Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

[Joni House]

All,
I am very pleased to say that the Perryville event this fall is coming along nicely. We have committments from several cavalry organizations and are working hard to get the living history program together. I am especially excited about the upcoming exhibit that accompanies the fall event. I am posting our introductory panel here as I think it is just AWESOME! I also wanted to say thanks to Zach and Jake for helping me out this past weekend with the photo shoot for the exhibit. What a fine looking pair of cavalry troopers.
Thanks,
Joni House

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Joni, it's always a pleasure to be able to ride the battlefield at Perryville... especially on a fine Saddle Horse... Hope you recieved the CD. Zack

[Joni House]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Hey Zack,
Thanks a bunch for helping out. The images turned out great and I already sent them to my museum graphic designer. Of course I uploaded the panel without the correction on it. So I am uploading the correct panel, plus some really good shots of you and Jake. You two are perfect for our Cavalry 101 information. The two of you are scrawny, but riding nice horses if I do say so myself.
I am really excited this exhibit is going to be awesome. I am really tickled about all the cool stuff we are getting to put on exhibit, plus the really cool guerilla stuff. Just Awesome! Plus John Bufford's henry rifle. That has never been on public display before. I can't wait till it arrives!
Thanks,
Joni House

[Mark Choate]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Attention Authentic Cavalrymen!!

This past weekend I attended a meeting with the folks at Perryville on the upcoming event in October, “The Horse Soldier- Cavalry in the Civil War”. I was impressed with the level of effort being extended to make the cavalry experience a really solid and authentic one. We will be camping in campaign style and will be portraying the 3rd Alabama Cavalry for this event as they saw extensive action in the original battle. Also, this is one of the very few events that will take place on the actual battlefield and the lay of the land is still largely undisturbed to the point that it makes the tacticals and battles extremely realistic to those of us participating.

Independents and small units, who meet the authenticity standards, can register to ride with the 7th TN. as the 3rd Alabama Cav., where you can expect to work and drill with larger numbers, in full company strength, experience a bivouac camp, conduct picket duty and other opportunities to “live the life of the Confederate cavalryman of 1862!”
We will be issuing rations for the event as well as ammunition by our commissary and ordnance officer. As a result of these being procured, it is important that you register as soon as possible. To uphold the integrity of the registration process and to insure that applicants understand the guidelines, the event organizers are requesting:

**PLEASE CONTACT THE PARK FOR REGISTRATION FORMS AND INFORMATION** E-mail joan.house@ky.gov or call the park at (859) 332-8631

We invite you to join us for this event and “live out of the saddle” for the weekend.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Respectfully,

Mark

[csabugler]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Don't forget " by the bugle" Mark!

[Mark Choate]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

You're absolutely correct, Pete and thanks for reminding me!

Fellas, as if all of the things previously mentioned in my post that you'll be able to experience at Perryville, were not enough. . . . . you can add to the list that we will be working to the call of the bugle. And. . . . not just anyone's bugle, but the best that I have had the pleasure to work with . . . that being "Pete" Peterson.

[B]ALSO.........[B] I have found out that our own resident tack guru, Mr. Ken Knopp, will be speaking at the park museum over the course of the weekend. So, if you can "steal away" from camp, then that is sure to be a first class performance. Of course, afterwards, Ken will slip back into period and resume his Quartermaster duties for the Confederate Cavalry.

Again, contact the park and register as soon as you can!

thanks,
Mark

[Micah Trent]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Just wanted to remind you guys who are attending the Perryville event this weekend to check out the exhibit if you get the chance. The park has done a fantastic job of putting this together. See you pards this weekend!

[Mark Choate]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Micah,

Had a chance to visit it a month or so back and you are correct, it is outstanding!

See you there,
Mark

[Micah Trent]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

On behalf of the Friends of Perryviile Battlefield Historic Site, I Just wanted to thank you cav guys for coming out and help make this event happen. It was really something to see you guys in action. I hope you all enjoyed as well. The Horse Soldiers Exhibit was a huge success and much money was raised over the weekend to go back to preservation. We look forward to working with you all again in the future. Again thanks!

