The "Battle" of the Belmont Plateau

[TheQM]

Information and registration forms for the Belmont Plateau event are located at:
http://www.civilwarphilly.net/reenactment/

This event is being sponsored by the City of Philadelphia to highlight the role of the city during the Civil War. The event is being held on the Belmont Plateau, in Fairmont Park, on the outskirts of the City. For those of you who have attended Neshaminy, the site is about three times bigger. Tony Daniels and myself are the Federal and Confederate commanders and many of the folks who put on Neshaminy are also involved with this event. Specialty impressions, such as USCT, Navy, and Marines are welcome.

The event is scheduled for the weekend of August 17-19, 2012, two weeks after the Second Manassas event, down in Virginia.

[TheQM]

The Battle of Belmont Plateau

Featuring Reenactments of Civil War Episodes: Battle Scenarios; ‘Living History’; Camp Scenes; Entertainment; Demonstrations; Sutlers

Belmont Grove and Belmont Plateau – West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
Friday, August 17 – Saturday, August 18 – Sunday, August 19, 2012

This event is co-sponsored by the Civil War History Consortium of Philadelphia; the Abraham Lincoln Foundation of the Union League; the Sesquicentennial Committee; and the City of Philadelphia. It will be a Civil War era living history, Camp, campaign and battle weekend focused on commemorating Civil War historical events., especially involving Philadelphia Civil War units and episodes.

The event will be held the weekend of August 17th – August 19th on the grounds of West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The West Fairmount Park is conveniently located near Interstate 76, the Schuylkill Expressway, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Valley Forge Exit.

Fairmount Park is very historic and has many connections to history. The park was largely laid out by General George G. Meade and hosted the 1876 Centennial Exhibition that drew visitors from America and the world. General Grant and Sherman were at the formal Opening of the event, and many veterans of the Civil War attended, including General Rutherford B. Hayes, who was then campaigning for the presidency and gave a speech at the Ohio House which is still located at Belmont.

The Pennsylvania National Guard frequently held its summer training camps on Belmont Plateau, naming the encampments after Civil War commanders, including ‘Camp Meade’. In 1899, the annual National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was held in Philadelphia. It was the largest Reunion of the G.A.R. (Union veterans) with over 17,000 veterans in attendance. Most of the men camped on Belmont Plateau in ‘Camp Sexton’, named after the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army at that time.

On the summit overlooking the Plateau with a stunning view of Center City Philadelphia sits ‘Belmont Mansion’ that dates to the mid-18th Century. It was a haven on the Underground RR and sheltered run-away slaves.

Nearby at George’s Hill is a fine Civil War Monument dedicated to fallen comrades by the members of G.A.R. Post #21; and at Memorial Hall which was dedicated to the memory of America’s veterans stands the official city memorial to the veterans of the Civil War, the ‘Smith’ Memorial.

The event will feature an ambitious program of historical military and civilian activities including recreated Union and Confederate military camps, public battles, demonstrations, sutlers, authentic entertainment and tactical events, all intended to educate the public to its Civil War past at the outset of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

The scenarios, demonstrations, entertainments, and activities will reflect a variety of historic Civil War actions. All period authentic impressions, military and civilian, are welcome. Military units including United States Colored Troops; Navy and Marines; Zouaves; Medical Corps etc. will be accomodated in all battle scenarios. Contraband impressions; Scouts (mounted) Pioneer Battalions; Sutlers will all have a role. Early registration is important!

Cavalry and Horse Artillery are especially encouraged to participate, as there are miles of trails and ground to use for cavalry demonstrations and manuevers. Register early.

[TheQM]

Gentlemen,

The Belmont Plateau website has been updated to show some photos of the reenactment site

http://www.civilwarphilly.net/reenactment/index.html

The first photo shows a portion of the spectator reenactment area, with the Philadelphia skyline in the background. All those big buildings are about five miles from the site. It is a beautiful view.

The second photo is the Belmont Mansion, a stop on the Underground Railway, prior to the Civil War. Reenactor camping will be behind the mansion. There will be a USCT Living History on the grounds of the mansion.

The last photo shows the entire site from the air. We will be using the large field and the big patch of woods to the north of the photo. The spectator lines will be just to the north of the baseball fields in the bottom of the photo.

There will be more photos added in the near future.