Largest Civil War re-enactment in Alabama is coming up

Relive the Siege at Bridgeport this weekend

Jerry Chesser, Paul Clayton and Russell Dobson, from left, representing the 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, ride out of the forest at the Bridgeport battle site.
Jerry Chesser, Paul Clayton and Russell Dobson, from left, representing the 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, ride out of the forest at the Bridgeport battle site.

If you go

› What: Siege of Bridgeport› Where: 2361 County Road 255, Bridgeport, Ala.› When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Saturday, March 25; 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Sunday, March 26› Admission: $5 adults, $4 senior adults, $3 children, free for children under age 6› For more information: 256-495-3614

Re-enactment Schedule

Saturday, March 259 a.m. Officers call10 a.m. Gates open to public11 a.m. Free ladies tea12:30-1:30 p.m. Anvil shooting on battlefield2 p.m. Battle re-enactment4 p.m. Event ends7 p.m. Civil War ball (free and period dress expected)Sunday, March 268:45 a.m. Church service10 a.m. Officers call/gates open to publicNoon. Williams Family Cemetery ceremony12:30-1:30 p.m. Anvil shooting on battlefield2 p.m. Battle re-enactment4 p.m. Event ends

photo Confederate and Union troops march past spectators following a re-enactment last year.

Other re-enactment dates

› May 19-21: Battle of Resaca› Sept. 9-10: Battle of Tunnel Hill› Oct. 28-29: Helen, Ga.

photo Smoke rises from a Confederate cannon at last year's re-enactment.

You can read about the Civil War in history books - or you could make a day-trip to Bridgeport, Ala., this weekend to see history in action when the Siege at Bridgeport re-enactment takes place.

Thousands of visitors and hundreds of Union and Confederate re-enactors from across the Southeast will converge on Bridgeport for the three-day event.

Friday, March 24, is School Day when an expected 500 children from Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia schools take field trips to Bridgeport to watch demonstrations and learn about a soldier's life from these re-enactors.

The battle site opens to the public Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26. Visitors can tour soldiers' camps, browse sutlers' wares, participate in a ladies tea or an antebellum costume ball, both of which are free. One of the most popular events is the anvil shoot at 12:30 p.m. each day, when a 100-pound anvil will be shot more than 100 feet into the air.

Re-enactments will take place both days at 2 p.m. CDT. When the first siege at Bridgeport was held in 1994, it drew one sutler and 100 soldiers. Organizer John McCraw says 20 sutlers are expected this weekend, along with 600 re-enactors, 15 artillery (cannons) and about 15 mounted cavalry.

The Siege at Bridgeport re-enactment is based on the first two of three Union-Confederate engagements at Bridgeport, battles that were critical in order for Union forces to take Chattanooga from the Confederates.

In 1862, Bridgeport was a Confederate territory, protected by Gen. Danville Ledbetter and his force of 600 recruits. Union Gen. Ormsby Mitchel attacked the defending Confederates on April 29. Ledbetter's force defended Battery Hill, which overlooked the town and railroad bridge. Mitchel's forces took Battery Hill, but were unsuccessful in saving the railroad bridge, which the Confederates burned as Ledbetter retreated.

On Aug. 27, 1862, Confederate Gen. Samuel Maxey's forces crossed the Tennessee River just south of Bridgeport. They were met with Union cavalry attacks, but pushed them back so Confederates again occupied Bridgeport.

On June 29, 1863, Gen. Phillip Sheridan seized Bridgeport for the Union. Now in Union hands, Bridgeport's railroad and shipping abilities provided supplies and reinforcements that broke the Confederate siege of Chattanooga in October 1863.

McCraw says the April 1862 battle will be re-enacted on Saturday, and the Union will win. On Sunday, Confederates will win their re-enactment of the August 1862 battle.

Visitors to the battlefield may be surprised to find how authentic re-enactors strive to make these events. They give up modern conveniences to sleep in tents or on the ground, cook over fires and carry weapons and gear appropriate to that period. Even spouses and sutlers come dressed in antebellum attire to assure an accurate portrayal of life during the Civil War.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.

photo Ladies in antebellum gowns pose for photos.

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