147th Perryville Commemoration

[Joni House]

147th Commemoration of the Battle of Perryville, KY
October 3-4, 2009
“The Fight for Peter’s Hill”
The historic fight for Peter’s Hill will be the scenario for Perryville this year. This scenario has not been done previously. The fight occurred early during the battle at Perryville and engaged infantry, artillery and cavalry, which is a great opportunity for a good battle recreation. There will be numerous venues for living history and an excellent ration program, alter ego program etc for participants. Various entertainment and programming will go on throughout the park during the weekend. Everyone will have plenty of opportunities to participate. The military commanders are Col. Bob Ward. Tenn. Valley Battalion, Col. Chad Greene, Western Federal Blues, and civilian coordinator Beverly Simpson. There will be military encampments, a mixed camp, and the living history village. Registration is only $5.00 before July 31, 2009. All registration proceeds will go to the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Assoc and will directly benefit the museum update and living history program. To register for the event you must request a registration form from the park. For event rules and participation standards please visit the website at
www.perryvillebattlefield.org You can also email the park at joan.house@ky.gov to request event information.
Thanks,
Joni House

[Chad Greene]

All,
The Blues will be in force at Perryville and we are inviting you to join us at the event. If you have fell in with us before you know what to expect. If you haven't please visit our website www.westernfederalblues.org to look over our participation standards etc. Perryville is a first rate event. They will have a full ration program and lots of others. The best is the tactical on Saturday morning. The Rebs are still smoldering over the whipping we gave them last year, they should be game to get back at us this coming fall.
The $5.00 registraiton deadline for Perryville is up on July 31, 2009. It goes up to $10.00 after that and you can not walk on. The event will be held on the original battlefield as well as the tactical. The scenario is Peter's Hill. Please visit www.perryvillebattlefield.org for full details. All of the reenactor registraiton fees go towards preservation on the park.
Hope to see you all on the field.
Chad Greene

[PogueMahone]

Chad,

Just to be clear, Perryville is a mainstream event. Are the Blues hosting an actual adjunct to the event for which they are recruiting?

Can you provide us with information about company structure and commanders for the Blues?

As I understand it, the ration issue and tactical are part of the overall event. Will the Blues be doing anything in addition to the regularly scheduled activities?

thanks,

[Chad Greene]

The Western Federal Blues will provide a progressive component at Perryville. Additionally, the Living History Village is also a progressive component or c/p/h or whatever it is called exactly. You can look over the event standards at the websites listed in the prvious email. We listed this event under the adjunct event part of the AC and that seems to be the appropriate place for it. The major effort at Perryville is to raise money for preservation and honor the men who fought at Perryville.
The Western Federal Blues will provide the battalion structure and command component for this event. Under our battalion structure will hopefully be four companies. I will be overall commander of the Union forces as well as the Blues. You can read about our command structure and how we operate at our website. You are welcome to pm me with specific questions regarding this event.
Hope to see you there or at some other event very soon.
Chad Greene

[Mudslinger]

Bully for you Col. Greene! "The Acorn Boys" will be there in force! See you in October!

[Jim of The SRR]

Is there seperate adjunct info for the campaigner part of the event? What is the guiding impression, posted uniform standards for the adjunct vs the mainstream area, etc? Please see Mr. Wicketts post at the top of each adjunct section describing the criteria to qualify as an AC approved adjunct.

Thanks,
Jim Butler

[Micah Trent]

Jim,

All information about the event from guidelines etc., can be found on the website as Chad mentioned and linked to in a previous post.

[Jim of The SRR]

I went to both websites. I do see the Uniform Standards for the overall mainstream event of Perryville. But, I do NOT see any specific adjunct information that differentiates the adjunct portion from the mainstream battle. Without a specific, higher standard, published info for the adjunct portion of the event, then it won't meet the AC standards to approve an event to be listed as adjunct. If something changes, please let us know asap.

Regards,
Jim Butler

Please reread this post:
Everyone,

The process for posting Adjunct Events on the Authentic-Campaigner has changed. From this point forward, threads posted on these folders will not immediately appear on the open forum. They will go into a queue to be assessed by The Authentic-Campaigner staff as well as a volunteer committee of hobby leaders. Before threads concerning Adjunct Events are released to the open forum, they must meet the following criteria:

* Identified unit impression
* Impression guidelines based on historic data
* Established organization and structure with reasonable goals for numbers
* Activities outside the event standard schedule that add value to the event for the participant
* Traditional EBUFU activities: rations, guard, drill, some level of immersion even if temporary (i.e., overnight picket or short march, based on historic actions of course!)"

