Camp Floyd Encampment

Established in 1858, Camp Floyd housed the largest concentration of U.S. troops then in the United State. The troops were sent to Utah to suppress a rumored Mormon rebellion which never took place. The army was recalled back east in 1861 for the Civil War emergency. Today, the park museum houses artifacts and exhibits from this historic event. Camp Floyd State Park is located in the town of Fair field, 22 miles southwest of Lehi on State Highway 73.

My dear friend Rachel and I went to our first Utah civil war reenactment. We decided to go with no kids on Friday night as our group was getting set up and enjoy the evening, which was a smart idea because once you have kiddos there the next day, time flys and you hardly have anytime to visit with friends. Rachel and I are part of the the Utah Civil War Association which is mainly the military part, so most of the members are guys. Some of their wives come once and awhile. We are hoping to get more of the wives involved to join us in our lady get togethers. The are the civil war era civilians too which we met for the first time this week and they were so lovely. Having both groups there helps to set the tone for that era. We hope to do many things with them too in the future, they were so kind. But don't worry about us ladies around those military men, we hold our own. They are very polite and let us crash their "guy time without complaining. We had so much fun. We spent most of the evening singing war songs around my hammer dulcimer . I brought my books so they had words. They sang till we needed lanterns to see. We finally got told to quite down, it was getting late.

Setting up Friday night

Across the field is the civilian camp

Civilian camp and the blue building is the historic Stage Coach Inn, which is now a museum.


I love the look of the "Stack Arms" (muskets)


Kris and his modern toy

Back in the day, this small canvas tent slept three soldiers. Tight fit, but I bet you sure kept warm.

Scottie jumped in the picture.

Jake telling stories, he's full of them.

Steve and his pipe

Jake

Just before we headed out.

Saturday

My sweet little family, such good sports. Mark dressed up as a confederate soldier.

Rachel and her little boy Emmitt. Back then, boys wore dresses till they were potty trained. They say if you can't tell whether they are a boy or girl, they you did a good job. The only way to really tell the difference is little girls hair was parted down the middle and boys were parted on the side.

VERY VERY cold morning!

Warming up

Rachel and Emmitt

My new friend Jean. He plays the music box and could jump right in. It was fantastic!

Lydia and her fruit basket

Playing games

This huge oak tree has been there since Johnston's Army was here. It provided so much shade.

Rachel over by the civilians camp

Thomas and Mommy

William and Emmitt. William is so drawn to this little guy.

Checking out the little canon

Tender

Mark and our boys in front of the Stage Coach Museum

Walking through the museum

Little Miss Lydia

Standing on the very steep stairs

I made them quickly go under the ropes to take this picture. They thought it was so risque. Their might have been a slight threat on my part if they did not break the rules and go under the rope. Such obedient kids:)

I did the same thing, shhhhh. When Mark snapped the picture, Thomas came running into tell us someone was coming so I quickly jump out and as we left the room and the other people entered the room the rocking chair was still rocking behind the rope, hehe. Think they noticed?

Mark tripped coming down these stairs. It's really not funny, but seeing that I was wearing a hoop and some how made it gracfully down with out a flaw was priceless.

William on the little trundle bed

So then I persuaded rachel to get her baby and by-pass the ropes too. Let's just hope Camp Floyd doesn't get a peak at these pics and come hunt me down.

Amanda to Rachel, "I've got my camera ready. You've got five seconds, throw him in there, hurry hurry. It's fine (as Amanda pats the base of the cradle), it won't break hopefully. (giggiling) HURRY, DO IT!"

Is that a rope I see in the bottom left corner? There goes my ticket to heaven.

I love this one of them two.

I was so very pleasantly suprised that Mark's family came up to visit. My kids thought it was great and I was glad to have their support, seeing that I am dressing their son as a confederate soldier almost against his will.

Mark teasing Emmitt with the wooden sword

The boys and Uncle Mitchell

Lydia is just as tough, watch out when you see her with a sword. Don't let that frilly dress fool you!

Rachel helped me gather the boys together to sing "Dixie" and "Bonnie Blue Flag", all the verses.

At the end it definitely deserved a "Huzah"

Rachel is almost done making her first Cot Quilt. It's the exact pattern and size of what the soldiers would carry on their back during the civil war. Towards the end of the war, the woman would used curtains, old clothes, or whatever scrapes they could find to make the men these quilts. Jake sews his own clothes and knows his quilting and belive it or not Rachel and Jake are discussing that very topic, seriously.

Steve and Mark

Austin

Mr. Wheeler and his Napolian canon. They took the canon out to the shooting range three miles away and shot real canon balls. They were so heavy!

Monday

Gail (our darling new friend we met who is from Heber who is dressed in morning), Rachel, and Amanda

Setting up for Tea Time

Entertaining the crowd with music on my hammer dulcimer

William and Emmitt eating period correct gummy worms

Thomas mentioned to me after our first day that we didn't sing "My Old Kentucky Home" to the people. So on Monday I explained the song and how it was a family favorite of ours and for me growing up and asked if Thomas wanted to sing it for them with me and he jumped right up off his knees and nodded his head. He sang very clearly and loud. I was a proud Momma.

A spectater came up and played his harmonica with me while I sang Come Thou Font.

Free Stage Coach rides. Lydia was more interested in petting the horses than the ride.

Riding in Style!

Some of the sweet civilian laides we met this weekend

The Civilian Barber

Camp Floyd had little mini Union uniforms to try on for the kids and pretend wooden muskets to practice military drills.

It was fun hanging out with my ladies and our military boys. Such good friendships have been formed. Now, off goes the corset and into my Dad's comfy military clothes (which were the ones Mark was wearing). Such a fabulous weekend!

I bid you adieu