May 30, 2010:  Thursday, June 3 begins the annual Blue and Gray Reunion in Philippi, West Virginia.  The covered bridge at Philippi (longest of all the covered bridges in WV) was the site of the first land battle of the Civil War. The battle was for possession of the bridge that crossed the Tygart River.   If one stops in at the park  just south of the bridge on the west side of the river, the battle flags of each unit that participated in that battle are displayed with plaques at the base of each flag pole telling which unit’s flag is flying there. 

Friday is Kids Day with approximately 40 “stations” set up to depict Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and life on the home front during the Civil War. At 7:30 p.m. Friday the Reunion Parade will be held. Line-up begins at the Subway on Main Street. The evening will end with a candlelight tour of Philippi’s Historic District. Registration (required) will begin at 8:45 at Sutler Row. Tours, beginning approximately every 15 minutes, will be take place from 9 to 10 p.m.Registration for the Blue and Gray 5K Run will begin at 7:00 a.m. Saturday at the gazebo. The Run starts at 9:00 a.m. The Civil War camps will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration for the Little Soldiers Battle (ages 6 to 12) will start at 9:30 a.m. with the battle at the Covered Bridge area at 10. An artillery demonstration will take place at the Bridge at 11 a.m. and the skirmish at 1 p.m.For the ladies, there will be a Ladies Tea at Adaland Mansion (US Rt 250 north and turn left onto WV Rt 76) at 10 a.m. Saturday. Ilene Evans will portray Harriet Tubman in a presentation titled, “Behind Enemy Lines”. The Civil War Ball will be on the Courthouse lawn at 8 p.m.On Sunday activities begin with an 1800-style church service at 10 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church. The re-enactment of the Battle of Philippi will begin at 2 p.m.There will be activities on the square all weekend including a car show Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Shinnston is just 35 miles from Philippi, a lovely scenic drive that takes one past the Anna Jarvis House in Webster where General George McClellan made his headquarters during the Battle of Philippi.