Dean Burchfield talks about the burning of New Albany 161 years ago

Take a step into the past lane to June 13, 1863, 161 years ago and New Albany was in flames. To learn more about the historic burning of New Albany come to the Union County Heritage Museum Thursday, June 20, 12 noon as historian Dean Burchfield speaks about this period of Civil War history.

Burchfield has been a living history reenactor who has participated in many events as a Confederate and a Union soldier. He also has been a part of several films portraying battles and events including the Battle of Franklin, Wilson’s Creek: The Struggle for Missouri Begins, Murfreesboro: Bloody New Year in Tennessee; The Great Battles of the Civil War; Pea Ridge; Shiloh, Gettysburg and many others. He has been a living historian reenacting in the United States as well as in Ireland.

NEMiss.News Dean Burchfield as wounded soldier

Dean Burchfield, as a wounded soldier.

He is a published writer of “The Battle of Mud Creek”, a battle in southwest Union County that followed the burning of New Albany. He also has written about Col. Lyle Dickey’s Raid on the Mobile and Ohio railroad Dec. 12, 1862; and “A Petty Blunder -How Van Dorn’s Raid to capture Holly Springs could have been prevented.”

He has worked on regimental histories and other research about civil war sites in Mississippi.

A graduate of North Pontotoc High School, ICC, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi, Burchfield has taught in high school, college, and e-learning classrooms in the area. An award-winning teacher and speaker, Burchfield has been a guest lecturer on Civil War and other topics throughout Mississippi. He has chaired the Pontotoc County Historical Society and been a part of historical site designations as well as other projects.

Burchfield is a past president of the Pontotoc County Historical Society, past Master of the Joseph Warren Masonic Lodge No. 71 in New Albany, a member of the Knight Templar, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, Civil War Reenactor since 1988 with Cleburne’s 27th Mississippi Inf. CSA, 60 New York Vol. Inf. .US.

The museum is located at 114 Cleveland Street, New Albany. The event is free thanks to the Community Partners. The New Albany Pilot Club will provide a free sack lunch for attendees available at 11:30. For more information call 662-538-0014.