From staff reports
The Beaufort History Museum held it’s annual Civil War Living History Encampment in the Beaufort Arsenal Courtyard in downtown Beaufort on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The 79th New York Highlander Regiment of reenactors spent a day full of interaction with visitors and holding drills. Visitors learned about Civil War era camp life, took part in educational discussions about medical support in the field, women’s roles, drills, weapons, cooking, an enlistment ceremony for children and interactive activities for the whole family and learned firsthand how life was lived in Beaufort during the Civil War years.
The 79th New York Volunteer Infantry, a Regiment of the New York State Militia, was originally a social club in New York City in 1858. It was comprised primarily of emigrant Scots and Scottish Americans.
The militia was modeled after the famous Scottish regiment of the British Army, the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Scotland, but other than their name and tartan they had no official connection.
Their original duty was to parade, train as heavy artillery, and provide a guard for the Prince of Wales when he visited the United States. But the 79th, without intention, set themselves up to take part in nearly every major engagement in the Civil War and became one of the most well-known and traveled regiments in the Union Army.
Among their South Carolina forays into battle, in December of 1861, the Highlanders were sent to the city of Beaufort to help occupy the town. At one point they set up camp near what is now the National Cemetery.
Beaufort History Museum thanks its encampment partners, 79th Highlander Regiment leader Tom Vaselopulos, the reenactors, the BHM Board, their knowledgeable Docents, BHM members, and the citizens of Beaufort for their generosity and support.
