PRELIMINARY SCHEDLE OF EVENTS
for additional information visit
http://www.heartofthecivilwar.org/
BATTLE OF HANCOCK SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
BATTLE OF HANCOCK COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Lily Wolford, 301-678-6173 or lilywolford@yahoo.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BATTLE OF HANCOCK SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION PLANS
Hancock, Maryland -- December 6, 2011
Hancock, Maryland will commemorate its role in the Civil War through a series of events to be held January 5 - 8, 2012. 150 years ago, the small western Maryland town of Hancock was the site of The Battle of Hancock. Stonewall Jackson ordered the surrender of the town, however the Union commander in charge of the garrisoned town, Brigadier General Frederick Lander, refused. Confederate troops commenced firing from Orrick’s Hill, just across the Potomac River from Hancock. The skirmish continued for two days. Finally, on January 7th, having failed to find a suitable crossing into Maryland, the confederate forces retreated and advanced on Romney. The four day sesquicentennial event will include a wide range of activities for people of all ages. A full schedule of events including dates, times and locations can be found on Facebook at “The Battle of Hancock Commemoration Events”, or on the Town of Hancock’s website – www.hancockmd.com. Re-enactors are welcome!
The opening ceremony will take place at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, High Street, Hancock on Thursday, January 5 at 7:00 p.m. an introduction by event chairperson, Lily Wolford; followed by a reading of the Hancock Historical Society’s winning student essay; and a dramatic musical presentation by the Springs Chamber Ensemble. The events will continue on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Hancock Performing Arts Center/Community Center with the opening of several exhibits including “Hancock’s Hall of Heroes” by Mac Elser, which includes pictures and biographical information on hundreds of soldiers who participated in the Battle of Hancock. The evening’s events will also include a talk by Dr. John Rathgeb on Battlefield Orthopaedics, and a performance by the Hancock Arts Council Civil War String Band. Saturday’s events begin at 9:00 a.m. with a 5K Run/Walk starting at historic St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, which was used as a hospital during the Civil War. Other events throughout the day will include several speakers, authors, exhibits, cannon firing demonstrations and re-enactors, followed by the Wildcat Regiment Band concert at 5:00 p.m. The commemoration events will conclude on Sunday afternoon with a Memorial Service and Grave Stone Dedication for soldiers buried in the St. Thomas’ Cemetery, and a Civil War period Evening Prayer Service in St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church at 4:00 p.m.
Reenactors are welcome! Please contact us for information.
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On January 5, 1862, the Battle of Hancock took place after Union commander Brigadier General Frederick Lander refused to surrender Hancock to “Stonewall" Jackson's demand. After two days of bombardment from just across the Potomac on Orrick's Hill, Confederate forces finally withdrew and marched on Romney. Thursday, January 5, 2012 Saint Thomas’ Episcopal Church High Street Hancock, Md 7 p.m. Opening Ceremony with Lily Wolford Winning Essay from Hancock Historical Society's Student Contest; and Springs Chamber Ensemble Dramatic Musical Presentation
7 p.m. Overview of the Battle of Hancock by Art Callaham; “Hancock’s Hall of Heroes” Exhibit Opening with Mac Elser Also, Other Exhibits Open Including: Student Art Exhibit, Display on the Use of Ground Penetrating Radar in the Location of Unmarked Graves Lecture on Civil War Battlefield Orthopaedics by Dr. John Rathgeb Hancock Arts Council Civil War String Band
Saturday, January 7. 2012 Starting at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church 9 a.m. Battle of Hancock 5K & Walk/Run 9 a.m. Hancock Museum & Visitor Center open until 4 p.m. C&O Canal Visitor’s Center open until 4 p.m. Exhibits at Hancock Performing Arts/Communtiy Center (see listing above) Also, Including South Mountain Relic and Coin Display St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church 9:30 a.m. Matthew Dodd - Storyteller 10 a.m. Firing Demonstration and Visit with Reenactors Civil War Bookstore Open Authors present to include Tim Snyder, Bob O'Connor, Steve French, Joe Stahl, and John Mentzer Hancock Performing Arts Center 10:30 a.m. Joe Stahl on “ID Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War” 11:30 a.m. Presentation of Ron Lesser’s limited edition print, The Shelling of Carlisle to the Hancock Historical Society by F&M Trust Company of Chambersburg St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church 12 p.m. Firing Demonstration and Visit with Reenactors 12:30 p.m . Matthew Dodd – Storyteller Hancock Performing Arts Center 2 p.m. Music Workshop with The Wildcat Regiment Band 2 p.m. Lecture, Dr. Robert Hileman, Col. Crowther Foundation 3 p.m. Civil War Lecture by Author Bob O’Connor St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church : 3:30p.m. Matthew Dodd - Storyteller 4 p.m Firing Demonstration and Visit with Reenactor Hancock Performing Arts Center 5 p.m. Wildcat Regiment Band Concert
Sunday, January 8, 2012 Hancock Performing Arts Center 1 p.m. John Mentzer, Author of "If These Walls Could Talk" 2 miles north, Route 655 PA 1:30 p.m. Tonoloway Baptist Church open until 2:30 p.m. St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church 2 p.m. Overview of St. Thomas’s Role in the Civil War 3 p.m. Civil War Soldiers’ Memorial Service & Dedication of Grave Stones 4 p.m. Civil War Period Evening Prayer Service with Choir
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