ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. — Present arms… and canteens.
It was 1863, when Daniel Lady Farm in Adams County was used as a Confederate field hospital during the battle of Gettysburg.
The farm also served as Major General Edward Johnson’s staging area for the Confederate attack on Culp’s Hill.
161 years later, the property is now used to re-tell the stories that once took place there as part of Destination Gettysburg’s 10-day commemoration for the battle of Gettysburg.
“They’re setting up their camps, the living historians are also setting up their tents and camps and vendors are coming in and setting up in preparation for tomorrow,” said coordinator Shaun Phiel.
More than 800 re-enactors are registered for battle.
Including Mike Gleason who has a personal connection with the area.
“I’m the upstate new yorker because I had an ancestor that was killed on the first day of Gettysburg,” Gleason said.
Gleason has participated in the reenactment for more than ten years and travels more than 5-hours for the event each year.
The battle is expected to draw more than 3,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
Phiel hopes the re-enactment encourages more people to participate next year.
“One thing that is farm is really focused on is getting more kids involved in the re-enacting hobby and they’re actually going to be having a children’s battle where kids can actually dress up and be a re-enactor for a short period of time,” Phiel said.
Part of the experience for re-enactors is setting up camp as well as dealing with the heat.
Most re-enactors wear wool clothing and can carry equipment more than 15 pounds depending on what role they place.
Re-enactors were told to drink lots of water and practice being outside in full equipment.
“They’ve been acclimated themselves to it, they’ve been out at their own houses, outside, walking around in uniform, drinking lots of water for up to a week and we’ll continue to do that all through tomorrow,” Gleason said.
Visitors will also have access to shade tents and fans throughout the property.
Gates open at 8:30 AM and the battle is expected to start around 9 AM.
Tickets are between $15 and $50 at the gate.
The 10-day commemoration will conclude on Sunday.