On Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29, 2013, Richmond National Battlefield Park will present special living history and ranger-led programs at Fort Harrison in Henrico County. Volunteers portraying Union and Confederate infantry and artillery units will provide cannon and rifle firing demonstrations, while Park Service historians will provide tours of the fort, a key site involved in fighting at Chaffin’s Farm on September 29-30, 1864. Program hours are Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Parking is available at the Fort Harrison Visitor Center, 8621 Battlefield Park Road, off Route 5 in Henrico County. The event is free of charge and open to the public.
On September 29, 1864 Union armies under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant simultaneously assaulted the Richmond and Petersburg fortifications in an effort to weaken and possibly break through the Confederate defenses and capture Richmond. The fighting outside Richmond at New Market Heights, Fort Harrison and Fort Gilmer, referred to cumulatively as the Battle of Chaffin’s Farm, proved the most serious threat to the Confederate capital prior to its fall the following year.
The Goochland Artillery will explore the role of artillery in Richmond’s defenses, with demonstrations taking place at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Immediately following the artillery demonstrations, Confederate infantry will demonstrate the firing of Civil War rifle muskets and discuss the role of infantry during the battle of Fort Harrison. Ranger-led walking tours at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. will examine photographs of the historic fort that was a critical part of the Richmond defenses and, once captured, became a toehold for Union forces near the end of the war.
Richmond National Battlefield Park is one of 401 national parks across the United States. Experiencing the park’s 13 historic sites and five visitor centers usually takes a full day. A driving tour of the battlefields is available at any of the park’s facilities. The main park visitor center is located at Historic Tredegar (470 Tredegar Street in Richmond) and provides museum exhibits, audio-visual programs and orientation services to help plan a visit to the battlefields. For additional information, contact the park at 804-226-1981, or via the internet at www.nps.gov/rich or www.Facebook.com/RichmondNPS.
Contact: Elizabeth Stern, 804-226-5023
Date: September 20, 2013 – For Immediate Release
