|
Participation
There are few near-pristine civil war battlefields left in existence today. Many battlefield sites have been the victims of encroachment by contemporary development. As you may know, you can stand on Starkweather Hill, gaze toward the position held by Parsons’ Battery and imagine what the soldiers may have seen. The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site is also unique in that the Commonwealth of Kentucky enables you to reenact on the actual battlefield. In order to take advantage of this special privilege, it is important to understand and accept the purpose of the event and the expectations of the Kentucky Department of Parks. Participation is limited to the first 600 applicants we receive.
If these standards are acceptable to you, you are welcome to contact the park for registration information. If you have not received an invitation to the event and need instructions, please send an email to joan.house@ky.gov or call the park at 859-332-8631 for more information. There is no online registration for The Battle of Perryville.
Registration Fees
The registration fee is $12.00 per participant (*see child fees). Due to the particular nature of the program walk-ons will be restricted and may only attend if they are members of already invited organization and have the pre-approval of the military commanders. Walk-ons will not be permitted to participate in the ration program. Please do not send cash. Make your check or money order payable to: Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association. All of this money goes to this organization exclusively for battlefield preservation efforts. Because of their efforts, the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site has grown from 98 acres to 669 acres in the last few years. Check out their web page: http://www.perryville.net
*Children Age 5 and under no fee required, but parent must sign waiver form.
Ages 6 – 11 fee is $6.00
Age 12 and above full fee of $12.00
: Registration must be postmarked September 15, 2008. Late registration will run between September 16 and September 20, 2008. The late registration fee is $20.00. Walk-on fees are $25.00. Registrations received after September 20 will be treated as walk-ons.
Please indicate on registration form if you will be camping in the Military Only Camps, Living History Village or staying in the Alternative Campsite.
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Perryville reenactment is to recreate, on a small scale, the events of the Battle of Perryville for the education and entertainment of the participants and park visitors. We should attempt to portray these events as accurately as possible, consistent with the available space, personnel, historic information, and other resources. Another purpose of the event is to draw attention to and raise money for the ongoing battlefield preservation efforts.
Compromises in authenticity may be made to ensure the preservation of the health and safety of those involved. We recognize that no reenactment unit can achieve 100% authenticity in their interpretation, but we believe that striving for ever-higher standards will be an achievable goal of this event. A unit’s desire to participate must reflect their acceptance of the standards of the event.
Standards
Agreement with Event Standards:
Completing and returning the registration form indicates your intention to comply with all standards for this event. All Battalion Officers, Staff, Company Officers, and their 1st Sergeants are required to attend a short briefing early Saturday morning to discuss compliance. Failure to comply with the standards set will result in expulsion from the event. Please register only if you plan to fully cooperate with the standards and spirit of the event.
Opportunities to Participate
The 146th Commemoration of the Battle of Perryville will offer an array of unique ways to participate in our event. The event will be a semi-immersion with a Military Living History program and the Living History Village. The following information will direct you on how to participate in each program.
Military Living History Program
Military Organization
The living history program will demonstrate for the general public as well as for the participant how a typical infantry battalion lived, trained, and fought before, during, and after the Battle of Perryville. Likewise, the cavalry will be organized into one company or troop each and the artillery will be organized into one battery each. Battalion commanders are responsible for safety inspections as well as insuring that the event standards are adhered to.
All details of military organization will be handled by the military command structure. Union and Confederate infantry will be organized into one battalion during the School of the Battalion. During this program battalions will field no more than 100 each. To serve as a distinct company you must be able to field at least 25 rifles. The rank you wear must be commensurate with the number of troops you put in the field. If more than 100 people participate on a side then a second battalion will be formed.
Living History Program will include a full ration program, (see photos) alter ego program and other opportunities to “Become the Soldier.” More information on these programs to follow.
|
