PRESS PHOTOS BY DONNA GEWERTZ Union Army re-enactor Capt. Mark Merryfield, of Annapolis, Md., serves as a runner returning from a scouting mission to report on Confederate positions to the Union officers during the Lehigh Valley Civil War Days event, held April 27 and 28 at Whitehall Parkway, 4603 S. Church St. Highlights included an encampment, military drills, period music, displays and mock battles. Approximately 200 Civil War re-enactors participated in the event, educating visitors as to what life was like during the 1861-65 war.

Bill Rodman, of King of Prussia, plays the role of the commander of the Confederate forces and provides education on the life in an encampment to Ravi Sales and his father, Jon, both of Philadelphia.

Civil War re-enactments are a family affair for the Zimmermans, of Burlington, N.J. John, Vienna, Andrea and Collin pose near the Union trenches on the battlefield.

Civil War re-enactors, from left, Col. Frank Ruiz, of Selden, N.Y., Merryfield, and Sgt. Gary Weaver, of Whitehall, take a moment to pose with, from left, James, Hunter and Ethan Mertus, all of Philadelphia, who were visiting their grandfather, Tom Mertus, of Allentown.

Civil War-era music was provided by Mule Skinners, made up of, from left, Ken Garret, Mike Henry and Rich Pawling.

Malcolm Scarpantonio, of Coplay, does some re-enacting of his own as he plays with his toy Civil War soldiers, purchased for him by his grandparents from one of the event's vendors.