Fall Hike + After Event = Fun!

This trip to Perryville saw an extended stay in Danville.  I decided to come down and spend three nights in the area, leaving work a bit early on Thursday afternoon so I could make it to Danville in time to have a couple of pints at Lore Brewing Company.  I checked into the Golden Lion Bed and Breakfast, and then took a short walk to 303 W for dinner.  I walked around Danville a bit and turned in early, but not before re-reading Stuart Sanders' article on Perryville that appeared in Blue and Gray Magazine to give myself a bit of a refresher.

On Friday morning I took a another walk around Danville, stopping at The Hub for a sandwich and a hot cocoa before driving to Perryville.  Once in Perryville, I spent some time walking around the town, snapping pictures, and being asked if I worked for the newspaper!  I was a bit disappointed that none of the shops were open, and that the only cafe had closed, but I did enjoy a relaxing walk in that peaceful village.  I headed to the battlefield and hiked out the gravel lane to Loomis' Heights, then along the Mackville Road (Hays-Mays) towards the Slaughter Pen property.  I ducked back onto the battlefield and selected a mown path through the Slaughter Pen, getting a feel for the rolling terrain and the trials of Gooding's Brigade.  I walked back to the museum, saw the film, and enjoyed the exhibits.  I headed back into Danville, had a late lunch at Carbon (a newer place on Main Street), walked around a bit more (bought a Centre College running shirt from the bookstore inside The Hub), grabbed a delicious danish from Burke's Bakery (my first time in there, but not my last), and went back to the B&B while I awaited the better half to drive down from Cincinnati to join me.  Once she arrived we walked to 303 W for dinner, and turned in early as we both had big days planned for Saturday.

While the weather kept the number of fall hike attendees on the lower side of the scale, fifteen fine folks from far and wide made the trip to Perryville on Saturday.  The cold wind kept us moving fairly well, and the rain held off (other than a few hard drops) as we covered in decent detail the movements of Buckner's and Anderson's Divisions as they worked against Rousseau's Union troops on the Federal right flank and center. It was nice to be able to see the deep ravines of the Slaughter Pen, part of the newly opened portion of the battlefield.  Chuck Lott joined us near the Russell House and we covered, in reverse order Cheatham's movements against Jackson's Division.  Overall it was an excellent day on the battlefield (as always), and I cannot wait to hike the trails at Perryville again!

The post hike event was held at Lore in Danville.  Lee and Ashley were gracious hosts as a dozen of us partook of their fine craft beers and very tasty root beer, and we had some delicious pizza brought in from Bluegrass Pizza.  Folks were very generous with donations for the pizza, which I gave in turn to Chad Greene, president of the Friends of Perryville Battlefield group.

Next year I am hopeful that we will have a larger turnout as I plan to do the fall hike in mid-October. The folks at Lore have mentioned that they would be happy to hold a larger gathering, and perhaps smoke some pork and have a large party at their location.  More info on this as we finalize dates and details!

The backside of Merchant's Row - Perryville

Footbridge and reflection on the Chaplin River

In the Slaughter Pen

A few fall colors to be found

The group listens as Chuck Lott weaves his magic

Perryville Volunteer Day

Volunteer Help Needed!
September 8, 2012

Please come out and help us get the park ready for the nation to visit.  We are working on several projects including preparation for the 150th Event. We are also working with the Civil War Trust that weekend to clean up some of the recent additions to the preserved battlefield that was recently acquired.

 

Please come to Civil War Hall on Saturday September 8 between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.  We will have coffee and donuts for you.

Please pack a lunch and we will provide drinks! Wear good shoes and bring gloves.  If you have any questions please call the park at 859-332-8631.

Birthday?

Cargo Pack - Picture from Eddie Bauer

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of my 29th birthday.  While I still am not certain why I receive the well wishes for something my parents did all the work to accomplish (particularly my mother), I still do like receiving some cool gear, books, and a nice dinner on this occasion!  I spent last night with a couple of hiking friends and the better half, enjoying one or two too many beers and good company.

