History comes alive at Chicagoland’s annual Civil War Show

WHEATON, Ill. – The DuPage County Fairground, will again host the nationally acclaimed Chicagoland Civil War and Military Show & Sale on Saturday, Sept. 20. Thousands of historical artifacts will be for sale from the Civil, Revolutionary and Spanish-American wars through World War I and II.

Noted author; Kevin Getchell, will be on hand to autograph copies of his Historic Best-Selling (hard cover) Book on the Civil War, “Scapegoat of Shiloh”, The Distortion of Lew Wallace Record by U.S. Grant.

Other great historical authors will be on hand. Also in attendance will be Rafael Eledge, one of the country’s most active and knowledgeable experts of the Civil War and 19th-century militaria. His career began at the age of 11, when he received his first medal detector and began searching around his home state of Tennessee for Civil War artifacts. Rafael now owns ShilohRelics.com, one of the busiest websites on the internet. The site has active inventory that rivals some of the nations’ best museums. His is also seen regularly on PBS’s Antique Road Show as the Civil War appraiser.

Civil War buffs also will enjoy the fabulous artillery display of Civil War Cannon, an original Gating Gun and Coe Horn Mortar, brought to you by the “BATTERY H-FIRST ILLINOIS LIGHT ARTILLERY”.

About the "Scapegoat of Shiloh"

A great controversy surrounds General Lew Wallace at the Battle of Shiloh. General U.S. Grant blamed Wallace for the huge number of casualties the union suffered, citing a dilatory march and poor choice of route to the battlefield. Wallace was obsessed with these accusations his entire life and wrote Ben Hur as much to work through the injustice of being labeled a scapegoat as for literary aspirations.

This book asserts something entirely different may be at fault for the astonishing number of men lost. Overlooked in the history of the battle is Grant’s choice of a specific man to carry battle orders to Wallace, a mistake that might have made all the difference. This assertion is supported by newly discovered documents of an obscure Wisconsin quartermaster as well as evidence in the official records.

The implications of this choice of messenger virtually vindicate Lew Wallace. By also juxtaposing certain Confederate actions, this book explores the behind-the-scenes struggle during the Battle of Shiloh and its aftermath for the participants.

If you go

Show hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $9 per adult; children 16 years and under free with an adult. Free parking.

For additional information contact: Zurko’s Midwest Promotions; 715-526-9769 or visit their website at www.zurkopromotions.com or email at zurko@frontiernet.net