CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTMENT SCHEDULED

The Civil War returns to the C&O Canal on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5, 2008, in the Cushwa Basin. Civil War Union reenactors will be encamped by the Conococheague Aqueduct to interpret the impact of the Civil War on the canal. The reenactors will present demonstrations on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, at 3:00 p.m. the reenactors will also play a game of baseball in the Williamsport River Bottom Park as soldiers may have played the game during the war. Reenactors from the 116th Pennsylvania and 95th Pennsylvania will be participating in the weekend.

These activities held at the Cushwa Basin are part of the Williamsport Harvest Hoedown being held in the Williamsport Byron Park on Saturday, October 4, 2008, in support of the Williamsport Food Bank.

The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau is sponsoring a trolley, which will run for free on Saturday October 4th between the Cushwa Basin, Byron Park and the Discovery Station Museum in Hagerstown from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Discovery Station Museum will have its new C&O Canal exhibit open for the public. The trolley will provide transportation for visitors to participate in the activities at all three attractions.

The C&O Canal was greatly impacted by the Civil War. The Union Army used the canal to transport troops and supplies. Confederate troops attempted to destroy the canal structures, especially during General Stonewall Jackson's efforts during December of 1861. The Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee twice crossed the Potomac River in the Williamsport area, while en route to Gettysburg and again when retreating into West Virginia after this major campaign. Earlier, in 1861, Captain Abner Doubleday, known as the "inventor of the game of baseball," encamped with Union forces at Williamsport while protecting the canal. Doubleday's men were known to play a version of baseball in Washington County, at that time.
For more information please call the C&O Canal NHP Williamsport Visitor Center at 301-582-0813. For more information about the Discovery Station Museum, call 301-790-0076.

The C&O Canal NHP is Maryland's largest and most-visited national park. Headquartered in Washington County, the park's web site is: www.nps.gov/choh. Discovery Station is a hands-on science center, family-friendly museum located in Downtown Hagerstown at 101 West Washington Street. The museum's web site is: www.discoverystation.org. The C&O Canal NHP and the Discovery Station are members of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, see: www.marylandmemories.com.