Civil War re-enactment won't be allowed to shoot cannons or guns, organizers say

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — For over a decade, there has been an annual Civil War re-enactment in Henry County complete with the sounds of cannons and muskets firing.

But with the event just days away, organizers tell Channel 2's Berndt Petersen that won't be the case this year. The county decided at a recent board meeting to not allow the re-enactors to use them.

“We were blindsided by this. We’ve had a little over two weeks to reconstruct this whole event," Tim Culbreth said.

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Culbreth and Fred Chitwood have been part of the event for years, which draws thousands of people to Nash Farms in Henry County.

This is the first time the county hasn't allowed the use of simulated gunfire and cannon fire. Supporters believe the decision wasn't because of the noise but rather politics.

“Whether it's a re-enactment, whether it's a battlefield, whether it's a monument, or a flag---I think recent history shows there's a movement against those things,” Chitwood said.

The group told Petersen they were expecting other re-enactors from as far as Pennsylvania to travel and participate as Union soldiers. Now, the organizers say they are pulling out because of the ruling.

"We've already lost a lot of members. We will be lucky to have 200 members to participate this year, and it takes away from the whole story," Culbreth told Petersen.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Henry County Board of Commissioners but has not received a response. As for the event, it will still go on as planned Friday through Sunday.

Cox Media Group