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The Armory Guards are hosting the 155th Anniversary Living History of the Battle of Fort Tyler, April 17-19, 2020 at West Point, Georgia. This history heavy event will consist of unique impressions that we as reenactors do not generally get to portray. The event site is at a recreated fort in a garrison type setting. The military impressions to be interpreted include detached and convalescing Southern soldiers, local townspeople coming to defend the town, and state militia rushed in to defend the railroad bridge, related equipage and buildings. There are also limited opportunities for other citizen impressions to tell the story of the town’s youngsters and women. Finally, there will be room for very limited US cavalry impressions to interpret LaGrange’s command of Wilson’s force.
Super Bonus: If you are under 16 or over 40, this is the event for you too! The documentation of this “battle” shows that older men came with the militia command and town’s citizens to help defend the fort. Teenage boys also volunteered to defend the fort as well, and were documented to walk away from the aftermath of the battle to blend back into the crowd of citizens who had come to see the end of the engagement.
Other than the battles at Fort Blakeley and Spanish Fort, and the engagements around Appomattox, the Battles of West Point and Columbus, Georgia were some of the final engagements east of the Mississippi River. There has been very little attention paid to the actions and people involved with this battle, and the Armory Guards is building on our recent success with the event site and the site’s board for this anniversary event.
Event Date and Location:
April 17-19, 2020, Fort Tyler at West Point, Georgia
Identified Unit Impression:
1st Regiment Georgia Reserves, Local Citizen Volunteers, Convalescing and Detached C.S. Soldiers, Limited U.S. Cavalry (Strict Invite Only), Very Limited Civilian Roles.
Event Impressions:
All participants will adhere to the event clothing and equipment guidelines, no exceptions. Kit inspections will occur Friday evening. Militia and Town’s Citizens to wear period correct clothing, and bring correct firearms and equipment. C.S. Military can use a mix of Georgia/Western-centric clothing and equipment. There is also evidence of Eastern Theater C.S. soldiers being present at the nearby hospitals, so very limited Eastern Theater items circa late 1864 may be used. These Eastern C.S. roles are very limited. The invitation only US impressions will follow the documented uniform and equipage of Wilson’s Federal command.
Event and Military Structure:
The Armory Guards is the host unit and the overall military command. Herb Coats is acting as the event POC. All questions pertaining to the event will go through him. Military command will also consist of Armory Guards members.
There will be two “commands” for the living history. One will be the C.S. Military, made up of the surrounding detached men and convalescing soldiers. The second command will be the Georgia Militia and Volunteer Citizens that came to defended the fort.
There will be strictly limited opportunities for U.S. Cavalry roles and other civilian roles.
Event Scenarios/Activities:
Duties for military participants will consist of garrison guard, soldier duties dealing with the fort, drill for the public below the fort, scripted scenarios regarding volunteer town’s people and Georgia Militia, a Saturday Candlelight Tour consisting of scripted scenarios in partnership with the site’s Friend’s Board, and other soldier and citizen life activities. The Armory Guards are also working on a few items for the living historians as well. More will be posted later.
Click Here for the Event Facebook Group
Point of Contact Email: Hcoats007@gmail.com
More information regarding the history of the area, battle, and detailed kit guidelines will be posted here. Please keep looking here.
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