For events that do not meet these criteria, or about which a concern remains, constructive feedback will be provided to the person who originally submitted the thread. The objective is not to limit event access to event advertisement (though that may be the end result). Rather, we want to ensure that the A-C community can have a bit more assurance that events promoted here conform to a common set of minimum expectations.

If there are questions or concerns around this process, please feel free to contact me directly. While I am not making determinations about which events will/won't be listed, I am working to manage the process.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Best Regards,
__________________
John Wickett
Moderator

[Joni House]

Mr. Butler and All,
According to the info listed for the adjunct folder Perryville meets the criteria for listing on the AC. I did not label Perryville a mainstream event - you did. According to the information that is listed on our website Perryville qualifies as an adjunct event in itself. The uniform guidelines are posted, the unit impressions are posted, the info about the tactical, camp areas and everything else is posted on that site. The Western Federal Blues will post pickets, guard, have drill, rations and several other programs including an alter ego program that the park helps with for all soldiers attending Perryville that wish to participate. This is getting somewhat nit picky and given your past post on this forum it seems you have a personal ax to grind.. The fact is that you have not attended Perryville since 2006 you do not know what goes on at that event. The standards are set and are good and should not cause the AC forum any issue about posting our event here. I have attended several "hard core" events in my life as a reenactor and I don't believe Perryville is so far off the mark that it should cause you such issues. I was unaware that it was now a criteria to label your event on your event information either mainstream or campaigner or whatever you call it to satisfy the people that are currently running the Authentic Campaigner.
I will take this into consideration before we plan events in the future. The tremendous amount of arrogance that is being displayed here befuddles me. I am in the business of recreating history, preserving battlfield land, and furthering sometime to my own personal harm a better event at Perryville - clearly with your tone on this forum you are not.

Sincerely,
Joni House

["Doc" Nelson]

Thank you Miss Joni.

Unless I'm mistaken, there are other events posted under the EBUFU or whatever you call it that, have less information regarding uniform standards, command structure, etc. than what is posted for the 147th Perryville on their website (i.e. "Cumberland Gap Living History (http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21260)", and "Battle at Fort Sanders-Knoxville Tenn (http://www.battleoffortsanders.com/Site/Reenactor_info.html)" has even less info regarding uniform standards than Perryville does yet, I do not see "certain" folks on that thread slamming it). Why are "certain" folks not hounding these events? It appears "certain" folks are pounding away at Chad Greene and not the event?

[Mudslinger]

I agree Doc, this seems to be an attack on Col. Greene and the Blues rather than an educated opinion concerning Adjunct Events. Why the personal attacks Mr. Butler?

[LibertyHallVols]

Folks,

Yes, there are new rules for adjunct events. However, given that 2009 is more than half-over, they are generally not being applied to events this year. Generally, if there is an effort that is truly glaringly inappropriate, then we will take action.

However, I do not think that Perryville falls into a category that requires this kind of action. The folks at Perryville have, in fact, done quite a bit in recent years to improve the event from a civilian perspective... something not seen all that often and they've had to fight for it, to boot.

Please reserve this thread to discussion about the event and not use it as an inquisition of the organizers.

Thank you,

[Jim of The SRR]

This is not a personal attack on this event. ALL adjuncts posted on the AC will need to meet the listed criteria that was posted by Mr. Wickett.
To clarify a bit more. If an event is open to all types of reenactors with no enforced standards for impressions , camps, activities than it should have seperated adjunct infomration that specifies the ADJUNCT only portion of the event (enforced standards, camp, activities, etc).
Race to Knoxville was not and adjunct, it was an EBUFU event as it had NO mainstream element to the event. There actually will be a mainstream event in October on that site.
Some of the criticism should be viewed as not personal, ut actual;y to get the adjunct info up to the standards, so it WILL be approved and listed.
I know some people are going to take offense thru this process, but it is NOT personal. It is to maintain some credibility at the AC as the event folders were becoming a clearing house for anyone who wanted to post their event. Thus, it would make it no different than the CW Reenactors forum and actually be a disservice to the c/p/h community which this forum is meant to primarily serve.

