Gettysburg 2003

Preliminary Booking Details

The time has come for those wishing to participate in the Soskan trip to Gettysburg next year to part with some money, i.e. £150 as a deposit (unless you already have paid this). Firstly, the basic details of the Soskan trip are becoming clear.

We will be flying out on Wednesday 2nd July (almost certainly from Heathrow) around midday. On arrival (either Newark, N.Y. or Dullas, D.C.) we will spend Wednesday night in a hotel. Thursday morning a coach will take those who are not hiring an RV direct to the event site at Gettysburg (about a 2-hour drive) for registration and establishing camp.

At this point those not participating with the Soskan 1st Louisiana will depart for their respective chosen units to rejoin the main group on Sunday. For those with the main Soskan group, all are asked to bring a shelter half (even if you have a bed in a RV) to ensure as large a camp as possible can be erected.

Once the event concludes late Sunday afternoon, a coach or RV's will take all members to a hotel for Sunday night. A restaurant will also be booked for Sunday night for a communal after event meal/party. On Monday morning, if there is time, there will be a guided tour of the actual Gettysburg Battlefield Park. On Monday afternoon we will return to the airport and go our separate ways.

Thus the Soskan trip will include a return airfare, the Wednesday and Sunday night in a hotel, transport between airport and event, a restaurant on Sunday evening and the transport/insurance of the muskets. Whilst it is impossible to be precise as to the final bill until all of the above have been booked (due to currency fluctuations, etc.) the ball park figure is still predicted to be between £500-£600, but no more, maybe a little less. Booking an RV is a separate matter and can be done through Roy Daines.

Whatever the final bill, due by late December/early January, for now the deposit of £150 per person is required by BATH (28th-29th September). This deposit will be fully refundable up to the day the airfare is paid around the New Year. Once the airline tickets are purchased, however, THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS.

All monies are to be given/sent to the Soskan Treasurer; Peter Goldsmith. Cheques are to be made payable to "The Southern Skirmish Association"

UPDATE - OCTOBER 2ND

Final cost is confirmed as £600 per person. This includes flights out and back, hotel accommodation on Wednesday and Sunday nights, coach travel to and from battle site.

There may be an additional £40 if we decide to have our muskets flown out separately as opposed to carrying them on as hold luggage individually.

The cost of the RV's is still to be notified.

Deposit of £150 to be paid to Peter Goldsmith (Treasurer) by Friday 4th October.

Balance to be paid some time in the new year (To be announced later.) 

UPDATE - December 2002

There are now two groups - those traveling in the main body and those hiring RV's. 

The main body is flying out of Heathrow on Wednesday, 2nd July, 2003 at 14.30 hrs (2.30 PM) on flight VS55, landing at Dulles DC airport at or around 17.40 hrs (5.40 PM). This group consists 67 members. The balance of £600 must be forwarded by 31st January, 2003. All payments are to be made to "The Southern Skirmish Association" and must be sent to the Treasurer, Peter Goldsmith.

The second group are to make their own arrangements - if anyone has problems with this - contact Roy Daines who has arranged a good deal that others have taken advantage of.

All members must be responsible for their own muskets and other weapons. This does not present any legal problems; just a hassle which may add an hour to the booking in procedure. Each musket must be in a hard sided case and more details will come later. An example of such a case will be available for inspection at Fort Brockhurst in January.

Click here for details on next year's reenactment

Click here for Gettysburg official visitors website