Event Schedule
Friday - May 3, 2002
8:30 AM Forts Open to Reenactors - Registration
and Quarters Assignment
9:00 AM Forts Open to Public
3:00 PM Schooners Begin Arriving at Fort Morgan pier for Deck
Gun loading
8:00 PM Admiral Farragut's Reception for Ship Crews and Dignitaries
at Ft. Morgan
Saturday - May 4, 2002
9:00 AM Forts Open to Public
10:00 AM Formal Officers Call at Ft. Morgan - Ladies Tea in Kitchen
Area
11:00 AM Troops Assemble - Safety Inspections - Federals Leave
for Embarkation
11:30 AM Troops Board Schooners - Schooners Sail into Position
for Battle
12:00 PM THUNDER ON THE BAY - Farragut Enters Mobile Bay
12:30 PM Naval Battle Ensues - Union Fleet Engages CSS Tennessee
and Gunboats
1:00 PM CSS Tennessee Surrenders
2:00 PM Land Battle for Fort Morgan Commences
2:30 PM Surrender of Fort Morgan - Federals and Confederates Discuss
Terms
3:00 PM Confederate Garrison Marched Out of Fort
4:00 PM Bay Excursions Aboard the Schooners
5:00 PM Forts Closed to Public - Evening Meals for Reenactors
at Each Fort
8:00 PM Candlelight Tours - Theme "Thunder on the Bay, The
Fall of Mobile "
9:00 PM Reenactor's Camp Dances at Each Fort
Sunday - May 5, 2002
9:00 AM Forts Open to Public
9:30 AM Period Church Services at Each Fort
10:30 AM Formal Officers Call at Ft. Gaines
11:30 AM Troops Assemble - Safety Inspections - Federals Leave
for Embarkation
12:30 AM Troops Board Schooners - Schooners Sail into Position
for Battle
1:00 PM THUNDER ON THE BAY - Naval Bombardment Commences
1:30 PM Federals Land on Dauphin Island - Seige of Ft. Gaines
Commences
2:00 PM Fort Gaines Surrenders - Reenactment Concluded
2:30 PM Reenactors Cars Permitted in Forts to Load
5:00 PM Forts Close
There is no fee charged for reenactors. Sutlers will pay a $35 setup fee. All sutlers will set up at Fort Morgan unless they wish to also pay a $100 peddlers fee to the town of Dauphin Island to set up at Fort Gaines. Pre-registration is required of all units and individuals.
FORT MORGAN - The fort will begin allowing
reenactors and sutlers to set up camp as early as Wednesday, May
1st. Confederates will camp within the fort, and Federals will
camp to the east of the fort. Mounted cavalry will also camp east
of the fort. There are no facilities for camper hookups and no
showers at Fort Morgan. Please report to the registration area
upon arrival and sign in before setting up.
FORT GAINES - The fort will allow reenactors to set up camp inside
the fort as early as Thursday morning, May 2nd. Report to the
registration fly just inside the gates of the fort. Camping space
is limited. Units will be assigned quarters on a first come, first
serve basis. There will be no separate Confederate and Union camps
at this fort. Please park in reenactor designated areas, as the
fort parking lot is restricted to spectator parking ONLY. Shower
passes will be issued Saturday for use at the Dauphin Island Campground,
1/4 mile from the fort.
While you may prefer to camp within the buildings, bastions, casemates, or SpanAm areas of the forts, please come prepared to camp in tents on the parade ground. We will do our best to issue camping sites according to your desires, but there are no guarantees. Please indicate preferences on the registration form.
For mounted cavalry, Coggins papers will be required and checked by Event Staff upon arrival. Please have your horses properly tested out of respect for others.
Alabama Division safety rules will apply for the land battle scenarios. A special set of rules devised by the Naval and Marine Living History Association will apply to troops being transported aboard ships and landing craft. These rules will be discussed in detail at Officers Call. Kindly conform to these standards, for the safety of all of us. Violators will be asked to leave the event. No exceptions.
Authenticity is a must. Many spectators are
expected. We are putting on a living history for these paying
visitors. Federal troops must conform to strict uniform standards
if they wish to board the schooners for the battle. Sky blue trousers
and federal blue coats with blue kepis, bummers, or slouch hats
for army units, and proper attire for marines and sailors, as
directed by the NMLHA. If in doubt, please inquire ahead of time.
The interpretation of rules and regulations regarding the event
lies with the Officers and Command Staff of the Sixth Alabama
Cavalry Regiment. The decisions of this group are final.
DAUPHIN ISLAND, ALABAMA
GULF BREEZE MOTEL (334) 861-7344
HARBOUR LIGHT INN (334) 861-5534
BAYSIDE MOTEL (334) 861-4994
SANDCASTLE CONDOMINIUMS (334) 861-6691
DAUPHIN ISLAND CAMPGROUND (334) 861-2742
TILLMAN'S CORNER, ALABAMA
BEST WESTERN (334) 660-9978
COMFORT INN (334) 666-6604
SHONEY'S INN (334) 660-1520
HOLIDAY INN (334) 666-5600
Motel space and campground space on Dauphin Island is very limited. Please make your reservations well in advance. Motels at Tillman's Corner (intersection of I-10 at Hwy 90) are about 30 miles from the fort. Please contact us if you need assistance.
If you desire motel accomodations at Fort Morgan, the nearest motels are located in Gulf Shores, about 22 miles east of the park.