Fort Scott National Historic Site - Civil War Baseball (U.S. National Park Service)

NPS Photo

Area youth playing Civil War Bsseball in October 2007

“Play ball!” will resonate across the parade ground on July 5 at Fort Scott National Historic Site. For the second year, the Jayhawkers will be pitted against the Bushwhackers in a Civil War era baseball game. The game will be played on the parade ground of Fort Scott NHS and will be conducted according to 1860s rules. Period equipment will be used as will period costuming; the Jayhawkers will be adorned in Union kepis, while Bushwhackers will be sporting Confederate caps.

The site is recruiting participants aged 12-17 to play on the teams. Ideally, the Jayhawker team will consist of players from Kansas while people from Missouri will fill the ranks of the Bushwhackers. If interested and available to play on one of the teams, contact the site at 620-223-0310 as soon as possible. Participants must be registered in advance in order to play. Space is limited to 12 per team. Game time is 5:30 p.m., but participants should plan to arrive by 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided to team members.

The baseball game will be just one of several activities that will take place at Fort Scott NHS over the July 4 weekend. Details about these activities will be forthcoming.

Fort Scott National Historic Site is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is an entrance fee of $3.00 for each adult age 16 and over. Children 15 years old and under are admitted free of charge. For more information call the site at 620-223-0310.