Event Details (U.S. National Park Service)

★

Special Event

Fee:

Free. No Fee

Location: LAT/LONG: 37.003920, -76.306970

Parade Ground at Fort Monroe

Dates & Times

Date:

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Time:

9:00 AM

Duration:

6 hours

Type of Event

Living History

Other

Saturday 3/30: 9am - 5pm Sunday 3/31: 9am - 3pm

Description

Garrison Life at Fort Monroe: A Gathering of Steel for the Peninsula Campaign, 1862

Experience the sights and sounds of the American Civil War garrison and the gathering of steel of the Army of the Potomac at Fort Monroe at the start of the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. Events begin at 9 am on Saturday, March 30th with Morning Formation and marching to raise Morning Colors at the Flagstaff Bastion. See Soldiers train and drill on the Parade Ground! Black powder firing demonstrations throughout the weekend highlighting Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry concluding at 3 pm on Sunday, March 31st with Retreat - Evening Colors. Other activities can include historical exhibits, doctors, embalmers, coffin makers, sutlers, civilians, ladies, generals, field music, and more.

Upholding the traditions of garrison life, join us on Sunday, March 31st at 10 am in the historic Chapel of the Centurion for a historically based "Church Call" (Sunday service.) The Chapel of the Centurion was built in 1858 and named for the Roman centurion Cornelius, the first reported to convert to Christianity. The importance of faith was significant to many service men at Fort Monroe during the Civil War.

Public parking - is available and visitors should follow direction signs to Outlook Beach Parking Lot for this event. An information booth will be available, nearby, outside East Gate for program details and daily schedule.

Access to the Parade Ground - Please enter the Parade Ground from East Gate and near Quarters No. 1. Sentries will be posted during firing demonstrations, for reasons of safety, please follow their instructions.

Black powder firing demonstrations can be loud. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and bring hearing protection for your party and to remember that "Fido's" hearing is much better than our's.