SIDNEY — The Army of the Ohio voted at its recent annual meeting to attend Sidney’s Civil War Living History Weekend.
Organizers of the event, scheduled to be held at Tawawa Park Sept. 17-18, have been working closely with groups of re-enactors representing Union and Confederate troops to solicit their involvement in Sidney’s inaugural Civil War Living History Weekend.
It was also announced that the Union troops will be commanded by Col. Tim Bills. Bills has been a re-enactor and member of the 140th New York Living History Organization since 1992. Within the 140th New York, Bills has served in a number of positions both corporate and field, including secretary and military coordinator.
Bills has also held several positions within the Army of the Ohio, including board member, major, lieutenant colonel, and was promoted to colonel in 2014. Bills has commanded a number of events, including the annual event at the Genesee Country Museum in Mumford, New York.
Bills led the Army of the Ohio at the 150th anniversary battles of Manassas, Gettysburg, New Market Heights, Cedar Creek and Bentonville. He also recruited and commanded the Zouave Battalion at the 150th anniversary of the Overland Campaign.
In the modern world, Bills works at Paychex as a scrum master. He resides in Rochester, New York. He enjoys miniature painting, home brewing and is a season ticket-holder for the National Lacrosse League Champion Rochester Knighthawks.
The Army of the Ohio was organized in 1999 to combine the strength of American Civil War re-enacting units from Ohio and surrounding states. The Army of the Ohio is currently composed of infantry, artillery and cavalry units from Ohio and New York. Only infantry and artillery will be participating during the Sidney event.
One of the goals of the Army of the Ohio is to honor the memory of Ohio’s Civil War soldiers. This is accomplished through accurate portrayals of the soldiers at re-enactments and living-history events.
These include large, national events at Shiloh, Antietam and Gettysburg; regional events including those held at Hale Farm and Zoar Village in Ohio and Mumford, New York; as well as numerous local events and living histories near the home areas of member units. Additionally, many units participate in talks and demonstrations for schools, civic groups and historical societies that bring the Civil War soldier to life.
The planning committee, including Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst, Shelby County Historical Society Executive Director Tilda Philpot, Sidney native now Tipp City resident and Union re-enactor Doug Slagel, Confederate re-enactor J.R. Sharp, whose Company B of the 1st Tennessee Infantry camped at Brookside last spring, and Elizabeth Topping, who has been re-enacting as a period civilian for 22 years, have been working to organize the Sidney event for more than eight months. The event has already generated considerable excitement in re-enacting circles.
Although no Civil War battles were fought anywhere near Sidney, a considerable number of local men served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In fact, the 1860 Census records that Shelby County had a population of 17,493. Of that number 8,960 were male, and 14 percent of them served in the Army during the war. Of those, 25.58 percent (326) died in the service of their country.
