151st Anniversary and 39th Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge March 5 & 6, 2016

NATURAL BRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

~~~~~ PRESS RELEASE ~~~~~

151^st Anniversary and 39^th Annual Reenactment of the

Battle of Natural Bridge

March 5 & 6, 2016

The annual reenactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 5 & 6, 2016.  Both a Saturday skirmish and Sunday’s full reenactment will be conducted on part of the original battlefield acquired by the State in 2009.  Other activities during the weekend will include prearranged school tours (Friday only), living history demonstrations interpreting civilian and military life during the 1860’s and historic presentations by volunteers from the John G. Riley Center/Museum of African American History and Culture and the Ladies Soldiers Friends Sewing Society.  On Sunday, the Anna Jackson Chapter 224 United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) will celebrate their annual pilgrimage to the site with a brief ceremony and the laying of a wreath honoring the original participants of the battle.

We are also recreating the historic march of Union troops from their naval landing at the St. Marks Lighthouse overland to the Natural Bridge.

We estimate that from 20 to 30 reenactors in Civil War period Federal uniforms with authentic muskets, bayonets, and full accoutrements will meet at the lighthouse starting about 1:00PM on Friday afternoon, March 4^th, 2016.  Members of the 2nd USCT reenacting unit are expected to participate in the march.

On Saturday and Sunday, authentic period camps will be open for public visitation starting at 9:00 A.M.  Period merchants will be on site selling articles and souvenirs of the period.  Food vending will be provided by the Tallahassee Elks Lodge.  The Natural Bridge Historical Society, Inc. (NBHS), the Citizen Support Organization (CSO) for the park, will also be on hand to distribute historic literature about the battle and answer questions about the events which took place during this pivotal period of American history.  A donation of $3.00 per adult and $1.00 for children 6 and under is requested for admission to the event.  All proceeds help to maintain and preserve the Park.  The Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park is located 6 miles east of the community of Woodville on the Natural Bridge Road.

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