For cool gear the better half picked up for me a cargo pack from Eddie Bauer.  While she will be the first to say I have too many packs (she may be right, I have a day pack and three backpacks), this cargo pack will be great for traveling, particularly for battlefield tramping.  There are several compartments of various sizes for storing wallets, keys, business cards, snacks, maps, books, a water reservoir, or even a small laptop.  I can see using this on the Chickamauga Study Group trips each March, for leading hikes at Perryville, for doing those off-beaten track explorations I want to do at Gettysburg, and any other traveling where having resource materials close at hand might be needed.  I really like the features of this pack, and can't wait to use it!

Books?  Yes, a few books were received, one Civil War (Gettysburg related), one on Perry's fleet after the Battle of Lake Erie, and one on the Battle of Point Pleasant.

All in all a nice birthday experience, with dinner planned for tonight!

Movin' On Up!

Sorry for the lame title, with the recent demise of Sherman Helmsley of The Jeffersons fame, the song has been stuck in my head of late...and it does fit the subject of this post!

Recently the fine folks at The Friends of Perryville Battlefield saw fit to do a few things to benefit my "status" within their organization a bit.  First, they made me an admin for their Facebook page, and second, they offered to give me the title of "Trailmaster" within their organization.  I hope, with my dedication to the Friends' cause, to help them out by spreading the word about Perryville and the opportunities the town and battlefield offers those interested in not only the Civil War, but those interested in visiting the Danville-Harrodsburg-Perryville area.  By allowing me to be an admin, I will be able to keep the Facebook page active and fresh (or so I hope), which will allow the other folks to continue their work on the upcoming 150th anniversary.

As for the "Trailmaster" title, I am still awaiting a follow-up response as to what they envision that role will encompass, but as I am already leading hikes on the battlefield one to two times a year, and trying to get some work done on a trail map that is a bit more hiker/visitor friendly, I imagine they will want me to continue to lead hikes and perhaps offer insight on trail design/construction.  One thing I would like to do is create a small group of folks who live closer to Perryville than I who would be willing to assist me on hikes, or lead their own.  This could branch out into something else as well: official guides for the park.  The licensed guides at Gettysburg are a huge asset to that battlefield, and doing something like that on a smaller scale at Perryville could really enhance the visitor's experience.  Offering regularly scheduled events will give the public the impression of a well-organized park, which in turn increases visitation.  I could talk about ideas for Perryville for days on end, but I won't bore you here.  You can read an earlier post about my ideas after my recent Gettysburg visit.

Anyway, I am quite happy to assist the Friends group with the Facebook presence, and to keep the hiking events rolling along.  Keep an eye on the blog and the Facebook pages (both the Friends and the Ohio at Perryville) for future events and announcements!

2012 Fall Hike!

Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site

1825 Battlefield Road, Perryville, KY 40468

859.332.8631 - perryvillebattlefield.org

Fall Hike/Tour

Saturday, November 3^rd, 2012

Details – The hike starts at 11:00 a.m.  The museum opens at 10:00 a.m.  The museum charges a small fee to visit their exceptional displays and view the media presentation.  Participants are encouraged to visit the museum before the hike to familiarize themselves with the high level details of the Perryville campaign.  There are restrooms below the museum.

Please meet by 10:50 near the Confederate Cemetery.  The hike will start promptly at 11:00 a.m. and will go on, rain or shine.  We will cover four to five miles of the Perryville Battlefield, discussing salient points of the battle along the way.  Please wear sturdy shoes (the paths are mown grass), 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 steep climbs.  The hike will last four hours.

For those interested we will be having a post hike gathering at Lore Brewing Company in Danville.  Lore specializes in tasty and smooth drinking beers brewed on location.  We will also have food and other drinks (waters/soda) available (details to follow).  Those going to Lore will be responsible for their own beer purchases and share in the food costs (most likely excellent pizzas from Bluegrass Pizza).  Please let me know if you are planning on the after hike event so I can let our hosts at Lore know how many folks to expect.

