Article by Elsie Boskamp, 27East.com
Original article and more pictures can be seen at here »

Families stepped back into the early 1860s when visiting the Westhampton Beach Historical Society’s Civil War Living History event on the Great Lawn on Saturday. Reenactors from New York and Virginia represented the Union and Confederate forces as they set up camp and engaged in infantry demonstrations, cavalry drills and artillery skirmishes.

“We just wanted to offer something different for our community, and give them living history, because we’re known for the beach, and the farmers market and the arts, but we wanted this event to just promote history and give people the opportunity to see and experience history,” Westhampton Beach Historical Society board member Dawn LaDu said as the Union soldiers fired off a cannon in the distance.

The cannon and artillery demonstrations were some of the biggest draws, she said, and although it was raining, many people came back throughout the day, with upward of 150 people watching the reenactment.

The Confederate and Union forces were composed of several Civil War reenactment organizations, including the 67th New York Infantry Company K, the 10th New York Cavalry, the 9th Virginia Infantry Company C, the 30th Virginia Infantry and the Union Artillery demonstrators.

“A lot of the reenactors are hobbyists, so they are so knowledgeable about all the different things, whether it be the medical tent, or the cooking tent or the muskets,” Ms. LaDu explained. “People have been really excited.”

According to Historical Society board member Elizabeth Max, the event was funded by a group of local business sponsors, and was meant to complement many of the craft demonstrations and history lessons that the society holds throughout the summer.

Saturday marked the second year that the society held a living history event. Last year the Revolutionary War was reenacted, Ms. Max noted. “They’re the two big wars, so doing the Civil War this year just seemed to make sense,” she explained.

The event wrapped up with the Historical Society’s Blue and Gray Lawn Party, where attendees got to drink and dine with the soldiers.

“We hope to have this be an ongoing event, whether it’s the Civil War or the Revolutionary War, we hope that we can do it every summer,” Ms. LaDu said.

*** These events will be held Rain or Shine ***

American Civil War Living History Event

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On August 4th, from 10am to 4pm, the Westhampton Beach Historical Society will host a free Civil War Living History Event on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach. The event will demonstrate Union and Confederate camp life, infantry and cavalry drills, artillery demonstrations, and culminate with an infantry and cavalry skirmish at the end of the afternoon. The re-enactors will be dressed in period military uniforms, and fire rifles and a canon with real powder. A Union cavalry troop will demonstrate cavalry techniques and riding skills. Associated civilians and “camp followers” will also be dressed in period costumes. These activities will be carried out by several Civil War re-enactment organizations including:

• 67th New York Infantry, Company K
• 10th New York Cavalry
• 9th Virginia Infantry, Company C
• 30th Virginia Infantry
• Union Artillery demonstrators

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Union and Confederate camps will be set up to demonstrate camp life including field cooking. A period medical field hospital will also be set up for viewing.

The Living History portion of the event will run from 10 AM to 4 PM and be followed by a fund-raising Cocktail Party from 5 to 7 PM.
In addition to the Artillery Demonstrations with canon firing on the hour throughout the day, the tentative schedule of living history activities is as follows:

• 7am – Participants arrive, set up camp
• 10am – Event opens
• 10 to 11am – In Camp Living History Demonstration
• 10am to 1pm – Hankerchief Doll Making
• 11am to 12pm – Muster and Demonstration of Infantry and Cavalry Drills
• 12 to 1pm – Units Period Lunch in Camps
• 1 to 1:30pm – Reading of War Letters
• 2 to 3pm – Artillery and Infantry Skirmish, and Cavalry demonstration
• 3 to 3:30pm – Reading of War Letters

Between demonstrations and drills and during lunch the camps will be open for the public to enter and view/experience what life was like for soldiers and their families during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. The re-enactors are knowledgeable of the history and life at that time and will be available for interaction with the visiting public.

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The Westhampton Beach Historical Society invites you to attend its Blue and Gray Lawn Party

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In association with the Living History event, the Westhampton Beach Historical Society will hold a fundraising cocktail party from 5pm to 7pm on the Great Lawn. Come enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks with soldiers from the Civil War and their ladies following the all-day the Civil War Living History Event. This party will be under tents in an enclosed private area on the Great Lawn immediately adjacent to the Living History demonstration area and will include a quality hors d’oeuvers presentation, wine and beer, and a Civil War period cocktail will be featured. Re-enactor Union and Confederate soldiers and their ladies in period dress will circulate through the party and be available to interact with the attendees. Society members and paying public are welcome to attend in period dress if they wish. A banjo and fiddle musician will play American Civil War period ballads and songs to transport the party spirit back to the 1800s.

Saturday August 4th, 5pm to 7pm
On the Great Lawn, Main Street, Westhampton Beach
Admission $60/person for members, non-members $70/person
RSVP by July 28th, using the form below.

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RSVP and Tickets here

Join us on Friday, June 8th at 4pm at Starr Boggs for our Season Opening Cocktail Party.

We will again this year have colonial craft demonstrations every Saturday on the Society’s grounds while the Farmers market is open from 10am – 1pm.

Our summer exhibit, “Halcyon Days and the 1938 Hurricane” in the Tuthill House Museum is also open every Saturday from 10am – 1am.

On August 4th, The Society is proud to present to the community, a Civil War Reenactment on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach.
Click here for details

Also on August 4th, the Historical Society will hold a fundraising cocktail that evening on the Great Lawn with Company K reenactors in attendance!

We welcome all visitors and encourage everyone in the community to become a member of the Society.

Cocktail Party Details:
Members $60
Non-members $70
Call 631-288-1139 to make reservations

Thank you,
The Trustees of the Westhampton Beach Historical Society