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Patience – Plan on arriving early and staying late. Traffic will be congested both getting in and getting out of the park. Give yourself at least two hours before the battle starts and plan to stay awhile after the battle is over.
Safety First – Please do not cross any roped off areas. They are roped off to keep you safe. No the bullets are not real, but they are real weapons that can hurt you. Horses have minds of their own. Please exercise caution around weapons and horses.
Not Just a Battle – Please check the schedule of events. There are many interesting events scheduled during the weekend. Please visit the reenactor camps, the museum, the sutler area and the food vendors. Guided tours and other attractions are offered throughout the day. Please check at the information area in the small picnic shelter.
Big Battlefield – Be prepared to walk. The park is over 1,000 acres. Please give yourself at least 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the spectator line for the battle. Wear good shoes and be prepared to deal with uneven surfaces, steep slopes and horse leftovers.
Rain or Shine – The Battle of Perryville was fought during one of the worst droughts recorded in Kentucky. The weather in Kentucky is unpredictable and we never know what to expect during the reenactment. Please be prepared to deal with hot temperatures, rain, cold temperatures or who knows what.
Bring a Seat – There are no bleachers or fixed seating. You are welcome to bring folding chairs so that you may be comfortable during the reenactment, but please be prepared to keep them with you the entire day.
Ask Questions – Please feel free to interact with the reenactors. They really enjoy telling people about what they are portraying. Let us answer some of the most common questions: yes, they are hot in those uniforms or dresses; yes, they sleep in the tents; yes, they cook over the fires and yes, they will be happy to recruit you into their units……..
The School of the Soldier (Included with Admission)
The most unusual thing a Civil War soldier did was face combat. They were actually engaged in combat probably no more than 5 times in a year. This changed a little bit during the latter part of the war, but during the early years combat, although vicious, was rare. However, when combat came it was brutal and soldiers had to know what to do. To make sure they performed their duties in the face of enemy fire Civil War soldiers were drilled and drilled and drilled some more.
During times when they were not actively campaigning they learned how to be soldiers by doing drill 6 days a week and them a formal parade on Sunday. Between the endless drilling, they experienced life in the military and in camp. Soldiers received mail, ate army food (hopefully) and received pay.
The School of the Soldier is an interactive 4-hour program that will entail all of these aspects of a soldier’s life. It is open to the public and signups will be at the Information Area at least ½ hour before the program begins. Children between 12 and 15 require an adult to participate with them. It is not recommended for children under 12. This program does require walking and standing for periods of time.
The newly formed companies will participate in the military demonstrations at 2:00 p.m.
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