Civil War Band’s ‘Tradition of Excellence’ Plays On

The annual Harvest Ball, rich with nostalgia, offers an authentic celebration of Civil War-era music, featuring antique instruments, period dress and dancing.

The 1st Brigade Band is a time-honored tradition that harkens back more than 130 years. It’s a recreation of a band from Brodhead. The entire band enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1864, and wound up marching with Union Gen. William T. Sherman through northern Georgia and the Carolinas on his famed “March to the Sea.”

The band’s instruments are very unique, they’re all actual antique instruments from the era of the Civil War, said event organizer Greg Davis.

“In fact, we have an instrument that we know belonged to the original 1st Brigade Band. They played at the Lincoln-Douglas debates in Illinois, so we’re pretty sure that Abraham Lincoln actually heard this particular horn play,” said Davis.

The Harvest Ball makes history come alive through the music, dress and dance of the period.

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“The dances that we do are a little different. We do schottisches, polkas, waltzes and grand marches. The Virginia reels get people’s hearts pounding and sweat flowing, everybody has a good time with them,” said Davis.

Davis said period dress is encouraged, but not required. Ladies might wear hoop-skirted ball gowns and the gentlemen in civilian period attire or period military uniforms.

“Our charter is to not only perform for people, but to educate them,” said Davis. “We’d rather have folks come and learn about what we do and the period than insist on them being in appropriate dress.”

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The Harvest Ball is on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Watertown. Other highlights include light food fare, door prizes and a cash bar. Tickets are $40 and available on the 1st Brigade website or by calling 920-262-1864.

Time traveling not your thing? Here are some other upcoming events around Wisconsin:

• Experience the excitement of sled dog racing on dry land in Pearson on Nov. 2-3.
• Attend “Tellabration” for an evening of international folktales on Thursday, Nov. 14 in La Crosse.
• If you’re in the Appleton area in the next few months, visit the exhibit “Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World,” at the History Museum at the Castle.