Civil War Encampment Coming to Old Bethpage Village

A major Civil War re-enanctment is coming to Old Bethpage Village Restoration in less than two weeks.

The encampment will depict a Union Army training camp, called a Camp of Instruction. It will be portrayed by authentically uniformed Federal re-enactors at the Nassau County-owned Restoration Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, announced Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano.

This camp depicts Camp Winfield Scott, one of several Union army-training camps established on Long Island in the early part of the Civil War, soon after the Battle of Bull Run.

Camp Scott was established in the summer of 1861 on the Hempstead Plains just south of the Village of Mineola near the Nassau County Supreme Court Building and Washington Avenue in present day Garden City.

Union re-enactors portraying soldiers of the 3rd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry will be encamped on the Village grounds. The infantry drills, bayonet exercises and field maneuvers performed by the soldiers reflect the training by recruits in the North at the beginning of the war. Other aspects of camp life such as cooking, the recruitment of volunteers, laundry, inspections and church services will be presented in vivid detail.

The Old Bethpage Village Brass Band will perform on both days at 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m, playing songs of the Civil War and traditional fiddle music. 

This event is co-hosted by the Company H, 119th New York Volunteer Historical Association; a group dedicated to the preservation of local Civil War history.

is open Wednesdays through Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sundays 11:00am to 5:00pm. Admission is $10.00 for adults and $ 7.00 for children.

For more information about the Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums Department, please call: (516) 572-8400 or visit the website at:  www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.