Four men dressed in Union blue and carrying rifles against their shoulders stood behind a smoky fire Saturday to talk to a group of people about the role African American men played in the Civil War.

As a larger crowd gathered and asked questions, the men grew more excited to share their story.

“There is so much history to share that happened in this area,” said Nate Rushing, 19, the youngest member with the 102nd U.S. Colored troops.

These men, re-enacting the lives of African American soldiers during the Civil War, were simply one attraction available to the public during Vandalia’s annual Underground Railroad Days Festival, which ran Friday through Sunday.

Not only did participants view the event as an important way to celebrate history, organizers said this year’s festival was the most successful one yet.

Cathy LaPointe, an organizer of the event with the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County said this year was the best attended festival in Underground Railroad Days’ history.

“We got amazing publicity from the Chicago Tribune and local news stations,” LaPointe said. “I think we need to double everything next year, get another bus [for Kentucky Raid tours], if it’s going to be this popular.”

It was this publicity that got visitors from as far as Virginia to come see what the festival had to offer.

The event featured many attractions ,including a soul food dinner, Kentucky Raid tours and several historical presentations. The Bonine house and carriage house, which served as spots on the Underground Railroad were also open to the public.

Several locals also came out to the festival to celebrate the history of Cass County.

Catherine Yoder, a member of the Cassopolis Village Council, made Indian fry bread over a small fire to share with visitors. The bread, along with the festival itself, is a way to remember the history of the area for Yoder.

“[The Underground Railroad] is a very important piece of our history that we need to know about and something we need to teach our children about,”  Yoder said.

Nancy Bugajski, who was churning period-authentic butter, shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s a fascinating history,” Bugajski said. “It’s worth learning more about.”

The men re enacting an encampment of the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops, an American American infantry unit of the Union army, were by far one of the most popular attractions of the festival.

Rushing, Judson Johnson II, Guy Turner and Mark Kelly acted as civil war soldiers for the re enactment.

“[Members of the 102nd U.S. Colored troops] came from slavery and became soldiers,” Johnson said. “They were underrated, but they came out and showed the white soldiers what they are capable of and earned their trust.”

Rushing and Johnson agreed that it is a love of history and tradition that makes events such as Underground Railroad Days enjoyable to them.

“We get to tell people about a history they might not know anything about,” Rushing said. “That’s really great.”

The actors travel to many different festivals to participate, but have found that Underground Railroad Days, which they have been coming to for the last three years, is their favorite festival to work.

“It’s very historical here and personal,” Judson said. “It’s a good place to be.”