Civil War Trust & The Friends of Perryville Battlefield Park Weekend

I do not have a great amount of details for this, but plan on being on the battlefield both days to give a helping hand.  I also plan on stopping at Lore Brewing Company for a few beers, Bluegrass Pizza and Pub for some good pie (of the pizza variety), The Hub for breakfast, and if I get a chance, a meal at 303 W and more beer at Beer Engine.  Add that to a couple of morning runs and working on the battlefield, and it promises to be quite a busy, yet rewarding, weekend!

Anyway, from the Friends of Perryville website these are the details as I know them:

June 2-3, 2012 - In anticipation of our 150th Anniversary we will have numerous projects. They will include everything from painting, cutting firewood, stone fence restoration, general clean-ups, etc.

Book Review: Perryville Under Fire

Last week, just before my trip to Chickamauga, I received from Amazon the latest title to cover the Battle of Perryville, Perryville Under Fire: The Aftermath of Kentucky's Largest Civil War Battle.  Written by former Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association director Stuart Sanders, it is a one hundred and sixty page softcover book that deals with the effects of the fight of Perryville on that small town as well as the numerous surrounding communities that were touched in the fall of 1862.  Perryville, an intense battle that lasted five hours, left hundreds of dead and wounded upon the battleground, the wounded who had to be gathered and moved to one of dozens of temporary hospitals, and the dead who had to be identified and buried.

The eleven chapters deal mostly with these two themes, the wounded and the dead, and how dealing with both stretched the resources of Perryville, already dealing with a summer long drought and the drain of supplies that both armies required, to its breaking point.  Nearly every home, church, school, barn, shed, and other type of structure were used as makeshift hospitals, noted as such by the piles of amputated limbs found outside of doors and windows.  The numerous first person accounts describing these scenes of abject horror are not for the easily distraught, as many of the descriptions are vivid and gut-wrenching.  But it is in the first person accounts that Mr. Sanders has given us the means to see the true damage that a battle brings, for days, weeks, and months, on the area in which the battle was fought.  Without water, without enough medical supplies, without clean conditions, the men stood little chance of survival if they had been wounded severely.  Diseases were rampant, and the soldiers were not the only ones to suffer and die as many of the local citizens who helped nurse the wounded also took ill and passed away.

Sanders has done an efficient job of getting the reader to be influenced by not the glory of battle and dying for a cause, but understanding the horror that comes from being wounded by a minie ball or a shell fragment and how some of the wounded were left for days without care or shelter.  He also lets us understand the disgraceful way that the dead were the fodder for local hogs and crows, and how that some men were buried in graves so shallow that when it would rain that an arm or a leg might pop out of the ground.  Not a glorious end.

As you might be able to gather, this is not a book for the timid.  There are enough descriptions that bring vivid images to life.  However, it is a book to understand what an area goes through after a battle during the Civil War.  I recommend this book for several reasons as one can never have too many books about this pivital battle, but caution the reader to be prepared for some shocking passages. 

This book can be found at numerous book sellers.  I bought mine from Amazon.

Study Group Weekend at Chickamauga NMP

I spent the last few days in the company of the Chickamauga study group, an informal bunch of folks who are interested in learning more about the Battle of Chickamauga.  Led by park historian James Ogden and Chickamauga expert David Powell (who hosts the well-done Chickamauga Blog), about twenty-five Chickamauga buffs went on a two day tour that focused on specific elements of this large and at times confusing battle.  The group has been studying the finer points of Chickamauga for nearly ten years, and this was my first sojourn with them. 

I left for the Chattanooga area early Thursday morning, arriving at the park around 11:30 a.m.  After a quick trip to the restroom, I changed into my boots and proceeded to hike a little over nine and a half miles on the northern third of the battlefield.  Unlike Gettysburg, where the majority of monuments and markers can be seen and read from one's car, I would say that nearly half (if not more) of the monuments and interpretive tablets are seen on foot.  Boasting over fifty miles of trails on mostly flat terrain, getting a feel for the battle is best done sans automobile.  I was able to get an idea of the closeness of the woods, the varying elevations, however slight, and see some monuments that I otherwise would not have been able to had I simply followed the auto tour.

Thursday night I met up with Ken Ramsey, Don Barnes, Lee White, and Dave Powell at a local restaurant.  Talk of course was centered on the Civil War, and Ken's upcoming trip to Little Big Horn later this year. 

On Friday I awoke at 5:00 a.m. and headed to the park for a jog.  I did a three mile loop in the dark that was more than a little eerie.  After cleaning up back at the hotel I drove around the park a bit and then met the rest of the study group at the park's visitor center.  We gathered around the large map that dominates the center's main hall and talked about the plan for the bus tour, which encompasses all the first day of the study group.  After dealing with a car issue (maybe I picked up a ghost on my run, but my headlights would not turn off), we boarded the bus and headed towards Rossville Gap, which is found within the heights of Missionary Ridge.  Dismounting at the John Bear Ross home, Ogden and Powell focused on the movements of Crittenden's Corps during the days proceeding the battle, which was the theme of the morning tour.  We followed Crittenden's troops to Ringgold via McAfee's Spring along the old Federal Road, moved towards Lee and Gordan's Mill, and then to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

The afternoon tour focused on the retreat of the Federals through McFarland's Gap to Rossville Gap, driving along part of Missionary Ridge (which would have followed Forrest's route).  After a long day of bus touring, Friday night saw the gang at O'Charley's for some great discussion, good food, but alas poor service.