Lore Brewing Company

471 Whirlaway Drive, Danville, KY 40422

859.209.4288 - lorebrew.com

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 State Historic Site is one of his favorite Civil War locations, due to the near pristine nature of the park, looking much like it did during that hot day of October 8^th, 1862.  Please contact him at 513.321.1539 or ohioatperryville@yahoo.com for further information.

Gettysburg!

Confederate artillery along Seminary Ridge

Last week I spent some time with the better half at Gettysburg. It was my first trip to the famous battlefield since 1996, when I went with my gaming buddy Matt. Overall, this was my fourth visit to Gettysburg, and there were definitely some highlights as well as some low tides to my visit.

We tried to book three nights at the Doubleday Inn, which is situated on the first day battlefield along Doubleday Avenue. Alas, they did not have all three nights available that we would be in town, so we stayed along Baltimore Pike at the historic Brickhouse Inn. The Inn is really two buildings, one that was present during the battle, and one built during the Victorian period. The Brickhouse offers comfortable, clean rooms, excellent breakfasts, and wonderful hospitality. Conveniently located near the National Cemetery, Cemetery Hill, and Culp's Hill, there is also an excellent bookstore immediately across the street. The bookstore had a slew of regimental histories along with very good Gettysburg and Civil War sections, better than the gift shop at the national park visitor center.  While staying at the Brickhouse one is also just four blocks from the downtown square, making restaurants and pubs within short walking distance.

Codori Farm at sunset

The downside of the location of the Brickhouse was the noise from Baltimore Pike. Far too many loud motorcycles and semi-trucks use Baltimore. The noise can be offset by spending time in the nice garden area in the rear of the inn. But, if you can handle the occasional noise and want to go with a bed and breakfast, the Brickhouse Inn is a great choice.

Alas, the three days we were at Gettysburg the weather was extremely hot, with temps in the mid to high 90s and the heat index well over 100. Therefore we did a lot of driving around the battlefield as opposed to the walking I had hoped for. But, as this was the better half's first trip to Gettysburg, it worked out rather well. We could go for runs through the battlefield (an early morning run along Cemetery Ridge is worth the effort), and duck into shops during the heat of the day.  By doing this we could tolerate the heat much better.

Looking towards McPherson's Farm

We have already discussed going back to Gettysburg next year for another three day visit as part of an extended vacation.  I get to do a bit of backpacking on the Appalachian Trail and then spend three days walking about the battlefield.  That's a pretty good vacation for me (history and hiking), and we will be certain to choose a cooler time of the year to go.  We want to give the Doubleday Inn a try, simply because the location should be much quieter, but we were rather spoiled and impressed with the Brickhouse Inn.  Should be a tough decision!

Food for thought for Perryville...first, there is no doubt that one of the draws of Gettysburg is the vast amount of monuments, memorials, and artillery pieces that visitors can view.  I highly doubt in this day and age that Perryville would allow such creations on the battlefield, especially in light of the fact that Perryville is looking more like a Civil War battlefield than nearly any other location.  So, forget monuments, but perhaps more markers, interpretive signage, and artillery would help not only interpret the battle, but give visitors something more to look at.  I think this could be something the Friends of Perryville Battlefield could make as a long term project.

Second, the town of Gettysburg offers a wide variety of sites to see and shops to visit.  I certainly would not wish for a wax museum anywhere near the Perryville battlefield, and one does not need to see a half dozen paranormal tour shops, but Merchant's Row needs to have more vibrant and interesting shops.  Seemingly on every trip to Perryville there are only a few shops that are open (mostly antique), and a few buildings that have no shops in them at all.  In order to bring more folks to the battlefield, other places of interest must be locally accessible.  While Danville and Harrodsburg are short drives from Perryville, having more offerings in Perryville proper would bring more families to town.  A couple of good cafes/restaurants, perhaps a brew pub, a bookstore that caters to Civil War and local history, and a few shops selling their wares could make Merchant's Row a destination as opposed to an afterthought.  Dress up the street with brick or cobblestone walks, gaslights, shade trees, and more interpretive signage and make it an area that visitors just have to see would ensure the success of the businesses located there.

