On October 19, 1864, St. Albans was the site of the northernmost land action of the Civil War. Confederate soldiers, 18 to 20 of them, came down from Canada and coordinated three bank robberies, making off with more than $200,000. They took hostages, corralled bystanders onto the Village Green, fired shots, stole horses and threatened to burn down the down.
Scenes from the St. Albans Raid will be played out again next month during a four-day 150th anniversary commemoration, September 18-21.
Why hold the commemoration a month before the actual anniversary?
"The event is being held now simply due to the fact that we will have about 100 re-enactors braving the elements in authentic military camps overnight in Taylor Park and hope for better weather than might be available on October 19," said St. Albans Raid Commemoration Committee publicity chairman Gary Rutkowski. "It also corresponds nicely with the fall foliage season, although that was a secondary consideration."
In addition to the reenactments, there will be many period events, including a mayor's ball, concerts, and special menus at local restaurants. And, although the Confederate soldiers fled on horseback, there will also be a commemorative half-marathon along the route the raiders took out of town.