Regards,
Jim Butler

[Micah Trent]

Let's put the BS behind and get this thing back on track with Joni's original post:


147th Commemoration of the Battle of Perryville, KY
October 3-4, 2009
“The Fight for Peter’s Hill”
The historic fight for Peter’s Hill will be the scenario for Perryville this year. This scenario has not been done previously. The fight occurred early during the battle at Perryville and engaged infantry, artillery and cavalry, which is a great opportunity for a good battle recreation. There will be numerous venues for living history and an excellent ration program, alter ego program etc for participants. Various entertainment and programming will go on throughout the park during the weekend. Everyone will have plenty of opportunities to participate. The military commanders are Col. Bob Ward. Tenn. Valley Battalion, Col. Chad Greene, Western Federal Blues, and civilian coordinator Beverly Simpson. There will be military encampments, a mixed camp, and the living history village. Registration is only $5.00 before July 31, 2009. All registration proceeds will go to the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Assoc and will directly benefit the museum update and living history program. To register for the event you must request a registration form from the park. For event rules and participation standards please visit the website at
www.perryvillebattlefield.org (http://www.perryvillebattlefield.org) You can also email the park at joan.house@ky.gov to request event information.
Thanks,
Joni House

[coastaltrash]

Nic and Doc,
I don't view Mr. Butler's words as a personal attack on Chad. In fact, I know personally the two have known each other back to the days when the AOP was in existence and a functioning group, rather than a stammering of a few hold outs.
I've never knowingly met either one of you, but I say if you guys want to participate in the CPH events, we are putting together a program at Perryville in May of 2010 for the 105th Ohio. I believe the Federal command structure is being worked out by the event organizer at the moment.

["Doc" Nelson]

Patrick,
I too, know they both know each, all too well. Chad has responded to Jim's calls, emails, "PM's" and whatever else he has sent. You, sir, are unaware of this, are you not? If you are not aware, Chad has openly stated that on both, this forum and CW forum. But yet, Mr. Butler continues to pound away at Chad and the Western Federal Blues. The computer generated attacks are plain.

As for attending a c/p/h event, I have sent you a "PM" regarding such.

[coastaltrash]

I was well aware Doc, thanks for your quick jump at an assumption.

I've attended Perryville several times before, and plan to be there this year as well. I also am very aware of the fire directed Joni's way for pushing hard authenticity standards on the event, as I have talked with her and Chad about it back in 2006 when I was part of a campaigner adjunct for their candlelight tours.

[Old Reb]

I am not one to really give a hoot about squabbles over who is and who isn't qualified to hype their events on the AC. I have been to some events overly hyped on the AC that were sadly deficient in authenticity. I have seen some folks that do a lot of crowing in the flesh, and they shouldn't crow so loudly. I have no dog in the Perryville fight, but what Mr. Wickett said about calling off inquisitions makes sense to me. My only concern is I haven't figured out which side of the fight Landrum is on so I can join the other side! So, carry on with your squabbling but keep in mind the old saying about folks living in glass houses and throwing rocks.

[DannyJoe]

I did not think that I had a dog in this fight (because I will not be attending the event), but maybe I do anyway. I have been to Perryville several times. Each experience has been outstanding. You just can't beat being on an original battlefield in a rural setting with few modern intrusions. The staff at Perryville is very dedicated, and responsible living historians/reenactors are given a lot of freedom to campaign. I have read the authenticity standards for Perryville. They are excellent. Are they enforced? Good question. However, I have been at authentic events that had published standards, but they were not strictly enforced, ie, unserviceable weapons, wooden canteens in the Fed ranks, wrong uniforms, ect. It just happens.
However, back to Perryville. If you want to experience a "real" battlefield, walk in the steps of "real" civil war soldiers, sleep where they slept, and see the night sky as they saw it.........then go to Perryville regardless of the stitch count in your sack coat. Should organizers be allowed to post their events on the AC if they are trying to raise the bar in authenticity, even though it is not blessed as an EBUFU or adjunct event? Absolutely in my opinion. I have given a few hundred dollars over the years to support the AC, and I do not have a problem with posting events like Perryville. An actual battlefield, how much more authentic can you get?
Also, I do not know Mr. Greene, but I have had an opportunity to serve with Bob Ward. He is a gentlemen and a top notch leader.
In summary, If you want to have a great experience, just bring a good attitude and do your best to meet the uniform and equipment standards.
Regards,

[Justin Morris]

I think "Yoda" Yearby summed it up just right. Time to move on gents.

