Civil War Era Living History Encampment, March 11 - March 13

The 50th Pennsylvania (USA) is occupying Beaufort and the Arsenal - again - next weekend.

Beaufort History Museum will be hosting 30 re-enactors from all over the Eastern Seaboard, March 11 - March 13th.  You'll be able to see aspects of daily life during the Civil War occupation: the Brigade Headquarters; business conducted by Army quartermasters and merchants (called "sutlers"); examples of the daily routine of a soldier; and the interaction of the missionaries and teachers with the former enslaved. Activities will include rustling up a meal cooked over a campfire, an infantry drill, a Freedmen's school lesson, a march along Bay Street, and a wreath laying ceremony in the Beaufort National Cemetery. The official Schedule of Events and details are found at https://beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org/event-2128759.
  
Beaufort County Library and Penn Center are partnering with the Beaufort History Museum to bring this free event to the community.


Ashley and I will be on hand on Saturday, March 12th to show off some of our Civil War related treasures and to facilitate the book signings by Beaufort's own well beloved and highly regarded favorite historians, Dr. Larry Rowland and Dr. Steve Wise. The book signing will be held in the Beaufort Branch's Children's Programming Room from 9 am to 11 am.

Penn Center will have representatives on site Saturday to share information about its historic campus and history as one of the first schools for the freedmen as well. 

Nerds and students of local history may appreciate our recently compiled "Civil War in Beaufort District (SC), 1861 - 1865" webpage. A companion site is the "Reconstruction Period in Beaufort, South Carolina, 1862 - 1893." Why the overlap? Here in Beaufort District at least, Reconstruction began shortly after the Union took control of Port Royal Island, Hilton Head Island, and St. Helena Island in November 1861.

If you'd like to bone up about the military actions of the 50th Pennsylvania, the Beaufort District Collection has three books about the 50th Pennsylvania in our holdings: A history of Company C, 50th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment: From the camp, the battlefield and the prison pen, 1861 - 1865 edited by J. Stuart Richards, 2006; The 50th Pennsylvania's Civil War Odyssey: The Exciting life and hard times of a Union volunteer infantry regiment, 1861 to 1865 by Harold B. Birch, 2003; and A Scratch with the Rebels: A Pennsylvania Roundhead and a South Carolina Cavalier by Carolyn Poling Schriber, 2007.

Since the 1st South Carolina (USCT) was critical to the success of the Union Army, you may enjoy our "Black Soldiers and Sailors during the Civil War" list http://bit.ly/1WMVOzG. The Civil War Trust has a great complete collection of resources for maps, historical articles, battlefields and more relating to the USCT. Take their quiz to test how much you really know about the role of black soldiers in the war. (I only got Captain's rank - mostly on account of my lack of knowledge about the course of the war in the Western theater. Perhaps you'll do better.) 

While you're visiting the Encampment, you may want to mosey down to the Historic Beaufort Foundation's John Mark Verdier House, 801 Bay Street, to see  their latest exhibit "They Came to Beaufort ... Three Women of the Civil War." HBF says "The stories of Clara Barton, Frances Dana Barker Gage and Susie King Taylor all merge here in Beaufort during the occupation by the Union troops from 1861 until the end of the Civil War.

This exhibit examines how their paths crossed during this crucial period of American history and their contributions. Many women of courage and commitment came to the Lowcountry …. this is the story of three of those brave women."

Can't get enough of the Civil War? On Tuesday, March 15th Dr. Eric Poplin will discuss the Battle of Congaree Creek during the Hilton Head Chapter, ASSC meeting at Coastal Discovery Museum at 7:00 pm.