SHARPSBURG, MD -- On September 17, 1862, the armies
of McClellan and Lee fought the battle of Antietam. One hundred and
thirty five years later, the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland, still remembers
what happened there with its annual "Heritage Festival".
For the fourth straight year, the Wildcat Regiment
Band participated in the festivities. The weekend began Friday night
with a typical 19th Century social event -- a Barn Dance -- at the
historic Piper Farm. During the battle, the piper farm house served
as Confederate General Longstreet's Headquarters. The wildcat Serenade
Band played two lively sets, ad the dances were called by Dance Master
Philip Troll. Songs like "Mt. Vernon Polka" and the "Carnival Waltz"
kept the dancers swirling in their period clothing. the band thrilled
the dancers (and surprised themselves) when the lights went out twice,
but the band never missed a beat playing "Kendall's Quickstep"!
On Saturday morning the Band led the Union troops
in the March for Remembrance parade to the Town Square. At the Square,
the Wildcat Band and the 2nd Maryland Fifes and Drums alternated playing
Civil War music for the ceremony. At 1:00 pm, our Band played a Grand
Concert in the Town Square. There was a special treat on Saturday
evening when Kim Touw, a friend of bandsman Paul Rode, hosted the
Band and friends at a buffet at her nearby home. It was delicious.
Thanks, Kim!
One of the most beautiful sites on any Civil War
battlefield is a stone arch bridge over Antietam Creek, known to the
locals as the Lower Bridge. During the battle, Union troops under
the command of General Burnside crossed that bridge under heavy fire
from Confederate sharpshooters on the opposite side of the stream.
The stone arch has been known as "Burnside's Bridge" ever since. On
Sunday morning, the Band marched to Burnside's Bridge and played hymns
and patriotic songs. The small group of visitors at the bridge was
treated to some beautiful music. it was another one of those special
moments for our band members.
The Wildcat Band finished its participation at
the Festival on Sunday afternoon. We gave another Grand Concert in
the Town Square to a large enthusiastic audience. The crowd especially
enjoyed "The Fireman's Polka" and our first performance of Claudio
Grafulla's "Washington Grays Quickstep". Prior to our performance,
we were treated to lunch by our Sharpsburg hosts, Sid and Marian Gale.
The Band owes a special "thanks" to Marian for
making sure the Band had rooms during a weekend when rooms were scarce.
Without her help, the Wildcat Regiment Band would have been "tenting
on the ol' camp ground"!
