Bill Beardsley Sr. and Murray Stewart, Civil War reenactors, play banjos Saturday at the History in the Park event at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

MARIETTA — People were able to learn a bit about the Mid-Ohio Valley’s role in the American Civil War Saturday at Muskingum Park in Marietta during the second annual History in the Park event.

The event featured a number of groups and organizations from throughout the region dealing with specific historical locations and periods as well as how these places played a part in American History, said Nancy Arthur, president of the Civil War Round Table of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“This is to show the history of our area, because there is a lot of it,” she said. “We want to tell the public about the history that is in our area and southeast Ohio and northwestern West Virginia.”

The event had representatives from a number of historical groups as well as a replica of a Civil War encampment. There were vendors selling books detailing a lot of history and more.

The groups represented included Henderson Hall, Hidden Marietta, the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Fort Henry near Wheeling, Fort Steuben near Steubenville, Roscoe Village, Tuscarawas County Historical Society, the West Virginia State Farm Museum and others.

Jennie Burdette of Washington, W.Va., listens to Bill Beardsley Jr., a Civil War reenactor with the First Ohio Light Artillery Battery K who had the Civil War encampment at the History in the Park event Saturday at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Arthur said many organizations were there to trade information and let others know what they offer.

“We want to let people know what is available so they can plan and make day trips to visit some of these sites,” she said. “I have heard several people walking through the park say `I will have to go up there and see that. I did not know that was up there.’

“It serves a two-fold purpose. We want them to appreciate it more and visit.”

Leight Murray, a past president of the Civil War Round Table of the Mid-Ohio Valley, said people are learning about the history of the region and what is available for them to see.

“People are discovering things that are near us that they had no idea about,” he said. “That is the whole point of this exercise.

Rodney Ritchey and Sara Chichester, representing Henderson Hall, played the bagpipes Saturday during the History in the Park event held at Muskingum Park in Marietta. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“It is discovery. We hope they learn about organizations they may not have learned about and are intrigued by the story that they tell.”

Bill Beardsley Sr., a Civil War reenactor with the First Ohio Light Artillery Battery K who had the Civil War encampment at the event, said they are there to educate the public about the lives soldiers lived during the Civil War.

“We are getting people interested in the history of the Civil War,” he said. “It is all history and it has nothing to do with race.”

The original First Ohio Light Artillery Battery K was a Union Army unit from Washington County and Marietta which included people from Washington, Monroe and Morgan counties, he said.

“They were noted for their gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg and there is a memorial to Battery K at Gettysburg,” Beardsley said.

Jackie Lyons of the West Virginia State Farm Museum talks about the museum and some of its items displayed Saturday with Meredith Potts of Marietta during the History in the Park event at Muskingum Park in Marietta. The museum, which is located near Point Pleasant, was one of a number of historical organizations that set up at the park to highlight the region’s history and provide information about what they offer. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

The camp featured items that soldiers of the period would likely carry, including shaving kits, canteens, haversack, sewing kit, Bibles, playing cards, candles and more.

“He tried to be as light as he could be,” Beardsley said about the soldiers of the Civil War. “He wouldn’t carry a lot of things with him if he could help it.”

Beardsley also noted some units were formed by Baptist preachers and many did not allow card playing, drinking or cussing.

They also showed a cannon the unit would have used, a 10-pound Parrott rifle cannon.

“We are here to show everyone something about the history of the Civil War,” Beardsley said.

Members of the First Ohio Light Artillery Battery K had a Civil War encampment set up at the History in the Park event on Saturday at Muskingum Park. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Jennie Burdette of Washington W.Va. was running some errands in Marietta, saw the event going on in the park and stopped by to see what was happening. She listened to Beardsley’s son, Bill Jr., talk about the camp and more.

“This is great,” she said. “It is really interesting.”

Meredith Potts of Marietta said it was great that all the different historical groups came to Marietta to share what they have available.

“It is great they came down here because so much of this stuff you don’t see anymore,” he said. “There is a lot of old stuff here and it is all very interesting.”

“I am glad I got a chance to come and see some of these things.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.