INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the web page for this living history event at Fort Monroe, Virginia, April 1-2, 2017. This page is designed to give participants the information on this unique weekend and the activities that will be taking place.

This living history weekend has been organized by Company D, 1st Minnesota Volunteer in cooperation with the National Park Service, Fort Monroe National Monument, Fort Monroe Authority and the Fort Monroe Authority’s Casemate Museum.

FORT MONROE PAST AND PRESENT

Constructed starting in 1819, Fort Monroe was one of the oldest continually garrisoned military post in the United States. For much of its history it has been home to heavy and coast artillery units. Many notable military leaders saw service at the Fort, including Robert E. Lee. The Fort was also visited by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824, and President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. More recently it has been of the home of the US Army Traditions and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

In 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) announced that Fort Monroe would be closed in 2011. Fort Monroe is now jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS) as the Fort Monroe National Monument and by the Fort Monroe Authority (FMA), a political sub-division of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

PARTICIPATION

Participation in this program is limited to 100 pre-registered individuals. No walk-on participation will be allowed. Only high caliber impressions are sought. All impressions are subject to approval of the event organizers, who reserve the right to ask any participant to alter or remove items of uniforms or equipment.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The event will open for setup at 15:00 on Friday, March 31, 2017. Operations will run through 15:00 on Sunday, April 2, 2017. Participants are expected to be in uniform/period clothing from 07:00 on Saturday to 15:00 on Sunday. Camps will be closed to visitation and quiet hours enforced between Taps and Reveille. Take down and departure will take place between 15:00 and 17:00 Sunday.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Fort Monroe is an active community and with home and businesses amid the historic surroundings. Please read all rules and regulations regarding the event. They are there to ensure that the event can go on without disrupting the normal activities of the residents. In addition, all applicable local, state and federal laws are in effect on Fort Monroe, including those governing traffic and alcohol.

STANDARDS & CONDUCT

This program will be attended as by the visiting public with who will have varying levels of knowledge about the Civil War. The clothing & equipment standards for this event are designed to give all audiences an accurate impression of military life in the 1860’s. The organizers ask that all participants work within the spirit of these standards. In addition all participants are asked to observe proper period military courtesy and decorum during the program, conducting themselves as members of the US military in 1864.

THE SCENARIO

This program will represent typical daily life at Fort Monroe in the spring of 1864. Unless otherwise designated by the event organizers, all participants in this program will portray members of Company D, 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery Regiment and associated civilians. Included in the historical section of this page is a history of the 3rd PA, as well as information on life at the fort in 1864. Participants are expected to adapt themselves to this impression. All aspects of material culture relating to the impression will be covered under the uniform and equipment guidelines.

RANK AND RESPONABILITY

Rank and it associated responsibilities will be assigned by the event organizers. These roles will be given to people with a demonstrated experience in the ranks they will be holding as well as the duties, jobs and activities we will be preforming. Efforts will be made to ensure that rank is divided among those groups with a large number of members participating. All rank insignia will be provided by the event organizers.

All participants may be asked to perform a variety of duties including mess, guard/sentry, fatigue and range safety. All efforts will be made to assign such duty as fairly as possible. Your cooperation is appreciated and will greatly improve the overall quality of the event.

RATIONS

All participants will be assessed a fee to be used for period rations. All meals will be prepared in a Company Mess using period utensils. Meals provided will be lunch and supper Saturday, breakfast and lunch Sunday. Please provide yourself with haversack rations for Saturday breakfast. Some participants will be assigned both days to help the cooks prepared food as well as clean up utensils.

AMMUNITION

Each musket armed participant will need to supply 10 rounds of cartridges per demonstration. These cartridges need to be prepared and packaged in accordance with the Percussion Musket Manual. Cartridges are not to exceed 60 grains of Sporting Grade FF black powder. All cartridges will be turned in when you check for the event and issued each day for the demonstration scheduled. Be sure put your name on your packages so you get your rounds back. Unused ammo will be returned to participants at the end of the event. Loose or bulk powder is prohibited and all musket cartridges as well as artillery charges must be prepared off site.

QUESTIONS

Questions about this event can be addressed to James Owens at james61md@gmail.com , or (301) 681-7462 between 2000- 2200 (8-10 PM) weekdays.

EVENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. All participants must be registered for the event using the registration form provided on the website. No walk on registration is permitted.
2. Participants are expected to support the program for its entire duration.
3. Each participant must have a valid form of state ID on their person at all times.
4. All participant vehicles entering Fort Monroe must have a valid registration.
5. Tents will be erected in designated areas only
6. Campfires will be limited and only established in designated areas
7. All participants will be fed through a company mess. Individual cooking is prohibited.
8. Inappropriate use of alcohol and public intoxication will result in removal from the program.
9. Fort Monroe has a zero tolerance policy for illegal drug use. Anyone violating this policy will be removed from the program.
10. All participants are expected to observe period military courtesy, decorum, and dress standards during the event.
11. Participants are expected to interact in a polite and friendly manner with visitors and post staff.

Images | Event Schedule (TBA)
Uniform and Equipment Standards | Participant Registration Form
Participant Schedule
3 Artillery/152 PA Volunteers | Quarter Master General Order #60 re: Common Tents.

1st Minnesota Co D web site

Fort Monroe via Google Maps | Site Map (pdf)