150-Anniversary, BATTLE OF SABINE PASS REENACTMENT

SABINE PASS, Texas - The Battle of Sabine Pass will be reenacted on the weekend of September 7 & 8 at the actual battlefield about 30 miles south of Port Arthur, Texas.

The event marks the Sesquicentennial of the battle, when, on Sept. 8, 1863, a Federal fleet of some 22 gunboats and transports and about 5,000 troops tried to invade Texas. A small contingent of 47 mostly Irish-Texans under the command of 1st Lt. Richard W. "Dick" Dowling of Company F, 1st Texas Heavy Artillery, stopped the fleet with six old cannons. Two Federal gunboats were disabled and the rest of the fleet repulsed and sent back to its starting point, the New Orleans area. About 50 Federal soldiers and sailors were killed or missing, 350 captured, along with the two disabled gunboats. 

Please stop by registration at the Community Center when you arrive. You can't miss it. If you arrive in the wee hours, proceed on to the site. There will be signs directing you to the camps once you enter the battleground and staff will be present.

SCHEDULE

Thursday; Friday the 5^th; 6th     Participant; Vendor Arrival, Site Prep,; Setup

Saturday 9-7-13                          

  7:00           All vehicles; trailers out of period areas       

  8:00           Officers Call

  8:30           Artillery Drill; Safety Inspections

  9:00           Gates open to the public            

 10:00          Court Martial; Execution

 11:00          150^th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony

                     Lone Star Pipe Band

                     Color Guards

                     Invocation

                     Speaker: Historian Edward Cotham

                     Speaker: State Rep. James White

                     Rifle and Artillery Salutes

  2:00           Battle:    Union Attack & Occupation of Sabine City   

  3:00           Jed Marum in Concert

  6:00           Catered BBQ for Reenactors (Not Public)

  7:00           Dance: 3^rd Texas String Band, Awards (Not Public)

Sunday 9-8-13       

  7:00           All vehicles; trailers out of period areas 

  8:00           Formal Posting of the Colors; Officers Call

  9:00           Gates open to the public            

  9:00           Church Service

 10:00          Court Martial; Execution

 11:00          Jed Marum in Concert

  2:00           Battle:  Union attack on the Garrison at Sabine City

  

Registration, the art show; relic museum will be at the Sabine Pass Community Center.

Spectator parking will be at the high school stadium with free shuttles running to the battleground.

Reenactor, staff, motorcycle, and special needs only parking at the battleground.

Due the tight parking, here will be a designated area to drop artillery and horse trailers. If you are "motel militia" and don't have a lot of gear to carry, please consider using the shuttles.