Fort Delaware Garrison Weekend Promises Authenticity
August 2002

DELAWARE CITY, Del.– When the public comes to this year's Garrison Weekend at Fort Delaware State Park on Aug. 16-18, they will see a level of authenticity never seen at this famous Civil War fortress and prison site, according to Park Historical Manager George W. Contant.

"With the help of a growing number of very dedicated living historians, we are going to bring Fort Delaware back to the summer of 1863 in a way never before attempted here," Contant said. First-person impressions will he the order of the day and will give the public a far more authentic experience than in the past.

According to Contant, the park staff, the command of Co. K, 37th Virginia, and elements of the Mifflin Guard met for several weeks in preparation. They promise a full plate of authentic experiences for reenactors and visitors. Each day is being carefully planned with many different scenarios designed to represent life at the fort in August 1863.

These include POW processing and medical exams, hospital ward scenarios, prison life in the newly re-created POW barracks outside of the fort, Federal infantry and garrison artillery drill and details, civilian laborers, cooking and rounders matches.

"We will also re-create several historic incidents which occurred at the fort, including the shooting of a Confederate officer and the resultant trial, and the arrest and expulsion of several civilian visitors to the island. These folks proved to be less than friendly to the Union cause by spiking one of our guns and were caught," Contant explained.

Not just the scenarios will be different. Everything from uniforms, equipment and, especially, the use of first-person impressions will be brought up to a new level. Participants will have to register, be accepted and agree to new authenticity standards.

For many years Fort Delaware has successfully used first-person living history programs to tell its message. According to Contant, "This is living history going to the next level, a level which we will begin to work into all of our programs over the next few years. It brings a much greater sense of realism and more effectively honors the men and women whose story we are trying to tell."

A registration form and event guidelines are on the Fort Delaware State Park web pages at www.destateparks.com/fdsp/reenact/index.asp. Information is also available from Contant at (302) 834-7941.