In January 2011, Galveston Historical Foundation will mark the 148th anniversary of the most important military event in Galveston’s history: the January 1, 1863 Civil War Battle of Galveston. Commemorative events that will take place on January 7, 8 and 9 in Galveston’s historic downtown include a battle re-enactment, living history encampments and a collodian photography demonstration. Numerous commemorative battle tours will take place as well, including walking tours of Galveston's downtown and Broadway cemetery, a boat tour of Galveston Harbor and a Segway Tour of Galveston's East End neighborhood.

Living history encampments will be established by the 19th-Century Living History Association, Inc. and the 1st Texas Infantry. The public is invited free of charge to visit the encampments from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Union encampment will be located on Postoffice Street at 19th Street. The Confederate encampment will be located on Santa Fe Place and 26th Street. For re-enactor registration go to www.galvestonhistory.org/Battle_Reenactor_Registration.asp

Also free to the public, a re-enactment of the battle will occur on Strand Street, between 23rd and 20th streets, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 8 and 1 p.m. Sunday, January 9.

Photographer Bruce Schultz will demonstrate wet-plate collodian photography. Using the same chemicals and methods utilized by 19th-century photographers, Schultz will offer visitors the rare opportunity to preserve their image on a tin-type photograph. For more information on this historic method of photography, visit http://tintypesforever.com/about.html.

Galveston Historical Foundation’s series of commemorative tours will offer full details and descriptions of many aspects of the battle by several experts in the field.

Civil War walking tours will be led by noted author and Civil War historian Edward T. Cotham, Jr., visiting the sites of the battle. Cotham’s books, including “Battle on the Bay: The Civil War Struggle for Galveston,” will be available for purchase and signing. The tour begins at the Peanut Butter Warehouse and ends at Custom House, where Cotham's books will be on sale. Cotham will be available to sign copies.

Cotham also researched and wrote the Battle of Galveston Harbor Tour, being offered each weekend in January.

A Civil War Segway tour will also be offered, focusing on the East End residential area and the civilians who participated in the battle as well as the prominent Galvestonians who had Civil War careers.

A Civil War tour of the Broadway Cemetery will include visits to the grave of Confederate General John Bankhead Magruder, the monument to those who perished during the Battle of Galveston, and the graves of other notable Civil War figures.

The Civil War Battle of Galveston, which took place during the early morning hours of January 1, 1863, is widely acknowledged as the most important military event in Galveston’s history.

Played out on both land and sea, in a drama that unfolded over the course of several months, the Battle of Galveston ended with Confederate forces driving out the Union ships that had held Galveston Harbor since October, 1862. As part of the Union blockade of the Texas coast, Commander William B. Renshaw and his squadron of eight Union ships demanded surrender by Confederate Forces of Galveston Harbor, the most important Texas port, on October 4, 1862.

But Confederate Major General John Bankhead Magruder led a successful campaign to retake Galveston early on New Year’s morning, January 1, 1863. Confederate “cottonclads” struck from the rear of the Union squadron. A naval battle ensued with Magruder’s forces retaking Galveston. Confederate losses numbered 26 killed and 117 wounded. Union losses included the captured infantry and the Harriet Lane, about 150 casualties on the naval ships, and destruction of the Westfield. The port remained under Confederate control for the rest of the war.

GHF is currently soliciting sponsorships and donations to assist with the costs for hay, firewood and rations for the living history encampments. If you would like to donate, contact Jami Durham at 409-765-3409.

For more information about Battle of Galveston Commemoration tours, tour reservations or for information on re-enactor guidelines, go to www.galvestonhistory.org or call Galveston Historical Foundation at 409-765-3409.