On Saturday, June 26, Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site will host its Civil War Camp Day and Skirmish, a day-long living history event highlighted by drills, cannon firing, camp life, and a skirmish drill. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., costumed interpreters will take part in Civil War artillery and camp demonstrations, and at 2 p.m., uniformed re-enactors representing Union and Confederate units will engage in a tactical skirmish.
This is Fort Ward’s and Alexandria’s largest Civil War event of the year, and several units are scheduled to take part. Among the Union units performing drills and camp life are the 3rd U.S. Regular Infantry, Co. K, and the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. B. Brady’s Sharpshooters will have a rifle display and present a clerk’s impression in the reconstructed Officers’ Hut. In addition to an equipment display and camp set up in the fort, the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery will demonstrate cannon firing throughout the day. Army medical impressions will also be presented.
The 17th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Co. D, known as the Fairfax Rifles, will present various Confederate camp life scenarios, drill demonstrations and a paymaster's interpretation. Among the civilian impressions is a U.S. Military Railroad worker and a Yankee schoolmarm who will display toys, games and other items that were popular pastimes for children in the mid-19th century.
This event is great family fun. Admission is $5 per adult and $10 for families with children. Free parking will be available along West Braddock Road.
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road in Alexandria. It was the fifth largest installation within the extensive network of forts known as the Defenses of Washington, which was built to protect the Federal capital during the Civil War.
For more information, call Fort Ward Museum at 703-746-4848 or visit www.fortward.org.