Bristonians are invited to join visitors from all over the region this weekend to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Bristoe Station.
To commemorate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Battle of Bristoe Station, Prince William County’s Historic Sites Division of Public Works has planned a weekend of musical performances, lectures, tours and living history demonstrations to be held at the Bristoe Station Battlefield located at 10708 Bristow Road in the Brentsville District.
Jennifer Buske, Communications Specialist with Discover Prince William & Manassas, said that while the Manassas Battlefield is closed due to the government shutdown, this is a great opportunity to spend a weekend on another great Civil War Battlefield.
The Battle of Bristoe Station was also “the last time the war came to Manassas,” according to Buske.
On Oct. 14,1863, Confederate troops under A.P. Hill happened upon two corps of the retreating Union Army at Bristoe Station and staged an impromptu attack. The Union soldiers survived victoriously and were able to move onto Centerville. After a small skirmish there, the Confederates retreated toward the Rappahannock River. General Robert E. Lee felt that Hill and Confederacy lost standing with the defeat at Bristoe, and according to the Civil War Trust “ordered him to bury his dead and say no more about it.”
After this commemorative weekend, the men who fought and died at Bristoe Station will be recognized once more, as well as the legacy of our history, and a battle that contributed to the outcome of the Civil War.
Rob Orrison, Historical Site Operations Supervisor for the Prince William Historic Preservation Committee, said he expects 3,000-4,000 visitors, should the weather cooperate, to attend the event his division has spent almost a year planning.
The weekend kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. with a dedication ceremony featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. The Virginia History Mobile will be available on Saturday and a Youth Activity Tent will also be available all weekend.
Other activities on Saturday include music, lectures, and a Battle of Bristoe Station mlitary dmonstration at 1:30 p.m.,as well as a special evening Civil War musical performance by Evergreen Shade at 7 p.m. Sunday we'll see more talks, music and demonstrations. Then on Monday, visitors can experience an “in-time” walking tour of the battle.
Buske expects it will be a fun and memorable experience, while being more intimate than the reenactment of the Battle of Bull Run or First Manassas.
It is also something that history lovers should not miss.
Additional activities include a car caravan tour of Bristoe Station campaign sites at a cost of $25 per vehicle, and a bus tour of exclusive Bristoe Station sites, $30 per permission, refreshments provided. However, except for those two anxillary programs, the rest of the program is free to the public.
Contact Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park at 703-366-3049 for more information. There will be parking located at the Bristow Shopping Center with shuttle bus service to the Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park.
A list of all the events can be found at Manassasbullrun.com under Battle of Bristoe Station 150th Commemorative Weekend.
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