Murphysboro prepares to celebrate General John A. Logan’s 200th birthday along with America’s 250th anniversary this weekend, Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7. Cricket matches, a parade, cannon and musket demonstrations, candle dipping, music, food and book readings will populate this historical celebration. 

Although Logan’s birthday was in February, festivities started in early June. 

“Nobody wants to celebrate in February, so we moved it to June. It ties in with the Fourth of July coming up,” President of the General John A Logan Museum Board, Betsy Brown, said.

Located in Murphysboro, the museum will be hosting all of the weekend festivities. The museum sits on the grounds where Logan was born and features displays and artifacts of Logan’s life and the Civil War. 

Brown said that Logan is a figure often overlooked in American history. Logan was not only a Union general but also served in the House and Senate, and he ran for vice president in the 1884 election. 

Logan’s father owned 30 slaves before moving to Murphysboro, Illinois. His father sold all but two of them, and they became indentured servants in Illinois. Logan’s mother, sister and brother were all supporters of the South, according to Brown. 

One of these indentured servants was a boy named James Wilkinson Dumbaly. Dumbaly was one of the only African Americans Logan knew growing up. 

“(Logan) went home and decided to enlist in the Union Army. His mother said she didn’t want to see him. His sister yelled at him and said, ‘I hope you get killed,’” Brown said. 

Logan grew up in a divided America, and 200 years later, his life and America sound familiar to the contemporary.

“We are facing a time where groups are adamant in their beliefs, and families aren’t talking to each other. It’s very similar to what’s happened now,” Brown said. 

While the event will allow for reflection on America as a country, it’s also intended to be a fun outlet for the public. 

Saturday begins with a parade at 1 p.m. It will feature people with placards of their ancestors’ names and ranks who fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Brown said that there will also be descendants of prominent American figures such as Susan B. Anthony and Benjamin Franklin. 

The parade will also feature the Molly Pitchers, an all-female cannoneer group.

Molly Pitcher was a woman who took over fighting while her husband was injured during the Revolutionary War. Brown said Molly became a nickname used for women who fought in the war.

The parade begins at 21st and Walnut and continues down Walnut to 11th St. The rest of the event will take place on museum grounds. 

The Molly Pitchers will fire their brass cannon on the museum grounds after the parade. Cannon firings will be at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. During this same window, there will be musket demonstrations, a blacksmith, candle dipping, and more. Brown was excited for audiences to see the cannons. 

“You gotta catch the cannons, it’s really something,” she said. 

The museum will also feature a reenactment of an address given by President Lincoln at 3 p.m.

Sunday will be a day of live reading and music at Liberty Theater. At 2 p.m., author Gary Ecelbarger will read from his book “George Washington’s Momentous Year” Followed by a book signing. Finally, at 3 p.m., singer/songwriter Chris Villillo will perform. 

Staff Reporter Brayden Guy can be reached at [email protected]

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