Saturday morning we met again at the map in the visitor's center.  The morning walking tour was focused upon Van Cleve's Division.  We gathered in cars and parked long the Lafayette Road, crossing east into the woods.  We moved about a bit, stopping to talk about salient points, then moving a few hundred yards to talk again.  We marched west to cross the Lafayette Road and into Brotherton Field to finish up our talk on Van Cleve's brigades. 

After lunch we gathered to carpool for the afternoon tour, which was themed on Wood's Division.  This part of the tour was probably the most interesting for me as Wood has long been vilified for his movement out of the main Federal line on the second day of battle.  However, convincing arguments given by our tour leaders would lead one to believe that Wood was correct in following his orders, especially after conferring with McCook (Alexander, of Perryville note) and then Thomas.  The highlight of this tour was the discussion of the tactics used by Harker's Brigade to rout the Texas Brigade as the latter was moving towards the Snodgrass Hill position.  The "advance by fire" tactic was little known or used during the Civil War, but the ability to provide a constant fire was more than Hood's old brigade could handle.

We closed by climbing onto the eastern spur of Snodgrass Hill.  Most headed back to their cars, while I and a good chap from Missouri named Andy strolled back to the visitor's center on foot.  Dinner found myself, Ken, and Don at a local Mexican restaurant, after which I retired to my room for a deserved rest.  The drive home to Cincinnati on Sunday was highlighted by Civil War CDs I had picked up at the park, while I thought of next year's trip to Chickamauga.

Overall, the study group weekend was a great time.  While the walking portion was a bit harder on the body (much more standing than walking), it was great to get onto the field with the experts and see the ground as the soldiers did.  I definitely plan on making this a regular event on my calendar.

What is the point of this non-Perryville post?  I spent much time over the weekend thinking about how an event like this could be done at Perryville.  The battle, while being much smaller in both terms of troops involved and ground the battle covered, still has many facets that could be broken down by a study group and could have specific themes each year.  Having a bus tour for external sites would also be an added feature, but I think perhaps having a bus tour for a half day each year would be sufficient.  Imagine focusing on a division or even a brigade and following its path at Perryville, led by notables such as park manager Kurt Holman (don't tell Kurt about this idea...I have yet to discuss it with him!).  This would bring together folks who want more than my generic tour offers, bring more focus to Perryville as one of the pivotal battles of the war, and encourage a new generation of researchers to delve into Perryville's story.

Ironically, a few weeks ago I started gathering information on the lodging and dining possibilities in the area for such a tour.  My intent wasn't necessarily geared along study group lines, but I was planning on focusing on certain aspects of the battle each day.  Stay tuned on more details as we try to put together a similar program at Perryville!

Spring Hike Date Set!

Saturday, May 5th, 2012 -

Hike starts at 11:00 a.m. Museum opens at 10:00 a.m. The museum charges a small fee to visit their exceptional displays. Participants are encouraged to visit the museum before the hike to familiarize themselves with the high level details of the Perryville campaign and battle. There is also a well stocked gift ship in the museum, with many titles covering the Perryville campaign and other western battles. There are modern restrooms below the museum.

Please meet by 10:50 in front of the museum. The hike will start promptly at 11:00 a.m. and will go on rain or shine.

The hike will consist of four to five miles of walking and discussing the battle. Please wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water, and have something to snack on. If it is a sunny day, wear sunscreen and/or a hat as the battlefield does not offer much in the way of shade. The terrain is rolling with a few short climbs. The hike will last three to four hours.

For those interested there are several locations in the general area for post hike meals and libations. The Old Owl Tavern (part of the Beaumont Inn complex) in Harrodsburg offers tasty meals and beverages. In Danville there are many choices, some of the hike leader’s favorites are The Hub Coffee House ‘n’ Café, Bluegrass Pizza and Pub, and 303 W, all in downtown Danville. If craft beers are more to your liking, the Beer Engine in Danville offers their own and other tasty microbrews on draught.

Hike Leader Info – Darryl Smith serves as a board of trustees member for the Buckeye Trail Association, is a regimental color bearer in the Civil War Trust, and is a member of the Friends of Perryville Battlefield. He is an avid hiker and backpacker who also has a passion for American military history. Perryville Battlefield is one of his favorite Civil War sites, due to the near pristine nature of the park, looking much like it did during that hot day in October, 1862. Please contact him at 513-321-1539 or ohioatperryville@yahoo.com if you need more information.

On Facebook?  Sign up for the event HERE!

New Perryville Title Forthcoming!

Many of you might recognize the author of this book from his work at both Perryville and the Kentucky State Historical Society.  Stuart Sanders has written a book on the aftermath of the Battle of Perryville, entitled Perryville Under Fire: The Aftermath of Kentucky's Largest Civil War Battle.  Set for release later this month, this promises to be an interesting account of what happen to the wounded soldier left behind, and the impact of the battle upon Perryville's citizens.  Mr. Sanders has written many articles about Perryville, including a favorite article of mine about the 3rd Ohio.

Perryville Under Fire will be a 160 page paperback and will retail for $19.95.  One can preorder a copy via Amazon.  

With the many acres of ground saved over the last ten years, Dr. Hafendorfer's and Dr. Noe's definitive accounts about the battle, and an increased interest of the Civil War due to the sesquicentennial, the Battle of Perryville seems to finally be taking its place of one of the most decisive points of the Civil War.  This title confirms the growing interest in Perryville.  Preorder your copy today!