[Joni House]

Gentlemen:
The only thing I can tell you about the event standards being enforced here at Pville. Yes they are as my much chewed on back end can attest to. I've been called names, threatened to be hung, flipped off and all other manner of things, but in the end it is worth it.

I hope that we can get past all of this and move on. Our beloved hobby needs a break. It seems we are trying to eat our own and that is not a good thing. Let us all work together to remember the men who fought here at Perryville and remember that a whole bunch of them did not leave. It is for them that I undergo such butt chewings. Believe me it is a hard position to be in somedays but when I go home at night I sleep well.
Thanks,
Joni House

[LibertyHallVols]

Joni,

Thank you for your efforts! I have seen a number of quality events decline over the years as organizers sacrifice quality scenarios and high standards in an effort to bring in "numbers". Perryville is the closest, most significant battlefield for most reenactors in the Midwest. It is nice to see it buck that trend.

[DougCooper]

As one of those who was not real happy about the annual Perryville event continuing to syphon off people and resources from other events every single October (e.g., Corinth and Mill Springs) I figured a possible solution might help. The evident level of "here we go again" angst on this board is palpable.

Perryville is lucky to have a couple of folks whose life mission it is to preserve and enhance this battlefield. Because of the ongoing preservation fight and ongoing budget requirements, this is obviously a different animal than big anniversary events, EBUFU's and even NPS events (since P'ville is a State Historic Site). Joni, while I don't envy anyone who has to come up with a different scenario every year to keep folks interested, I do applaud a steady increase in event standards. The problem is eventually you get labled as either a mainstream event or an authentic (progressive?) event, and risk alienating one side or the other. And that of course could dramatically effect revenue since the conventional wisdom says that numbers = donations.

You guys might want to consider a different path than walking the tightwire between standards and numbers.

Have you considered formalizing a rotation between a larger "mainstream" event one year (standard reflecting) and a smaller authentic event the next (tighter standards)? Perhaps you are on this path already, but formalizing is key. Since those of us on this side tend to raise more bucks per capita, you might see the same revenue every year, even if fewer folks. It would have the added benefit of causing us to reach into our pockets once every other year for a good cause.

It would allow more experimentation with scenarios...even a pre or post battle scenario during the authentic year (no big battle). It would allow the entire hobby more flexibility to schedule events at the same time in October on the "off year", and decrease the evident angst between those of us scheduling a competing once per decade event vs the samo annual event.

Instead of having to run the gauntlet on here while you hype for numbers every year - run it every other year up to the EBUFU standards. You might be surprised at who would show up to your little corner of CW paradise. You might also be surprised at the steady increase in standards during the off year.

And of course, it all goes to increase the bottom line for preservation.

[PogueMahone]

Doug,

Even I wouldn't wish that kind of misery and abuse on anyone!! Seriously? Alternating years of high and low standards?

No, once on the track of improvement one shouldn't allow themselves to drift backwards. Damn the farbs, full steam ahead!

[ohio volunteer]

Jim,
Race to Knoxville not having any mainstream presence at all? Give me a break...who were the guys in the fort? Who became total yahoos on Saturday night?

[Mudslinger]

I agree Joe. Once on the right path, stay on that path. You can't please everyone, but you can add the aspect of authenticity every year that will improve the event gradually. It may be a work in progress, but I believe Joni is on the right path.

[Jim of The SRR]

Jake,

Hey, that is a different issue altogether. If we ar all judged by meeting the standards we posted, I think ALL events fall short at some or many areas. I was not the organizer for Race to Knoxville, so they would have had to enforced the posted standard on them. Your point is valid though as far as it falling short to meet the standard in regard. This is different as there WAS a posted standard for the event. You always have to keep striving to meet that standard rather than strive for an acceptable mainstream standard. Because we fall short from time to time, does not mean we should stop trying.

