Confederate Cavalry reenactors fire on Union troops during last year’s Siege at Bridgeport Civil War reenactment.If you go
› What: Siege at Bridgeport Civil War re-enactment.› When: Gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3; battles begin at 2 p.m. (all times Central).› Where: 2361 County Road 255, Bridgeport, Ala.› Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors 55+, $3 children, free for children under 6 and active military personnel.› Phone: 256-495-3614 or 256-437-8873.› Website: siegeatbridgeport.com.› Note: Handicap parking is available.
Some 1,000 re-enactors are expected this weekend for the Siege at Bridgeport, the largest Civil War re-enactment in Alabama. Now in its 22nd year, the event features battles, anvil shoots, a ladies tea and a period ball during its two-day run Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3.
Re-enactors will travel from as far away as Kentucky, Virginia, Florida and even England to take part, according to Glenn Hill, one of the organizers. All participants adhere to strict authentication guidelines, foregoing modern conveniences to sleep in tents and even on the ground to accurately portray life during the war, he says.
The town of Bridgeport, founded in the late 1840s, was a key strategic site during the War Between the States, owing to its location on both a rail line and the Tennessee River. The area saw major skirmishes on April 29 and Aug. 26, 1862, and numerous smaller actions. In the latter part of the war, Bridgeport became a major shipyard, building gunboats and transports for the Union Army.
The re-enactment takes place on one of the original skirmish sites in Jackson County, just outside the city limits. Public camp tours begin at 10 a.m. CDT. Anvil shoots, in which a 100-pound anvil is shot more than 100 feet into the air, begin at noon each day. Battles begin at 2 p.m. and last about an hour.