Many people may not know you but will readily recognize your historical and cultural contributions to the Mountain Top of Greene County in the form of the annual Civil War encampment in Windham every summer. Can you tell us more about yourself and the encampment; specifically, how it began and why it began?
For the purpose of this interview, I would describe myself as a student of the Antebellum and Civil War era and a living historian. A friend of mine once remarked that the only true experts about what life was like during the 1860s were our ancestors and the rest of us can only strive to be students of history. He was right. I’ve spent over thirty-five years as an educator in public service. The role of living historian was attractive to me because it allowed me a hands-on-educational way to engage and immerse the public in a period of American History that I feel passionate about. The American Civil War was one of the most defining times in our country’s history. It was a time of military conflict, wartime strife and unimaginable human suffering. Just about every household was touched by the war in some way. I continue to learn new things about our ancestors’ mid-19th century material culture every day and I am humbled by the way they lived and survived the events of this challenging time. The study of the lives of volunteer soldiers, the role of women at the home-front, the experiences of African Americans, and their art, music and literature are fascinating to me. Living history is never stagnate because you are always striving to learn more about the period you portray.

The Civil War Music Heritage Gathering & Encampment began in 1996. It started as part of Windham’s Bicentennial. The event is held at the historic Centre Church during the first weekend in August. The event is considered to be one of the premiere living history events of its kind in the Northeast. Each year living historians and musicians recreate the landscape of mid-19th century America and evoke the memory, sacrifices and accomplishments of our ancestors. The event is supported by the Windham Chapter, Catskill Mountain Foundation (map), Greene County Tourism and
Promotion, Community of Windham Foundation, Civil War Heritage Foundation, Mid-Hudson Media, local business community and individual donations.

I’ve heard that you are a pretty proficient musician and part of a musical group that performs all over New York State. What’s that about and how did it start?
I have always been interested in the music of the 1860s. About fifteen years ago I began collecting sheet music from the Antebellum and Civil War eras. I would go to ephemera shows searching for musical pieces by Stephen Foster, George Frederick Root, Henry Work, Harry McCarthy and other notable music publishers and songwriters of the period. The music of mid-19th century America reflects those times in a most vivid way. The melodies and lyrics express the nature of the people from both the North and South. Each song or tune emotes and captures how the people talked, their rhythms, accents, beliefs, their spirituality, motives, patriotism and how they spoke. I consider them to be the “Heartsongs of America”. The 77th NY Regimental Balladeers,a living history music group, was established thirteen years ago with the mission of preserving the songs and spirit of the 1860s. In a November 12, 2002 editorial in the Register Star the publisher praised our 1864 Thanksgiving Remembrance concert saying that the balladeers, “not only entertain but they also teach history lessons with their music.” The U.S. Department of the Interior, Gettysburg National Military Park has recognized the band on several occasions for our outstanding portrayal of the music of the period. We perform regularly at living history events, museums, historical societies, schools, colleges, remembrance events and exhibitions. During this concert season we are performing a special 200th birthday tribute to Abraham Lincoln titled “Abraham Lincoln In Music: His Truth Is Marching On.” The program has been performed at the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum and Peekskill Lincoln Society. “Abraham
Lincoln in Song”, chronicles the life of our 16th President through the music he heard and enjoyed and that he inspired.

Why this fascination with the Civil War?
My great-great grandfather, John C. Glidden, was a volunteer in the 3rd Maine Infantry. The regiment fought at Bull Run, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Cold Harbor. So there’s a personal family connection to the war. My mother and I visited his grave over twenty years ago located in the Town of Princeton cemetery. After our graveside visit I found out all I could about his life by researching his military and pension records and through other genealogy searches. He was wounded four times at the battle of Cold Harbor and was captured. He spent the next fourteen months at Andersonville Prison before he was released. He survived his wounds and imprisonment and after a period of two years of convalescing in army hospitals he returned to Washington County, Maine where he raised a family and worked in the lumber industry. He lived to the age of eighty-four years and was survived by his wife and six children. Several years ago I acquired a photo image of him in his Maine volunteer’s uniform. His portrait is displayed with some other 3rd Maine memorabilia in our den. I’m also fascinated by the war because between 1861 and 1865, Americans made war on each other. Over 600,000 men died in it. That would be the equivalent of 6,000,000 deaths today based on 2 percent of the population. It happened right here. Battles and skirmishes were fought in over 10,000 places from New Mexico to the Florida Coast. It was a watershed moment in American history and we still feel the consequences of the conflict after 145 years. What began as a bitter dispute over Federal and States’ Rights, ended as a struggle over the meaning of freedom in America. In a few weeks I will be visiting the Gettysburg Military Park. I have walked this hallowed ground many times. Each time I reverently think about my great-great grandfather and his contemporaries who sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy our liberty and all that is the best of America.

Can you tell us something how the Civil War impacted Greene County, NY?
When the war clouds of 1861 began to darken the political horizon, patriotism was fired up throughout the county. War-meetings were held, liberty-poles were raised, and the stars and stripes floated on the air from conspicuous places in every village and hamlet within the county. Recruitment offices were opened and during the summers of 1861 and 1862 volunteers came forward to fill out the ranks of the 20th NYS Militia, 120th, 65th and 156th regiments. Greene County men also joined cavalry and artillery units. Prattsville Historian, Gerald Sutch in his book The Civil War : The Town of Prattsville and The Neighboring Greene, Delaware, & Schoharie County Area reports that at least 125 men from the Prattsville area served in the conflict. It goes without saying that Greene County like so many other regions of the state experienced the death, pain, separation and poverty that were the earmarks of this devastating war. More New Yorkers fought at the Battle of Gettysburg than from any other state. The sons of Greene County were among those who followed their regimental and national colors up the slopes of Cemetery Ridge. The 20th NYS Militia lost 24 killed in action and 170 wounded in action and the 120th NY Volunteer Infantry lost 17 killed in action and 203 wounded in action during the battle. These losses are representative of the many sacrifices by the county’s “citizen soldiers”, the farmers, farm laborers, shop keepers, tanners, factory workers, free blacks, former slaves and skilled craftsmen who fought to preserve the Union and end slavery. The memory of these “Boys in Blue”
is commemorated today throughout Greene County in places like the Soldiers Plot at the Thompson Street Cemetery in Catskill, Pratt Rock, Prattsville and William Plimley Memorial Highway, Jefferson Heights. Pratt Rock pays tribute to Colonel George W. Pratt, 20th NYS Militia who was mortally wounded at Second Bull Run. Captain William Plimley, 120th NY Volunteer Infantry is the first and only known Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from Greene County.

Do you have an overall vision for Civil War information in Greene County and, if so, what might this be?
Beginning in 2011, state, county and local governments will launch events to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. As a board member of the Zadock Pratt Museum and because of our connection to Col. George W. Pratt, 20th NYS Militia. I would like to see the county establish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee. The purpose of such a group would be to preserve and promote the county’s historic memory by coordinating a series of Civil War Sesquicentennial related activities during the next several years in all areas of the county. Such an effort would involve the County Historical Society, Minorities Historian, Town Historians and local Historical Societies, Office of Veterans Affairs, County Legislature, Tourism and Promotion Office, Veterans Organizations, Schools, Civil War Roundtable and other interested organizations within the county. The Zadock Pratt Museum has proposed the establishment of such a committee to our county legislative chairperson. It would be an honor and a privilege to help coordinate this effort and help pay tribute to all of our ancestors who fought to preserve the Union for future generations.