Civil War Buff At Capitol Could Help Would-Be Documentary
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Civil War buff in a powerful position at the Capitol could help a push to get state money for a documentary on Minnesota soldiers.
Filmmakers want to document the history of the 1,000-soldier 1st Minnesota Volunteer Regiment. Members of the force held off Confederate troops in the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg, suffering heavy casualties in the process.
Civil War buff Rep. Dean Urdahl has re-enacted that fight. The Grove City Republican chairs a House finance committee and could help the filmmakers' case for state money.
Director Bill Semans wants to use soldiers' letters and diaries to tell the story without relying on historians or analysts. He told the committee Monday he could probably finish the film within a year if the state chipped in $750,000.
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