Living history weekend planned at Chatham

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: August 14, 2008

STAFFORD — Hundreds are expected at Chatham Manor this weekend as the historic site holds a living history event.

The Stafford County facility was used in 1862 as a Union Army headquarters, artillery post and military hospital during the battle of Fredericksburg, according to the National Park Service. The event will use live actors, called Living Historians, and will focus on the multiple ways the location was used throughout the war.

“Chatham is a very important place; a lot of history happened here,“ said Russ Smith, superintendent of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Military Parks.

Smith expects more the 500 people to attend the events that are slated over the weekend. He added it is a great time to learn about the historical figures that once occupied the manor, such as Clara Barton and Walt Whitman.

An hour-long tour beginning Friday at 7 p.m. will kick off the event. Titled “Beyond the Big House: Slaves and Slavery at Chatham,” the tour will talk about the manor itself, featuring secrets of what Smith calls a lesser-known destination spot in Stafford County.

The events for the weekend are scheduled as follows:
August 15

7 p.m.: “Beyond the Big House”: Slaves and Slavery at Chatham
Led by the Park’s Chief Historian John Hennessy. Meet on the Chatham patio on the garden side of the house. Program will be the final program offered in the
History at Sunset summer series.

August 16
9 a.m.: “Under the Yellow Flag”: Chatham as a Field Hospital
A living historian demonstrates the medical practices used at a field hospital.

10 a.m.: “Bombardment of the Town, December 1862”
Join Park Historian Kris White as he describes the impact of the bombardment of the town of Fredericksburg on both the armies and civilian population.

11 a.m.: “Thunder on Stafford Heights” Artillery Firing Demonstration
Meet the men of the 4th US Artillery. This unit worked the guns of their battery near Chatham Manor and participated in the bombardment of the town.

12 p.m.: “Chatham’s Poet”: Walt Whitman’s Experience in 1862
Meet Walt Whitman as he reminisces about his time spent at Chatham Manor looking for his brother serving with the Union Army, as well as his experience as a hospital steward.

1 p.m.: “Engineers to the Front!”
Join Park Historian Kris White as he recounts the struggle of the Union Engineers to build the pontoons for the first river crossing under fire in American History.

2 p.m.: “Under the Yellow Flag”: Chatham as a Field Hospital
A living historian demonstrates the medical practices used at a field hospital.

3 p.m.: “Thunder on Stafford Heights” Artillery Firing Demonstration
Meet the men of the 4th US Artillery.

4 p.m.: “Chatham’s Poet”: Walt Whitman’s Experience in 1862

5 p.m.: Tour of the Chatham Grounds
Join Park Historian Mac Wyckoff as he leads visitors around the historic grounds of Chatham Manor, recounting their evolution from private house, to war-time landscape, back to a private residence and eventually a National Park.

6 p.m.: Concert by the Wildcat Regiment Band!
Visitors may bring lawn chairs and blankets.

August 17
10 a.m. “Under the Yellow Flag”: Chatham as a Field Hospital

11 a.m.: “Thunder on Stafford Heights” Artillery Firing Demonstration

12 p.m.: “Bombardment of the Town, December 1862”

1 p.m.: “Under the Yellow Flag”: Chatham as a Field Hospital

2 p.m.: “Thunder on Stafford Heights” Artillery Firing Demonstration

3 p.m.: “Engineers to the Front!”