The Independent Rifles are hosting a winter garrison living history at Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Alabama. Fort Gaines was part of a three fort system at the mouth of Mobile Bay that was designed to defend the bay against naval assault. The three forts were Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, and a small fort in Grant's pass (directly behind Dauphin Island) called Fort Powell. Fort Gaines was taken by the Alabama Volunteer Corps in 1861 and remained in Confederate hands during the majority of the war. Our goal for the weekend is to illustrate to the public what the Confederate garrison would have looked like in the winter of 1861-62. Since the fort sits on a local tourist attraction, Dauphin Island, the site gets a great deal of visitors year round. This, plus the impressive nature of the site itself, makes Fort Gaines an ideal place to host a living history.

We are raising a company of up to 60 men for the weekend. Over the course of the event, we plan on having plenty going on including a functioning commissary, sutler, and blacksmith. In addition, the participants will have plenty to do including traditional garrison duties such as rotating sections on guard, drill, and fatigue details.

Contacts
Patrick Landrum, Event Planning Staff (email)