This year’s Battle for the Texas Hospital is set to take place February 17-19 at Archusa Creek Water Park.
Thursday, February 17, schools throughout the area will be able to attend and learn about life in the Civil War Era.
There is excitement for this year’s battle since they are bringing in some new things that they haven’t had in years past.
“This year we’re changing things up a little for the Battle for the Texas Hospital,” explained Jerry Mason, event organizer. “We have gotten a traveling replica of the H. L. Hunley, a submarine that was originally built in Mobile, AL. After a couple of trials there, they were able to get it to Charleston Harbor where they went out and sunk a ship with a torpedo. After they got away from the ship, the submarine disappeared. Well, 140 years later they found it with everybody inside, even Mr. Hunley himself. They knew it was Mr. Hunley because of the lucky gold piece that he had that kept him from being shot and wounded. We have a traveling replica of that submarine coming, and he loves to do school days and talk to people about the submarine.”
The submarine isn’t the only thing new that will be there this year.
“We also have a guy coming from the eastern United States named Alan Fairley. He’s coming with a replica of an 1864 coffee wagon. The wagon has a coffeemaker on it that can make two to 300 cups of coffee at a time,” continued Jerry. “We also have Gregory Newsom, and he’s an artist and an author. His paintings are very vivid, and he’s a fabulous artist. We’re going to have a blacksmith there to show you how he does it. His forge is on a traveling trailer, and he’ll have stuff for sale.”
There will be various vendors at the event as well, so there is something for everyone to see and learn.
While most of February 17 will be primarily for the schools, there are things that the community can participate in.
“Friday night we will have a dance and music where all the reenactors come dressed out to Chefski’s to eat,” stated Jerry. “Anyone can come dance with us.”
They do plan to do their annual memorial service in front of the Clarke County Courthouse on Saturday at 9:00. Everyone is invited to attend the memorial. The troops will then march to the Confederate Cemetery in Quitman and have another memorial service before going back to Archusa Creek Water Park.
The main event will kick off at 10:00 a.m. on February 18, and they will have plenty of things to do to have the community involved.
“The battle will be at 2:00 February 18, but we’re also going to have vendors and sutlers there for everybody to go and check things out,” informed Jerry. “We’re going to have cookers there to show how to cook with cast iron. That night, we’re going to have a dance. People are invited to come. They’ll have a night firing of the cannon also on Saturday night.”
The festivities will continue that Sunday with the battle taking place at 2:00. The winners for Miss Battle of the Texas Hospital will also be honored.
Come out and support this great event and learn more about the history surrounding it!
