Battle of Shepherdstown Commemoration

Date: September 14, 2015
Contact: Kelly Fox, 301-582-0813

Living History Event at Lock 38 on the C&O Canal on September 19 &20

Sharpsburg, MD –C&O Canal NHP will be hosting a unique Living History event in the area around Ferry Hill Plantation and Lock 38 on the C&O Canal on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, just across the Potomac River from Shepherdstown, WV. This event will not only commemorate the 153^rdAnniversary of the Battle of Shepherdstown, but will offer visitors a glimpse into the lives of African Americans at Ferry Hill and working the Canal during the Civil War years. The free event takes place over two days.

Saturday September 19, 2015

On Saturday morning at 8AM, volunteer interpreters portraying the 118th Pennsylvania "Corn Exchange" Regiment will begin marching from Lock 37 on the C&O Canal upstream to Lock 38. They will be met at Lock 38 by volunteersportraying African American refugees and canal workers.

Five interpretive stations will be set up in the vicinity of Lock 38 from 10 AM to 5 PM, where visitors can learn about the Battle of Shepherdstown, the African American experience on the Canal and during the Civil War, and the experiences of Civil War soldiers after the Battle of Antietam. Visitors will get to experience the sights and smells that were common along the canal during the Civil War.

At 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM, interpreters will lead a two mile round trip hikes from Lock 38 to

Packhorse Ford, where Union troops pursued retreating Confederates after the Battle of Antietam.

Saturday evening, both groups will camp on the grounds of Ferry Hill Plantation.

Sunday September 20, 2015

On Sunday morning, volunteer interpreters portraying the 118th Pennsylvania "Corn Exchange" Regiment and volunteers portraying African American refugees and canal workers will return to Lock 38 from10 AM –2 PM. 

AtNoon, interpreters will lead a two mile round trip hike from Lock 38 toPackhorse Ford, where Union troops pursued retreating Confederates after the Battle of Antietam.

The exhibits at Ferry Hill Planation will be open both days for visitors from10 AM to 4 PM. Limited parking is available at Lock 38, but plenty of parking is available at Ferry Hill Plantation where a short trail leads to Lock 38. Contact the Ranger on duty at Ferry Hill during the event if additional assistance is needed.

In preparation for next year's big centennial celebration, the National Park Service is inviting everyone to Find Your Park. To encourage people to discover everything a park experience can be, there is a fun list of 99 ways to Find Your Park. Visiting Lock 38 and Ferry Hill Planation is a great way to try #9Walk through a doorway of a historic houseand #50 Immerse yourself in a living history program.Visitors can share their park experiences with others by posting on social media with the hashtag #FindYourPark.

"It is a rare opportunity for us to interpret both the African American story of the C&O Canal and the Civil War alongside the story of the Union soldiers who fought at the Battle of Shepherdstown," said C&O Canal NHP Superintendent Kevin Brandt. "We invite all of our visitors –even those just jogging on the towpath –to stop by, visit a little, and learn about these important American stories."