humid and very little breeze both days so I had to feel sorry for those poor re-enactors in their wool uniforms.  That had to be absolutely miserable.

Well, at least the skeeters have a hard time biting through the wool in the uniforms.

Not a "Cheatin' Situation."  A "Sweatin' Situation."  --Old Secesh