6-8 March 2009: Digging In

[Charles Heath]

Posting this for Nic Clark:

Date(s): March 6 - 8, 2009

Event Name: Digging In

Location: Pea Ridge National Military Park, Little Sugar Creek

Description: For three days, Federal living historians will be allowed to camp on the actual land occupied by the Union Army of the Southwest in the days before the Battle of Pea Ridge, located on the bluffs above Little Sugar Creek. For those three days, the National Park Service will allow those participating in the annual anniversery weekend event to cut down live trees with saws and axes and to then reconstruct the breastworks that were being built by the Federal army in their preperation for Van Dorn's attack. This is a super rare opportunity for real living history, not just pretending. There will be no battles, no firing of weapons, but the guidelines will be strict and the work will be hard. Following the conclusion of the weekend, participants will fall-in and march the two miles back to the visitors center along the Telegraph Road, following in the footsteps of the Federals 146 years ago.

Host: Pea Ridge National Military Park

Sponsor: Pea Ridge Foundation

Capacity: 100

Discussion Format:
Contact: Federal:
Contact: Confederate:
Contact: Civilian:
Comments:.

Overall Event Point of Contact: Pea Ridge NMP

Event Type: Living History / Immersion

Impression(s): 37th Illinois Infantry

Registration: $60. Covers food, park fee and will also get each participant a numbered and autographed print by Andy Thomas of his paiting "Diggin In", which depicts the same event that we will be recreating this weekend. (http://www.andythomas.com/diggingin.aspx)

Website: www.nps.gov/peri

Forum:
Listserver:
Preservation Component: Yes
__________________
Nic Clark
Chasseurs de Chalmette
Interpreter Ranger, Pea Ridge National Military Park

http://nbclark78.googlepages.com

"Louisiana soldiers have gained such a reputation for pilfering and general loutishness that as soon as anyone sees them coming they bolt the doors and windows."

"I'm half gator, half mule .. all tiger and raw ... back up you bastards I'm fixin to cut loose"

Looks like something similar may be happening in the mid-Atlantic in 2009 or 2010, or maybe both. ;)

[AZReenactor]

Re: 6-8 March 2009: Digging In

Given the dates and proximity, it looks like I may have to try and take this in on my way to Into the Piney Woods.

[Charles Heath]

Re: 6-8 March 2009: Digging In

Troy,

The proliferation of "digging" events in 2009-2010 is refreshing. Looks like the theme for 2009 may be "The Year of the Shovel."

The Iceman cometh! (Couldn't resist, Nic.)

[Iceman]

Re: 6-8 March 2009: Digging In

Thank you Mr. Heath for posting the info for this event.

Guys, this is going to be a great event that is giving you something absolutely different from other living histories and events. First off, you will be on National Park Service land. The land you will be on was a part of the Little Sugar Creek defenses that Curtis selected as the location where his Federal Army of the Southwest were going to make their stand against the on-coming Army of the West, under Van Dorn. The land where this event will be held still shows the remains of the original Federal trenches that were dug in preparation for the battle that would never come - or rather, that did not come where they thought it would.

Pea Ridge National Military Park is going to allow living historians to be on NPS land and cut down not dead-fall, but live, standing trees and then use these trees to reconstruct some of the breast works that were built by the Feds on the high bluffs above Little Sugar Creek.

The impression is going to be Federal, only. The portion of the field where this event will take place was occupied by Jefferson C. Davis' Division, which included the 37th Illinois Infantry - which will be the unit impression. There will not be any Confederate impressions, or civilian. This is an event for Federals to show up on sacred soil and recreate the work and toil that was being performed by the Army of the Southwest in the days and hours before the Battle of Pea Ridge.

Although these are not the official guidelines, just so that you are able to start planning a head, here is the jist of the 37th Illinois guidelines:

Weapon - Belgium musket (or, at least some sort of old smooth bore; i.e. Charleville, converted 1816, Prussian, etc., if not a Belgium)
Jacket/coat - Shell jacket
Trousers - Infantry sky blue
Overcoats
Forage caps
Tents - Sibley

Guys, this is no event for posers. Don't show up and expect that you will not swing and axe, or pull a saw, or lift and hump a newly felled tree into place for the building of breastworks. This weekend will require back muscle, rope, axe and an iron will. Soldiers will also be expected to perform pickett duty, as well, when not building breast works.

Following the conclusion of the weekend long event, the 37th Illinois Infantry will fall into line and march up the Telegraph Road from the position on top of Little Sugar Creek back to the visitors center and the battlefield of Pea Ridge.

The host for this event is the Pea Ridge National Military Park. The Pea Ridge Foundation will handle all the registration fees. Pea Ridge Foundation is a Federal 501(c)3, non-for-profit organization that does wonders for the Pea Ridge NMP. Your registration fee will go to the Pea Ridge Foundation, providing you with a charitible donation, which will in turn go towards helping Pea Ridge become a bigger and better park.

As an added bonus, those few - those lucky few - who are a part of this event will be able to get a numbered and signed print from up and coming historical artist, Andy Thomas, made possible by the Pea Ridge Foundation.

This event has been in the planning at Pea Ridge for the past several weeks, and it is now that we are ready to go public with this unique, rare and awesome opportunity event. The fine print will be worked out in the days and weeks ahead. However, mark this event on your calander, because it may never happen again. You will be able to do things and be a part of a rare living history event on NPS land that the vast majority of your fellow living historians will never be able to say that they did.



Thanks,

Nic Clark

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

for what its worth

I did a little 'net searching.

Brown was in the 37th Ill. Inf., not Cav. There was NO 37th Cav. regt.

http://civilwar.ilgenweb.net/photos/browntom.html

http://www.ketzle.com/diary/

Don't know the time period but I've always loved the color guard pics. Jackets, broad brimmed hats. Dig those long pigstickers!

http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/bunker/7255/index.html

John Pillers
a Skulker

[Iceman]

Re: 6-8 March 2009: Digging In

Since the posting of this unique event at Pea Ridge NMP, Digging In, I have received confirmation from a very famous and well-known wetplate artist that he will be on-site for this weekend making images.

Also, there will be a modern, very well respected documentary film crew on-site who make it their calling to produce high quality film footage of authentic Civil War living history, with an importance placed upon preservation.

Both of these confirmations are secure, but I'm withholding their names until they personally decide to go public - if they ever do - with the fact that they will be on-site for Digging In the first weekend in March next year at Pea Ridge NMP.

[Arkaos]

Re: 6-8 March 2009: Digging In

Gentlemen,

The staff here talked about the Digging In event for a bit and we have decided to postpone the event for one year. We think that it was the right thing to do considering the other events happening.

We feel that waiting a year will allow for greater publicity and make for what we hope will be one unique event. Thanks to all who have said that they would be coming and we look forward to seeing you in 2010 for Digging In.

Of course, you are all welcome to come to the park for our annual Battle Anniversary Weekend March 7 & 8, 2009.

Steve

[Charles Heath]

Re: 6-8 March 2009: Digging In

Steve,

Would that new date be the weekend of 5-7 March 2010?

Using the handy calendar feature at the bottom right corner of the screen, of course.