Next, the town needs a bed and breakfast.  I realize that Elmwood Inn used to serve as a B&B, but I believe the Elmwood did not use the battle as a reason to draw inn goers.  A bed and breakfast that welcomed battlefield visitors, perhaps offering tours of Perryville and the battlefield as part of the experience, should be able to survive.  Of course, unless there are the other places to visit in town (see above) the bed and breakfast might struggle to fill its rooms.

Another idea, regularly scheduled programs at the battlefield itself would increase the amount of visitors.  Gettysburg has evening programs at their battlefield amphitheater, ranger talks and walks on the battlefield and in town, and a plethora of licensed battlefield guides to lead visitors on tours.  While Perryville does not have the resources to pull off a massive schedule of programs, the Friends group could assist by having a monthly talk/tour (or a Perryville specific Civil War Roundtable), and perhaps the park and the Friends group could work together to "license" official guides.  If visitors see a regular posting of programs, they will be more inclined to come to Perryville knowing that there is "something going on" during their visit.

Of course, I realize that all of the above have associated costs, whether financial or volunteer.  And I certainly do not want to see commercialism become rampant at Perryville.  But starting some of these programs could make Perryville a destination, and bringing more tourism dollars into the area would be a benefit to all parties.

How can you help?  First, become a member of the Friends group (HERE is the link, please go join now).  The more revenue they have to work with the more they can do to assist the battlefield.  Second, take a trip to the battlefield, spend a few bucks in the gift shop, and enjoy the battlefield.  Third, support the local businesses with a few purchases.  And lastly, let the folks in Perryville know how much you appreciate their efforts and share with them ideas for continued growth.

Side note...if I ever win the lottery I WILL start a bookstore or a bed and breakfast (or both) at Perryville, as long as the rest of you can convince the better half it is a good idea!

Perryville Weekend

I had a great time at my favorite battlefield this weekend.  A good day's work on Saturday saw a lot of wood being cut and split, and a rigorous workout during same, on a beautiful late spring day.  I also got a chance to talk about the Friends group with Chad, Joni, and others.  I hope to be helping with some map making and some email communication for all the Friends group members.  Living in Cincinnati doesn't allow me the opportunity to support Perryville on a regular and local basis, so by offering some suggestions and perhaps helping them with the communication aspect I feel like I can still do my part for this wonderful location.

Some other notes, I am working on the details for the fall hike, and am shooting for a Saturday in November.  Just waiting a few responses from folks before posting the event.  I am hoping to have the post hike at Lore Brewing Company after getting to know the owners, Lee and Ashley, who offered to hold such an event and have some food brought in.  More details on this to follow as I solidify the date of the hike and the post hike plans.

Enjoy a few pictures I snapped after the work day at Perryille was over.  I do believe they are planning on having a few more work days before the reenactment in October, and I hope you can join in the fun!

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!

Help Save More Land at Perryville!

Another amazing opportunity to save more hallowed ground at Perryville!  These two tracts tie in with existing park lands and lands being preserved by the Civil War Trust.  One area, called the Slaughter Pen, is where the 22nd Indiana had its encounter with a confused Leonidas Polk, who thought the Hoosiers were Confederates who had been firing on friendly troops.  In a bit of bravado and derring-do, General Polk ordered the Hossiers to stop firing and turned and bolding made his way back to his own lines, upon which he claimed "Every mother's son of them are Yankees" and ordered his men to open firing, creating mass casualties in the Yankee regiment.

Go today and help save more vital land at one of the most pristine battlefields remaining in North America.  Click HERE to donate!