Jim Butler

[ohio volunteer]

Jim,

The point was that there WAS a mainstream element to Race to Knoxville. It was even advertised in the pre-event info. You were using false info to bash Perryville. Thats the point! I don't really care who was the organizer, but classifying Race as an EBUFU and not letting Perryville in as an adjunct is being hypocritical....Falling short of posted guidelines has nothing to do with it, the streamers in the fort didn't even try-don't make excuses for it you were there as well as I. Thats the different point your are talking about, avoiding the issue..the AC labeling events.
There is a posted standard for Perryville. There was one for Race as well, meanwhile the adjunct for the Knoxville event this October doesnt have anything posted as far as standards. Perryville is trying to progress, rather than ignore it like Race did, to get a garrison for the event....thats the difference. I know for one thing, Perryville wont change company designations at the last moment like the EBUFU Race event did to "make it easier", making all my research on the federals worthless!

Start the adjunct thing next year. let this year slide. Hell It seems like every EBUFU event is going to fall way short this year...Race...and Now Assault(force ratios?). That way everybody can start off fresh...without being two-faced this year.

[Com. Sgt. Dan Girton]

I fully support the aim and direction that the Perryville event in taking.
I believe that Joni House is doing a great job. She has my support.
I am proud to serve in the Western Federal Blues and with Col. Greene , I like his style.

I am looking forward to Perryville in October and serving with Col. Greene again.

Your Obedient Servant,
Com. Sgt. Dan Girton, Co. A. 6th Ohio
Reg. Quartermaster Sgt. Western Federal Blues.

[Old Reb]

Folks, I figure you have about put the issue to rest for now. But I do agree with Jim and Joe that standards at some adjunct events have been low or non-existent. I am not pointing finger here, just stating a fact known by all. The idea of screening adjunct events in the future is a good one. By 2010 that news should be out and about and everyone should know it is the new news. So, carry on with Perryville and may it be a good one, but realize that under the new adjunct guidelines that Mr. Wickett and others have worked hard to put into effect, things aren't going to be the same in the future.

[DougCooper]

Doug,

Even I wouldn't wish that kind of misery and abuse on anyone!! Seriously? Alternating years of high and low standards?

No, once on the track of improvement one shouldn't allow themselves to drift backwards. Damn the farbs, full steam ahead!

Joe - I agree in principle, but the problem is the annual nature of the event. Was thinking of how they could ease into a better event whle still managing to maintain numbers. We on the dark side tend to get bored with annual stuff after a couple years in a row, no matter the high standards. For the alternating thing to work, it would obviously be a different set of folks running the show every year.

Now if Perryville could somehow become an annual Camp of Instruction for authentics, with LH and perhaps a scripted battle scenario from time to time, it might work to throw off the numbers and go quality. It would take a lot of work and a dedication to incremental improvement. Sure is an ideal location though.

[OldKingCrow]

We're going to spectate as I hear the battlefield is stellar.

Are there very many quality sutlers ?

I also want to try some burgoo.

[Micah Trent]

Now if Perryville could somehow become an annual Camp of Instruction for authentics, with LH and perhaps a scripted battle scenario from time to time, it might work to throw off the numbers and go quality.

Every year that I have been there and taken part, what you posted above, I have seen. It will provide the same again this year as well.

A lot of you guys have been ragging on the Perryville thing from who attends, to the organizers, etc. One think to keep in mind is that the event organizers of Perryville have someone over looking them and who have a final say and that being the State of Kentucky. Some things can be easier said then done.

If you are wanting a EBUFU type LH, then Jim Conley and a few others are putting an event on at Perryville that will meet all your needs which you can attend. But it is not part of the annual event nor will that substitute for the annual event.

Rather then run events down that are trying to do things right and have potential, show some support. Negativity seems to be the growing trend around here anymore. You want to see an event improve? Show up and support it. Be an example to others and lead. If it does not meet your needs, go on about life and leave it alone. Find another event that meets your needs. It has been posted on this forum time and time again that you have to have "the right attitude"....To me, I see that applied less and less anymore.

Just my two cents.

[LibertyHallVols]

Please reserve this thread to discussion about the event and not use it as an inquisition of the organizers.


Thread Closed.