Civil War commemoration comes to Fairfield, Pa., April 22-23

04-01-2011

 

Town to commemorate its role in critical cavalry skirmish, retreat from Gettysburg

 

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – April 1, 2011

 

The small town of Fairfield, Pa. – just minutes from the epicenter of the Battle of Gettysburg – will observe its important role in the American Civil War on April 22-23, as part of the month-long “Invasion of Pennsylvania.”

 

The Battle of Fairfield played a significant role during the Confederate retreat following the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate victory in Fairfield on July 3, 1863, allowed General Robert E. Lee to get his men safely out of Pennsylvania, across the Potomac River and into Virginia.

 

Fairfield will commemorate its role in the Civil War through a series of events, programs, historic house tours and culinary activities the weekend of April 22-23. The event will include dignitaries from local, state and federal offices.

 

The weekend’s events will begin Friday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. and include a ceremony, a candlelight vigil and an illumination on Main Street.

 

On Saturday, events continue with living history encampments and demonstrations, tours of historic buildings in Fairfield and period meals at the Fairfield Inn. At 2 p.m., the re-enactment of the Battle of Fairfield will begin, highlighting the cavalry fight and involving hundreds of soldiers.

 

At 3 p.m., the town will re-create Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s raid on Fairfield and the kidnapping of the Postmaster and Justice of the Peace. Closing ceremonies will be held at 4 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn.

 

A full schedule of events can be found at www.gettysburgcivilwar150.com under the 2011 events section.

 

As part of Fairfield’s commemoration of the Civil War, the Fairfield Sesquicentennial Committee commissioned a book, “Fairfield in the Civil War,” written by four authors – Sarah Sites Thomas, Tim Smith, Gary Kross and Dean S. Thomas.

 

The book details the history of Fairfield, the local soldiers who took part in the Civil War, and Fairfield’s role in the war.  The book is $8 and can be purchased at Alexander’s Plumbing and Pumps, Back the Alley Florist, the Fairfield Inn, McKesson House Polish Pottery, Metz’s Hardware, Sanders Square, Sunny Ray’s Grocery, Tom’s Shipley stores, Ventura’s Restaurant, the Fairfield Mini Mart, Gettysburg Dance Center and the Village Book & Table. The book is also available online at www.thomaspublications.com.

 

For more information on Fairfield’s 150^th anniversary commemoration, call the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at (717) 334-6274 or email info@gettysburg.travel.

 

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