A Living History Camp On An Actual Battlefield Where One Of The Civil War’s Final, And Most Decisive Battles Was Fought In 1865
It’s a cold night and the sentry can see his breath. The enemy is camped nearby. The young soldier from Florida never expected when he took the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America that some of the worst things he would have to endure would be the weather… and the food. He never thought he’d have to survive on hardtack and apples.
A scene from 1864? Would you believe 2015? The young soldier is part of a Scout group from Florida, and he’s participating in a living history camp on an actual battlefield where one of the Civil War’s final, and most decisive battles was fought on April 2, 1865. Pamplin Historical Park sits on the battlefield south of Petersburg, VA, where Lee’s lines were finally breached, forcing his retreat from Richmond, and ultimately, his surrender.
Pamplin was established as a private non-profit in 1994. Its purpose is to connect people today with the soldiers who fought the war that pitted brother against brother. “We highlight the men and women in the fighting army, not the generals who gave the orders,” Tim Talbott, director of education and interpretation at Pamplin, tells The Buzz.
The living history experience usually last two days, so participants can overnight in the park’s five log cabins or bunkhouses, similar to the winter quarters built in the area during the nearly year-long Siege of Petersburg. Each incoming soldier chooses whether to be Union or Confederate, and takes the appropriate oath of allegiance.
“They’re each issued a jacket and hat, a cartridge box, a haversack and canteen,” Talbott says. “They also get a wooden replica rifle, and learn how to march in formation and other drills. They go through inspection as well, and may have to wear a placard around their neck if they fail. It’s part of the program that teaches how soldiers back then would be punished.”
Other parts of the program demonstrate medical technology of the day, including the process of amputating a leg. “We emphasize what was learned during the war that improved medical treatment in the years that followed,” Tim explains.
Kevin Sides, who brought his Scout troop to Pamplin’s War Adventure Camp by train from Jacksonville, FL, says his Scouts enjoyed the whole experience from beginning to end. “They all thought it was very cool being able to dress up as a Union or Confederate soldier. Of course, for a bunch of 12-18 years olds, the most exciting things were firing the cannons and guns.”
“Our campers are usually very interested in the changes in weaponry during the four years of war,” Talbott says. “They have the opportunity to fire the types of guns used - with protective gear for their eyes and ears. We also do an artillery demonstration. Firing the cannon is always a high point.”
Kevin Sides says his group was impressed by how realistic everything was, from clothes to food. “The bunkhouse was a great treat for them,” he says. “Most of all they were amazed at how minimally the soldiers lived compared to how each of them lives today.”
Tim Talbott says that he enjoys watching people discover what life was like in the past. “Seeing the light bulbs go off when they suddenly realize, hey this is hard. One of the biggest surprises for many people is how organized the Civil War armies were. They practiced drills constantly. And it’s much more complex than people expect.”
Pamplin offers its War Adventure Camps all year, in all types of weather. “We have groups who want a cold weather experience,” Talbott says. “Others want the summer experience. We had a group of Young Marines who did a camp in July when the temperature hit 102 degrees.”
Although most “recruits” are groups of all ages, the park also offers occasional Rally Camps, for individuals and small family groups. “We need to have a certain number signed up so we can do the battle simulation,” he says.
Located just off I-95 south of Richmond, Pamplin has plenty to offer the day visitor as well, with two excellent museums, historic properties ranging from a Southern plantation to the house used by Grant as his headquarters, an exhibit on slave life, military fortifications and a winter encampment, as well as trails leading through the National Historic Landmark Civil War battlefield, all included in the entry fee. “It really takes a full day to see everything,” Talbott says.
The park’s centerpiece, the National Museum of the of the Civil War Soldier offers a moving interactive experience. Visitors can choose a character, based on an actual person who served in the war, then listen to an audio tour, derived from the soldier’s own letters and diary, that follows their career through the war, experiencing the confusion and disorientation so often reported by individuals on both sides. Camp life with its music, bad food and boredom, as well as the long marches to unknown destinations, with potential enemies behind every fence and tree, give a real feel for the life of the common soldier.
In the final room of the museum, visitors find out the fate of their character. Did they live on after the war or fall in battle? Did they die of disease or lose a limb to amputation? Did they return home to find their farms burned or suffer as a prisoner of war? The haunting faces of soldiers and others caught up in the war, captured by some of the earliest professional photographers, stare from every wall.
“We aim to offer an interactive experience,” Tim Talbott says. “We want people to step out of their 21st century shoes and into the shoes of the more than 3 million men and women who fought in the Civil War. More than 700,000 died. The Pamplins thought we needed a museum to honor their service and their sacrifice.”
Renee Wright
A graduate of Franconia College in Social Psychology, Renee has worked as Travel Editor for Charlotte Magazine and has written three travel guidebooks for Countryman Press among other writing assignments. She enjoys food and camping.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Cozy Acres Family Campground, a family owned and operated business that began in 1974. It is situated close to many local attractions, such as Colonial Williamsburg, the Richmond International Raceway and the Virgina Beach.