Fort Pulaski National Monument will sponsor a book signing, stage a 19th-century style baseball game and provide weapons demonstrations and Civil War medical demonstrations to kick off the summer season on Memorial Day weekend.  

“In addition to being a time remember our Civil War Veterans (and all Veterans), Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events,” said park superintendent Charles Fenwick. “This is a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to learn, have some summer fun and take pride in America.”

Mauriel Joslyn will sign copies of her book “Immortal Captives: The Story of 600 Confederate Officers and the United States Prisoner of War Policy” from noon-4 p.m. on May 24 at the park visitor center. The book signing will be followed by a special talk at the prison inside the fort where the book took place.

Then, the Blue and the Gray will battle it out once again — this time on the baseball diamond — starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. At 2 p.m., the public will be invited to join the Civil War-style baseball game. Nineteenth-century rules will be in force. Pitching must be underhand, no mitts allowed, and hit balls caught on one bounce are an out (just like catching a fly ball). The Gray will be represented by the 8th Georgia Infantry, a group of park volunteers, and the Blue will be represented by the 48th New York Infantry, which includes park staff and volunteers.

Weapons demonstrations, Civil War medical demonstrations and fort tours will round out the weekend. This weekend marks the start of the summer season and the park’s extended hours. Beginning Saturday, the park visitor center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the historic fort will be open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Park gates will close at 7 p.m.  

Additional activities are scheduled for May 25. Fort Pulaski National Monument is on Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. An entrance fee of $3 per person is charged; ages 15 and under are free.  Call the park on (912) 786-5787 for details, or visit the park’s official Web site at www.nps.gov/fopu