Soldiers spent four years in Arlington during the Civil War, and county residents can get a small taste of what they went through next weekend.
The re-enactment event Civil War Camp Day will show how soldiers lived by walking through encampment displays, practicing military drills and trying on Civil War uniforms. It takes place May 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Walter Reed Community Center and Park (2909 16th Street S.)
Union troops arrived in Arlington in 1861 on the orders of President Abraham Lincoln. For the next four years, tens of thousands of northern soldiers manned the Arlington Line, a series of fortifications and camps that stretched from Rosslyn to the Pentagon.
A schedule of the day’s events is below:
- 10 a.m. – The camp is open to visitors, with displays on how soldiers lived in camp, what gear they used and the music they listened to.
- 11 a.m. – A presentation on Arlington’s role during the Civil War, especially as a center for training.
- Noon – Cooking and a presentation on what soldiers ate.
- 1 p.m. – A presentation on Arlington’s role during the Civil War, especially as a center for training.
- 2-4 p.m. – The camp is open to visitors, with displays on how soldiers lived in camp, what gear they used and the music they listened to.