Ball's Bluff Anniversary to Be Celebrated With Re-Enactment

Approximately 1,000 uniformed Civil War re-enactors, representing both Union and Confederate sides, began arriving at on Friday, less than 24 hours before the 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Ball’s Bluff.

Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and Morven Park, the re-enactment will include two days of camp life, cannons, rifles and a jury of up to 3000 spectators who will get a true sense of how the actual battle played out.

“I think what’s really exciting is that the re-enactors will get to re-enact on the actual battlefield itself, which rarely ever happens,” said Morven Park Senior Interpreter Kevin Bowman, who, in the past, has volunteered his time to be a re-enactor for similar events.

“It gives folks an opportunity to get a glimpse at what the actual soldiers experienced and what they went through throughout the war.”

Additional activities are planned around the re-enactment including drill demonstrations, the Civil War History Mobile traveling exhibit and an evening Battlefield Illumination.

According to Teresa Davenport, assistant director of development and communications, a lot of time and effort has gone in to planning this event. This includes the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Restoration Program, which returned the Battlefield to its appearance in October 1861, allowing visitors to experience the battlefield’s interpretation in an authentic way.

Hiking trails and interpretive signs aid in understanding this important and tragic part of American history, as well as educate both locals and visitors to Loudoun’s role in the war. 

“It’s just amazing everything that has gone into this. It’s just going to be really exciting to see it all come together,” Davenport said. “I think it’s going to be very moving in addition to just being excited and interesting.”

Leading up to the commemorative events, Morven Park will continue to host a , on display in the Gov. Davis mansion.

On Saturday, spectators can watch the troops prepare for battle and begin their march to the nearby battle site, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Spectators with reenactment tickets will be shuttled to the Ball’s Bluff historic site, where the reenactment will begin at 2 p.m., lasting about one hour.

From 7 to 9:30 p.m., visitors are able to return to Morven Park where they can spend time with the regiments, watching troops prepare a campfire-cooked dinner and enjoying evening entertainment of music and plays.

“They keep it very, very realistic,” Davenport said. “They try to be absolutely as authentic as possible so it will be like stepping back in time and seeing what life was like for these soldiers.”

On Sunday, the public again can once again visit the encampments at Morven Park and watch a reenactment of a skirmish that took place in Dranesville.

Marching demonstrations will also take place while the Virginia Civil War 150 HistoryMobile, a unique exhibit housed in a 53-foot tractor-trailer that illustrates viewpoints of soldiers, civilians, and slaves who experienced the War within Virginia’s borders, will be on display.

“It’s not about celebrating a war. It’s a tragedy but it changed our entire history ever since. It really established this nation for what it is today,” Davenport said. “I think it’s important for people to remember such an incredible history shaping event that has affected our culture completely. I recommend people come because it’s a once in a life time opportunity to relive that whole thing.”

Admission to Morven Park activities on either day is $5, with tickets available both in advance and at the gate. Access will be from Route 15, just north of the business/bypass split, using Tutt Lane.

Tickets to the reenactment also are $5 but will only be sold online. Reenactment ticket holders will have access to all of the Morven Park daytime activities. The Saturday evening event requires an additional ticket purchase of $25. For a complete schedule of event or to purchase tickets visit www.MorvenPark.org or www.150thballsbluff.com.