News

Veteran re-enactor enjoys annual Keokuk event

Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn portrayed by Jim Cochran, left, astride his horse, Bob, rides into the field of battle during a Re-enactment of the Battle of Pea Ridge at Rand Park, Keokuk, to confer with his commanders. Van Dorn’s Confederate troops were defeated by Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel Curtis of Keokuk at Pea Ridge, Ark., in March 1862.

By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 4, 2007 3:24 PM CDT

The 20th anniversary of the Re-enactment of the Battle of Pea Ridge in Keokuk is Friday, April 27, Saturday, April 28, and Sunday, April 29.

The re-enactment honors a significant Civil War battle that involved a brigadier general from Keokuk and saved this part of the nation from ever becoming a battlefield in that bloody war.

On March 7-8, 1862, Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn of Mississippi led a force of 16,000 Confederate troops against Brig. Gen. Samuel Curtis of Keokuk and his 10,250 Union soldiers at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Ark.

The outcome of the battle would determine whether Confederate troops could march on St. Louis, take Missouri and continue northward, or if Union troops would be able to move against the south through Missouri and along the Mississippi River Valley.

Ultimately, Union troops won the battle with about 1,400 men killed, wounded or missing. The Confederate troops are believed to have suffered at least 2,000 casualties in the two-day fight.

This year, Van Dorn will again lead his troops in battle at Rand Park. Van Dorn is portrayed by Jim Cochran of Springfield, Ill., who has been re-enacting for 28 years.

The Pea Ridge event in Keokuk is Cochran's and many other re-enactors' favorite re-enactment of them all.

“This re-enactment has a great significance to the re-enacting community for several reasons,” Cochran said. “It is early in the year and to many of us, it's a way to let our hair down after a long winter.

“It draws a lot of sutlers (civilian provisioners for the army), and the townspeople of Keokuk open their arms and welcome the re-enactors more than any other place. You hear the re-enactors who come here say that.

“And It's a premier event.”

The Battle of Pea Ridge attracts more re-enactors, many of them repeat participants, than any other re-enactment in the Midwest, he said. Participants from seven states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Arizona, regularly attend.

“It's great that Keokuk provides a place for that many to get together,” he added.

Cochran describes a good re-enactor turnout as about 300 to 400 soldiers and 1,000 others, including women in period dress.

The last two years wet, stormy weather has dampened the event as well as the attendance, but Cochran believes this year will be different.

The event will be significant for another veteran re-enactor. Cochran's horse, Bob, who carried Cochran in the movie, “Patriot,” will perform in Rand Park for the last time.

Cochran will retire the 28-year-old black Tennessee Walking Horse from being ridden in active duty.

“I was in the movie pretty much because of him,” Cochran said. “He tolerates everything. Canons don't bother him and artillery doesn't bother him. People don't bother him. He's a well trained horse.”

As for Cochran, he's been at the Pea Ridge re-enactment from the start and is a great supporter of the event.

He and his wife Diana, who dresses the part of a southern lady, will keep coming as long as the event continues.

“I think just being able to be involved in the event with as many troops as this is an adrenaline rush to a re-enactor,” Cochran said. “You get the feel for what might have been with hundreds of men.”

Battle times are at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The battlefield will be set up the same place in Rand Park this year as last year, which is a change from the previous location.

Some additional highlights of the three-day event include: an act of the play, “Our American Cousin,” Lincoln was watching when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth, performed at 8 p.m. Friday by the Great River Players; Tom Roush and Bob Welch singing songs of the Civil War throughout the park Saturday and Sunday; the Professor Farquar and Polecat Annie Medicine Show, Music, Magic and Mirth at 3:45 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m., Sunday; the Military Ball and ballgown contest with music by the Americus Brass Band, 7:30 p.m., Saturday; a memorial and church service with the Americus Brass Band at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Keokuk National Cemetery, 18th and Ridge streets; and the Pass and Review presented by President Lincoln, Curtis and Van Dorn at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.