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“BIRTH  OF AN AMERICAN TRADITION”

 The 150th Anniversary commemoration of Taps

BERKELEY PLANTATION
12602 Harrison Landing Road, Charles City, VA 23030

Admission to Berkeley Plantation is free to the general public
for this event (June 22-24, 2012)
There will be a charge for tours of the mansion

 

For Civil War Re-enactors and musicians who are participating in the event you will need to register prior to the event

Registration Page is now open
CLICK HERE

Sidney King painting of the writing of Taps. Original painting is at Berkeley

Welcome to the information page for “Birth of an American Tradition”-The 150^th Anniversary commemoration of Taps at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Virginia. This three-day event, June 22-24, 2012, will celebrate the birth of America’s national song of remembrance and feature Civil War re-enactors depicting the Union Army at rest at Harrison’s Landing (on the grounds of the plantation) following the Seven Days Battles in late June 1862.

Concerts by military bands on Friday night and a concert by the Federal City Brass Band Saturday night will add to the musical favor of the event as well as fife and drum music and music of bugles.

The focal point of the weekend will be the re-dedication of the Taps 150 monument on Saturday June 23 at 1100. The monument, originally erected in 1969, will be formally re-dedicated in ceremonies on the grounds.

Chris Morgan, photographer who does period wet plate images will be at Berkeley Plantation for the Taps 150 event “Birth of an American Tradition”  Chris will take period images of the event plus be available for portraits.
CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE FOR MORE IMAGES

 

 

GREAT NEWS!!

The Civil War 150 HistoryMobile will be at Berkeley Plantation during the weekend of our TAPS150 event

http://www.virginiacivilwar.org/historymobile.php

Slideshow
http://www.virginiacivilwar.org/hist…slideshow.html

 

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The Federal City Brass Band will perform all weekend!

President Abraham Lincoln as portrayed by Robert Costello will be
at Berkeley Plantation during the weekend
recreating Lincoln’s visit to Harrison’s Landing to
review the troops.

Major General George P. McClellan as portrayed by Mike Seeley will be at Berkeley Plantation on Saturday reviewing the troops and escorting President Lincoln to the concert by the Federal City Brass Band to the strains of “Hail to The Chief”…

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The weekend event will be filmed by Lion Heart Film Works

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH THE EVENT
CLICK HERE

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RE-ENACTOR INFORMATION
Click HERE

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CW BUGLERS, FIFE AND DRUM INFORMATION
Click HERE

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BAA BUGLERS AND TRUMPETERS CLICK HERE

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The Taps Monument at Berkeley Plantation
is scheduled to undergo a renovation.
For information, click HERE

In July 1962 Berkeley Plantation celebrated the 100th anniversary of Taps.
CLICK HERE for photos from that commemoration event that drew hundreds of spectators

Here is a radio play on the birth of Taps recorded in 1962
THE BIRTH OF TAPS
Tom Carlin AS GENERAL DAN BUTTERFIELD
Lou Madonia AS BUGLER OLIVER W. NORTON
Recorded in 1962 for the 100th anniversary of Taps

 

 

 REGISTRATION PAGE IS NOW OPEN!

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We also have a FACEBOOK PAGE Click on Icon below

 

The Plantation

 

Berkeley Plantation, located in Charles City, Virginia, is rich with American history. The main home was built in 1726 by Benjamin Harrison on what was originally 8,000 acres along the James River. It was here that the ninth United States President, William Henry Harrison was born. Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Harrison V was born here as well.

Here are some great contemporary images
from Harrison’s Landing
July-August 1862
CLICK HERE

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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Thursday June 22

7 PM Concert by The Federal City Brass Band-Fort Monroe, Virginia 63 miles south of Berkeley Plantation
http://www.nps.gov/fomr/index.htm

Friday June 22

Union Civil War Re-enactors set up camp

Taps 150 Exhibits-The Tavern

Bugles Across America Exhibits-The Tavern

5 PM Trumpet and Bugle Master Class by George Rabbai, Trumpet and Bugle Artist-under the trees near the mansion

545 PM BAA Trumpeters/Buglers practice with Bandmaster Ken Rose LTC (ret)-under the trees near the mansion

7 PM Concert by The Federal City Brass Band-Rose Garden

9 PM Tattoo performance-Fife and Drum Corps-Taps Monument

10 PM Extinguish Lights/Three Drum Taps

Saturday June 23

7 AM Reveille-Bugle, Fife and Drums-Taps Monument

8 AM Berkeley Plantation open for visitors

8 AM Flag Raising ceremony -Taps Monument

830 AM Dress Parade-Parade Field

9 AM Trumpet Master Class by George Rabbai, Trumpet and Bugle Artist-under the trees near the mansion

945 AM BAA Trumpeters/Buglers practice with Bandmaster Ken Rose LTC (ret)-under the trees near the mansion

8-1045 AM Living History in camps Firing demos by 83rd PA

11 AM Re-dedication of Taps Monument Ceremony-Taps Monument

1 PM Skirmishing by the Bugle-Parade Field

2 PM History of Taps program by Jari Villanueva followed by
a concert by Bugles Across America Buglers-Rose Garden

3 PM BAA Trumpets, Bugles, Fife and Drum Concert-Rose Garden

4 PM George Deutsch, Historian, will talk on the 83rd Pennsylvania
and the Peninsula Campaign

5 PM President Lincoln reviews the troops Formal Dress Parade-Parade Field

6 PM Retreat Ceremony Flag lowering-Taps Monument

7 PM Concert by The Federal City Brass Band -Rose Garden

9 PM Tattoo performance-Fife and Drum Corps-Taps Monument

10 PM The official 150th Anniversary sounding of Taps-Taps Monument

Sunday June 24

7 AM Reveille-Bugle, Fife and Drums-Taps Monument

8 AM Berkeley Plantation open for visitors

8-1045 AM Living History in camps Firing demos by 83rd PA

8 AM Flag Raising ceremony -Taps Monument

830 AM Church Service-Rose Garden

915 AM Trumpet Master Class with Jeff Stockham noted trumpeter and bugler-under the trees near the mansion

10 AM Dress Parade-Parade Field

1030 AM Dedication Ceremony for memorial stone for Medal of Honor Recipient Willie Johnston
Johnston was a drummer boy with the 8th Vermont Infantry

1100 AM BAA Trumpets, Bugles, Fife and Drum Concert-Rose Garden

12 PM Skirmishing by the Bugle-Parade Field

1 PM Concert by the Patriot Brass Ensemble Quintet-Rose Garden

11 AM-2 PM Living History in camps

3PM Camps Close

**The mansion will be open for tours all weekend

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DIRECTIONS TO BERKELEY PLANTATION
12602 Harrison Landing Road, Charles City, VA 23030
(804) 829-6018
CLICK HERE

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HOTELS/MOTELS

There are many hotels located within a 10-15 mile radius of Berkeley Plantation CLICK BELOW FOR A LIST
HOTELS

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LINKS