Yes, Union troops will be invading Beaufort. That may have been a headline back in 1861, but in 2025 it’s the annual Civil War Living History Encampment at the Beaufort Arsenal hosted by the Beaufort History Museum that is bringing the Union soldiers into town.
The Beaufort History Museum will present its popular annual Living History Encampment on Saturday, November 1st from 10am to 430pm in the Arsenal courtyard on Craven Street. Craven Street will be closed to traffic for the duration of the encampment.
Union troops that occupied Beaufort during the Civil War after the Battle of Port Royal Sound (Nov. 7, 1861) will be brought to life by re-enactors arriving from several states.
The Beaufort History Museum will host the encampment of the 79th New York Highlander Regiment in a reenactment of events that forever changed Beaufort in 1861.
The reenactors will encamp in The Arsenal Courtyard (713 Craven St.) and present live presentations of Civil War-era camp life, a day full of interaction, living history, drills, educational activities, and lots of family fun from 10am to 430pm.
Included in the presentations are discussions and live demonstrations of the importance of Civil War era camp life, 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 to enjoy throughout the day.
Attendees will be able to interact with the soldiers to learn firsthand how life was lived in Beaufort during the Civil War years.
Admission is free to the Encampment in the Arsenal courtyard, and donations to support the Museum are much appreciated.
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. Seven Highlanders lost their lives in battles near Beaufort. To honor them, a Memorial Ceremony at the National Cemetery will be held at 8:00 a.m. We are looking forward to presenting the encampment to showcase these dedicated volunteers and reenactors who carry on the tradition and history of the 79th Regiment in such a meaningful, educational, and authentic manner.
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.
