Battle of Aiken kicked off Friday with 3,000 school children slated to watch almost 1,000 Confederate and Union re-enactors portray the 1865 Civil War battle. That battle saw Confederate forces defeat a Union cavalry feint on Aiken and Graniteville before the Union troops turned on Columbia, capturing the state capitol, just months before the Confederacy collapsed.That battle saw Confederate forces defeat a Union cavalry feint on Aiken and Graniteville before the Union troops turned on Columbia, capturing the state capitol, just months before the Confederacy collapsed. The re-creation — with more than $1 million in uniforms, tents, cavalry charges and equipment, including 15 dueling cannons — continues today and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. off Interstate 20 in Aiken. "It's interesting how he was cutting bones with that knife," said Dylan, who has aspirations of becoming a doctor himself some day. "That's pretty neat."
Dylan Hunt, an East Aiken Elementary School fourth-grader, took a keen interest in the mannequin that Ebersole used to discuss amputations that were necessary all too often following battles. The formal Battle of Aiken re-enactment is scheduled today and Sunday, with the gates opening at 9 a.m. Events during the day include Confederate camp tours, lectures and programs and cannon fire demonstrations. Part one of the Battle of Aiken is scheduled today at 2:30 p.m., with part two slated at the same time Sunday.
