"Thunder in the Park" event to include Fashion Show from the Civil War era

The “Thunder in the Park” Civil War Reenactment event will once again this year include a fashion show and a discussion  on women in the Civil War, both presented by Carolyn Richards of rural Hazel Green, WI Saturday and Sunday mornings in the southeast corner of Waukon City Park. Richards has been participating in reenactments for 21 years. Her introduction to reenactments came about in a rather unique way.
One day her grandmother gave her the “thumb guard” that her great-great-grandfather had used while serving in artillery during the Civil War. Each cannon used in that era had a vent hole on the rear of the cannon that must be sealed up to prevent air from flowing through the barrel while it is being loaded or the powder in the cannon could explode. The easiest way to seal the hole would be to cover it with one’s thumb, but that method would be painful, because the cannons get hot.
The thumb guard, made of leather padding, was created to protect the thumb when it was placed over the hole. When she received the thumb guard, Richards wondered what it was for, so she went to a reenactment to learn about it. While she was investigating the thumb guard, her husband and son got drafted to serve on a cannon crew during the battle reenactment. “That did it,” she said, “We have been going to reenactments ever since.”
For six years, Richards participated in reenactments by wearing hoop dresses and other attire of the Civil War era. “Then, fifteen years ago,” she said, “I bought a cannon, a 12-pound mountain howitzer. Then I wanted to get into the battle to play with my cannon. I started to research women in the Civil War and I learned about the unique women who served in that war. Many women, disguised as men, served on the front lines, in the north and in the south. They served as infantry soldiers, cavalry, artillery and all areas of the war. Other women, called the “vivandiers,” wore special type uniforms and served on the front lines, mostly in medical areas. I decided to become a vivandier, but not in medical. It’s a hoot playing with a cannon!”
The fashion show will tell the story of women’s attire of that era, as well as telling the story of the women who served on the front lines. Later in the day, spectators can watch as Richards participates in the battle reenactment as a vivandier.