News-Info-Alerts

Re: Andersonville

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: October 05, 2002

"Andersonville fair to be held this weekend
Clara Barton descendant one of featured guests

TextThe 27th annual Andersonville, Ga., Historic Fair on Saturday and Sunday will feature several special guests who will share their ancestors' experiences at Andersonville Prison.

Patricia Julian of Sharpsburg, Ga., a descendant of Clara Barton, will discuss Barton's experiences accompanying an expedition to Andersonville to mark the graves of Union soldiers buried there.

Barton, known as the "Angel of the Battlefield" because of her selfless assistance to wounded Union soldiers on the battlefield, was later known as founder of the American Red Cross. But she was instrumental in helping mark the graves of 12,912 U.S. soldiers in July 1865 who died during the Civil War here.

She also had a fence erected around the cemetery, flowering trees and shrubbery planted on the grounds and raised an American flag on a flagpole in the center of the newly established cemetery.

Julian followed in her footsteps and became a registered nurse.

Other special guests will include Marie Nicholson of Cincinnati, great-grand- daughter of Edwin Combs, an Andersonville prisoner who was a 16-year-old bugler from Casenovia, N.Y., when he was captured at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Va., on May 8, 1864.

Jean Powell Garner of Danville, Ala., also is expected to attend. She is descended from a family that had 17 members in the First Alabama Cavalry from Winston County, Ala.

The fair takes place in the Civil War Village of Andersonville near the prison site.

The festival features a 70-unit parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. Some 175 dealers in arts, crafts, antiques and Civil War collectibles are expected.

For more information, call 229-924-2558 or go to www.andersonvillega.freeservers.com.