[Mark Choate]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

Micah,

It is we who should be thanking you and Chad and Joni and all of the others who put the Perryville event together! The museum was phenomenal and so well laid out. Just imagine, being able to hold Gen John Bufords Henry rifle before it is whisked off to the Smithsonian!! Really a treat!

To be honest, some of the greatest responses that I heard from the men were regarding the effort and the detail of the provisions and rations that were handed out. As well as as going to the trouble of assigning each of us the name of a soldier with the 3rd Alabama Cav (who we were portraying) and whether or not he lived through the battle. Then later, some actually received hand-written letters from home and eventually we were paid under that same name. It is that type of thing that will make or break and event and y'all did it up right. This attention to detail (and much more) along with being actually on that hallowed ground where so many lives were ended or at least changed, afforded us a rare period feeling and glimpse that will not be soon forgotten.

So, we salute you and all who worked so tirelessly on this event and thank you greatly for a fine time!!

respectfully,
Mark

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

As an attendee, Mark has encapsulated my feelings about the event quite accurately. About the only thing I can add beyond how well we were all treated by Joni, Chad and everyone at the Park was the overall effort made by them and the new "Friends of Perryville" organization to reach out and make this a unique "cav" event.
As Mark noted, for those that made it you had a chance to see some wonderful artifacts in the museum. Among many other things including.... Bufords Henry rifle (as a special treat the cav guys got to actully hold the thang), a wonderful and rare (and I.d.'d) "mock eagle" type horned saddle, an exceptionally well preserved period bridle (also i.d.'d) with rossettes, etc, and to top it off.... Partisan Sue Munday's pistol (with notches for his kills)! If you know something of the border wars, Quantrill, the James boys, etc. Sue Munday was quite the outlaw. Both he and Quantrill and other bad hombre's, met their demise in Kentucky at the very end of the war.
The museum was especially re-constructed by Joni, Chad (as carpenter I am told) and (and I am sure many others I am neglecting at the Park) with new exhibits from private and public collections for a "Horse soldier" slant. This effort is made all the more impressive with the limited budgets in today's world. Incredible! By the way, if you missed it these exhibits are still available to see until November 1st (I believe). Call the Park if you are interested in seeing them. 589 332 8631 or contact Joni at joan.house@ky.gov
This was one fine event put on by good folks with the horse soldier in mind. Accolades to all that had anything to do with this event. Thank you!

PS: I am told we should look for even bigger things at the Perryville 150th! Oct. 5,6 and 7, 2012!

Ken R Knopp

[Joni House]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

All,
I appreciate the complements and praise. I must give much credit to the staff here that works a great deal from July through October to put these living history componenets into place. They are dedicated and take it to the next level - they get into it and it makes my job GREAT!
I am really pleased that both battles really reflected cavalry as it was used here at Perryville. I was standing in the crowd and the comments were very complimentary - the crowds that come here are a little better historically savy. They know what it is susposed to look like - you can thank the History Channel etc for that.
It was a great weekend and thanks to you all. We had huge crowds, the preservation group made good money, which we are plotting on spending for interpretation very soon.
I have a soft spot for the horse among us and I was very delighted to see all that cavalry.
Yes we are having a big Hoo Haa in 2012 for Perryville's 150th. We should have that information starting to flow sometimes around December of this year. It takes awhile to lay all of that out.
Thanks to you all!
Joni

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

As an attendee of the event, all I can say is thank you! This was by far the re-enactment of the year for me (definitly will be a highlight for my all time favorites). Holdin Buford's Henry rifle was a real treat. I was supprised by the amount of Yankee Cavalry that attended, nothing gets your adrenaline running faster than knowing you're outnumbered 3 to 1!!!!!

[Chad Greene]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

I was also suprised to have the upper hand in troops. That is a rare thing around this neck of the woods. Thanks to all of you who came on horseback. It was a great time and I was really pleased by the entire event.
I have to say thanks to the park's staff. I know how much work they put in and it was alot.
Thanks,
Chad Greene

[Jake Nott]

Re: Perryville Cavalry Event and Exhibit

I thought there was Infantry there as well? I must be mistaken.