Fort Delaware during the Civil War

The Milford Museum American History Series continues with a program about Fort Delaware  presented by Taylor Reynolds on Saturday, July 13, 1:00 p.m. at the Milford Public Library in Milford, Delaware. A pentagonal fortress situated on Pea Patch Island, Fort Delaware would see nearly 33,000 Confederate soldiers, political prisoners, and Union convicts incarcerated between 1861 and 1865.

Constructed to defend the cities of Wilmington and Philadelphia, Fort Delaware would go on to become a notoriously miserable place among the inhabitants of the island due to living conditions and seclusion. Through first-hand accounts, this presentation will offer a glimpse into life as a prisoner of war at one of the Federal government’s most infamous forts during the Civil War.

Taylor Reynolds is a native of Milford, Delaware. He graduated from Wesley College in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in American history, later obtaining his Masters in Library and Information Sciences with a concentration in Archival and Museum Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Becoming the Manager of the State of Delaware Historical Markers Program in 2021, Reynolds researched and erected historical markers that highlight significant Delaware people, places, and events in all three counties.

In the fall of 2022, he transitioned to Delaware State Parks where he was the Regional Volunteer Services Manager of four state parks including Fort Delaware. Reynolds accepted the position of Chief of Cultural Resources for all 17 Delaware State Parks in July 2023. A lifelong student of the American Civil War, Taylor is currently a member of the Liberty Rifles Living History Association and the Fort Delaware Society.

Sponsored by the Milford Museum, these monthly programs focus on a variety of topics concerning local, state, and national history. These presentations are held on the second Saturday of each month, at 1:00 p.m., in the Milford Public Library. The library is located at 11 S.E. Front Street in Milford, Delaware. For more information, please contact the Museum at (302) 424-1080, [email protected]. These programs are offered through a generous grant from The Delaware Heritage Commission.