USI to Host Preview Screening of CIVIL WAR: THE UNTOLD STORY, 2/10

USI's Historic Southern Indiana and community partners will present a special evening of entertainment and a free public sneak-preview screening of "Untold Stories of the Civil War," at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 10, in Forum I of theWright Administration Building. The film is part two of a new five-part documentary series titled "Civil War: The Untold Story." It is sponsored by Nashville Public Television and will be distributed to public television stations nationally by American Public Television this spring.

Narrated by Elizabeth McGovern ("Downton Abbey") and produced for public television by Great Divide Pictures, the series breaks new ground by examining the war through the lens of the Western Theater - including critical yet lesser-known battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and Atlanta. Filmed with sweeping cinematic style on the grounds where these epic battles were fought, it recreates authentic scenes and features interviews with top historians to provide new insights on the war and the relatively Unknown roles that African Americans played in the conflict, from enslaved to emancipated to soldier.

The episode, "Untold Stories of the Civil War," details military events at the Battle of Shiloh and shows the relationship between the Contraband movement and Lincoln's Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. It deals primarily with military, social, and political history.

Chris Wheeler, director of the film, will give an introduction to the documentary and Designed by Grace, USI's gospel choir, will provide entertainment.

In addition, the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial will show a screening of "Forging Greatness" that highlights Lincoln's years in Indiana and the Lincoln Amphitheatre will present a trailer of their upcoming stage production "Abe Lincoln: A Pioneer Story."

Prior to the showing of the film, the Evansville African American Museum will showcase two panel exhibits titled "In the Pursuit of Freedom: The Emancipation Proclamation and Indiana Blacks During the American Civil War" and "Crossing Over Jordan: The Abolitionist Movement in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky."

Program sponsors include the Evansville African American Museum, Historic Southern Indiana, Lincoln Amphitheatre, and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.