For two days in June, a field adjacent to the Delaware County Historical Association will be transformed into the rugged battlefields of the Civil War.
Dubbed “Clash in the Catskills,” reenactors from the 144th New York reenactment Group will portray Union and Confederate soldiers to reenact two battles of the Civil War June 21 and 22.
The 144th Regiment was the largest and best known regiment mustered in Delaware County during the Civil War, composed almost entirely of Delaware County residents, a news release stated.
The regiment was formed during the summer of 1862 and was stationed at different locations throughout the war. The bloodiest battle in which it was involved was fought in South Carolina at the end of 1864 — Honey Hill.
Co-hosted by DCHA and the 144th New York Reenactment Group, the weekend events will include two Civil War battlefield reenactments – Chamberlain’s Charge and the Battle of Honey Hill – a “day in the life of a new recruit,” living history demonstrations, cannon fire, kids’ drills, military surgeon and talks about uniforms. Participants will include re-enactors representing both Union and Confederate troops.
“It’s important to bring history to life for people, especially the young,” Tim Duerden, director of DCHA, said in a Daily Star archive article. “You can only gain so much knowledge and insight into the past from books, films and articles. Actually seeing and touching and smelling life as it once was, I think gives people a tangible, visceral sense of history. An emotional connection, if you like.”
Lunch available for purchase on both Saturday and Sunday.
According to the DCHA website the schedule will be:
Saturday, June 21
9 a.m. – military camps and museum open to public
9:30 a.m. – Talk: Surgeons of the 144th
10 a.m. – A Call to Arms: How men were recruited
10:30 a.m. – The recruit from training to battle (a walking tour)
11 a.m. – Surgeon Demo: Field hospital after battle
Noon – Talk: Uniforms history of the Civil War
1 p.m. – Kids’ Drill
1:30 p.m. – Talk: The Spencer Repeating Rifle
2:30 p.m. – Battlefield narrative (Chamberlain’s Charge)
3 p.m. – Battle: Chamberlain’s Charge
4 p.m. – Camps and museum closed to public
Sunday, June 22
9 a.m. – Military camps and museum open to public
10 a.m. – Union drill
11 a.m. – Mortar demo
11:30 a.m. – Kids’ drill
12:30 p.m. – Battlefield narrative (Battle of Honey Hill)
1 p.m. – Battle of Honey Hill
2 p.m. – Camps and museum closed to public
Admission will be $10 for adults; $5 for military (retired or active); free admission for children 12 and younger.
For more information, call DCHA at 607-746-3849; email: dchadelhi@gmail.com; website: www.dcha-ny.org or on Facebook page.
DCHA is at 46549 State Hwy. 10, Delhi, 2.5 miles north of the village of Delhi.