BGES 2026 Revolutionary War Program Schedule
Every battlefield has stories to tell, and Blue & Gray brings them to life through a wide range of Revolutionary War tours led by some of the nation’s most respected historians. Whatever your interest in the fight for independence, take a moment to explore our upcoming offerings. What sets our tours apart? The reputation of our guides often opens doors to historic sites rarely accessible to the public. These exclusive opportunities provide insights that deepen your understanding of the battles, campaigns, and people that shaped America’s founding.
BGES’S 2026 FIELD UNIVERSITY PROGRAM
Revolutionary Williamsburg and Yorktown | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Robert “Bert” Dunkerly | February 7, 2026; from Williamsburg, VA
Join historian Bert Dunkerly, author of the BGES publication, An Explorer’s Guide to America’s Revolutionary War, for a focused field study of Williamsburg and Yorktown—mixing essential highlights with hidden, seldom-visited sites. Walking about 2 miles (with places to sit along the way), we’ll trace the story from prewar protests to the final campaign, hitting the highlights but also visiting seldom-seen and off-the-beaten-path locations—including campsites, battles, and more. We’ll also stop by Green Spring to visit a couple of interesting sites.
Tour Details and Registration Information.
Washington’s Final Battle: Monmouth Courthouse and The Jersey Campaign, June 1778
| A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Gary Ecelbarger & Scott Patchan | February 26–March 1, 2026; from Princeton, NJ
The Battle of Monmouth was George Washington’s final battle as a field commander, though the war would last five more years. It culminated a tense early-summer campaign through New Jersey as 21,000 Americans marched 85 miles in seven days to chase down a nearly equal Crown force retreating from Philadelphia toward British-held New York City. On June 28, 1778, in nearly 100-degree heat, the battle raged for eight hours—a back-and-forth, bloody contest in which a single leader triggered a momentum shift reminiscent of Civil War fields like Manassas, Atlanta and Cedar Creek. Unique to Monmouth was a battle within the battle, waged by the top two American generals: George Washington and Charles Lee.
Tour Details and Registration Information.
The Philadelphia Campaign Part 2: An Active and Bloody October | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program presented by Michael C. Harris & Gary Ecelbarger | August 12–16, 2026; from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Perhaps no single campaign of the Revolutionary War has received as much published attention over the past several years than the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. No fewer than a dozen books about the environs of Philadelphia during late summer and autumn of 1777 have been published this century alone, exceeded threefold by the number of journal articles and essays about the same campaign.
Tour Details and Registration Information.
Cradle of the Revolution:Boston to Lexington and Concord | A BGES Revolutionary War Field University Program with Rob Orrison and Mark Maloy | September 9-13, 2026; from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Boston, Massachusetts has long been considered the “Cradle of the Revolution.” The home of leading Revolutionaries such as Dr. Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Adams and many more, the streets and wharves of Boston were where the revolutionary spirit was fostered. In December 1773, events began to snowball as dozens of Bostonians and others climbed on board three ships at Griffin’s Wharf and threw over East India Tea in opposition to the Tea Act. Soon after, the Parliament passed the “Intolerable Acts”, and Massachusetts was under military control. Boston, Massachusetts has long been considered the “Cradle of the Revolution.”
Tour Details and Registration Information.
Blue and Gray Education Society (“BGES”) Return Policy for Cancelations
BGES is a non-profit, educational organization. All registrations are open-ended and may be refunded if circumstances require the customer to cancel. Our normal policy is to give a 100% refund of the registration fee for cancellations made before the event, except for any non-refundable vendor costs that are incurred, if any. All refunds are determined and approved by the Executive Director of the BGES. In the event of a tour cancellation by BGES, BGES is not responsible for associated travel costs incurred by a tour member, including but not limited to hotel lodging, airfare, or other transportation costs.