Civil War reenactment, living history set for this weekend at Laurel Hill

The annual Civil War Encampment & Living History weekend will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, at Laurel Hill, the birthplace of Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart.

Sponsored by the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust, the event will run as a one-day program this year rather than its traditional two-day schedule. Trust President Ronnie Haynes said the change is intended to keep visitors on-site longer into the afternoon.

“We got a little bit longer schedule. We’ve moved the dance up closer in the late afternoon, we’re hoping to do a movie after dark, and possibly a candlelight tour for the public,” Haynes said.

Gates open at 9 a.m. Admission is $10 per person, with free entry for children 12 and under. Parking is free.

The day will begin with a flag-raising ceremony at 10 a.m. Programs include:

“I think around 11:30 a.m., Sam Winkler will be doing a program on Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States, and other individuals from that time period. Stan Clardy will be doing two sets – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – with song and information about various things. He puts on a really good show. He was there last year,” he said.

A Ladies’ Tea at 12:30 p.m., featuring appearances by reenactors portraying Generals Stuart and Robert E. Lee, stopping by for a visit.

“That’s always real popular,” Haynes added.

A 12:45 p.m. talk by Dennis Bussey, of Lexington, titled “When ‘Woke’ came to Richmond.”

“He saw everything that went on up there firsthand, so he has a little program he’s going to do on that,” he said.

A General’s Council of War at 1:30 p.m., with a battle reenactment at 2:30 p.m. that is expected to last 45 minutes to an hour.

“It just depends on how involved they get,” he said.

A black rose memorial service and Henry Timrod’s Ode to the Confederate Soldier at 4 p.m.

Local author Tom Perry will lead guided tours of Laurel Hill at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. His book, “Laurel Hill’s Many Histories, Volume One: J.E.B. Stuart’s Birthplace from Prehistoric to Today,” will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting site preservation.

Although the encampment is now a one-day event, Haynes said a traditional Sunday morning church service will still be held Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. in the main tent. Admission to the service is free.

“We have a reenactor who’s also a minister, and I was hoping to line him up to have the church service, usually around 10-10:30 a.m., for the people and the reenactors who are there,” he said.

Haynes said he hopes the event will attract 500 to 600 people.

“Everything goes to the preservation of Laurel Hill. We’re a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. No paid staff. We’re all volunteers, and every dime goes right back into the site itself,” he said.

The trust has hosted the annual event for more than 30 years.

“We’d like to keep this going for as long as there’s interest in it, and preserve a little history, and have some fun while we’re at it,” Haynes said.

For more information, visit www.jebstuart.org or facebook.com/JEBStuart.Trust.