trippcor
02-15-2007, 08:58 PM
IMPORTANT REMINDER - The strict authenticity guidelines and diet is imposed by the event organizers, NOT the U.S. Park Service. They are borne voluntarily by the participants to enhance their living history experience. Any complaints directed at the Park Service concerning these aspects will jeopardize future opportunities at this site. Please direct any comments to the event organizers.
MANDATORY MEETINGS.
Mandatory meetings will be held Friday night in the Fort. These meetings will be explaining the interpretive program and delegating specific assignments to participants.
The Federal Garrison, civilian employees and day-visitors will meet in the Mess Hall, at 9pm. The Confederate Officers will meet in the Visitors Center, at 10pm. The entrance gates to the Park are locked at 5pm daily. We will have a gate sentry posted to admit participants on Friday. Once you arrive for the meetings Friday night, you will not be allowed to leave the Park until conclusion on Sunday afternoon unless you have made prior arrangements.
FIRST PERSON IMPRESSIONS.
When living history programs are portraying historic events at historic sites, first person portrayals can not be assumed lightly. Can you prove the person you are portraying was actually there; what did he do there; etc.?
We have good documentation on the CS officers. Many left diaries and accounts.
Many of the Confederate participants have assumed the personage of one of the real Immortal 600. They will be called by his name and be identified as him throughout the weekend.
Unfortunately, it is not the same for the Federals. Yes, there are databases with basic service records of the 157th New York (enlistments, wounds, deaths, muster-outs). But their time at Ft.Pulaski is poorly documented when it comes to individual soldiers. A further complication - individual companies were detailed to Hilton Head and were engaged in active service in probes along the South Carolina low country. In December 1864, half of the regiment was on detached service. But our sources do not list which companies were absent, or when. Therefore, except for a few key officers, accurate first person among the Federals is impossible. That is why we are asking for generic impressions of men serving from rural Cortland and Madison Counties, New York. The Federals should be familiar with the service record of the 157th. Eric Tipton has posted some very good research that should be a big help at http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9252.
First person begins at the conclusion of the Mandatory Meetings. We expect conversations and behavior to be accordingly.
INTERTRETIVE PROGRAM.
During public hours (9am-5pm), a highly organized interpretative program will be guiding visitors through the fort. The program will consist of a number of scripted vignettes stationed throughout the fort, showing some key episodes of the Immortal Six-Hundred. Visitors will be collected and briefed on the IM600 history before their tour, and debriefed after. The groups will be lead by experienced docents in period dress. The vignettes are all using "fourth wall" interpretive techniques, where the visitors observe the happenings in a room as if the fourth wall has disappeared. The visitors see the participants; participants DO NOT see the visitors. The docent sets the stage, the visitors see the vignette, the docent leads the group to the next station. Think of this technique as the one used by Dickens in "The Christmas Carol"; Spirits lead Ebenezer to observe phases of his life, but Ebenezer could only communicate with the Spirit.
While the groups are walking between vignettes, they will see the fort garrisoned with soldiers performing all aspects of daily activities. The last vignette is the prison, where the group is lead into and through the prison casemates. They will see the prisoners at close hand, seeing the whole spectrum of prison activities (more on this later, the literature is full of details). Be thinking of what to say to each other, not what to say to the visitors. As far as ALL participants are concerned, participants do not see, or interact with, the visitors. That is the docent’s job. The visitors will be told this before they enter the fort.
In between group tours, visitors have free range of the fort. If you are asked a question, please respectfully, and quietly, direct them to the nearest interpreter. After the fort closes to the public, all post activities will continue.
The prisoner-of-war experience is an important story. 400,000 soldiers, North and South, were prisoners as part of their military experience. This event is focusing, with a laser beam, on the Immortal Six-Hundred. The prisoner-of-war story can become highly politicized and emotional, particularly here in Georgia. So the interpretative program demands accuracy and balance in its telling.
The dates we will be portraying are mid February 1865. The event was moved earlier than its usual date to coincide with the time of year the IM600 were present at the fort. However, the interpretive program will be showing the whole story of the IM600 at Fort Pulaski (21 Oct 64-6 Mch 65). The garrison troops, the 157th NY, were chosen because they were stationed at the fort for most of this period (21 Oct 64-22 Feb 65). More importantly, it allows us to show the unique relationship between prisoner and guard, one of mutual respect. Neither side wanted to be where they were. This was not the case with early and later guards.
MEALS.
RATIONS:
US Garrison - regulation issue. Served in the Mess Hall during normal mealtimes.
CS POWs - cornbread and pickled onions. Cornbread issued as corn pone. The onions will be served from a barrel. Served in the prison.
All participants need to bring their own plates, cups and tableware. Individuals will be responsible for cleaning them; tubs for washing will be provided.
NO FOOD WILL BE PREPARED OUTSIDE OF THE MESS HALL.
GARRISON UNDERGROUND ECONOMY:
The Post Sutler will have a stock of canned goods (vegetables, fruits, meats) and foodstuffs (fresh fruits and pies). Men in the US Garrison may purchase these items when off-duty. The Post Commander has the discretion to extend sutler privileges to the CS prisoners.
PERSONAL ITEMS.
Fort Pulaski provides a unique setting to bring personal items prohibited from field events. All quarters are under roof and indoors. Although the Federal Garrison will have guards posted (and one of their duties is to watch our stuff), each participant is ultimately responsible for the security of his own property.
The fort has wooden bunks and wooden beds (wood slats). Straw is provided.
FEDERAL GARRISON:
Quarters will be crowded; men will be double-bunked.
Extra blankets
Mattress ticking
period lamps
mess kit (plate, tableware, tin cup)
Activities: books, newspapers, games, dice, cards, musical instruments, carving knife and stuff to whittle, etc.
POWs:
Quarters will be crowded; prisoners will be double-bunked.
canteens not allowed (they will be confiscated)
carpet bags or Confederate-made knapsacks
knock-to-gather furniture (stools, tables)
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES:
period cots (if you have one)
period tables and chairs
MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
Please e-mail to me ANY special medical conditions or medications you are taking. The Confederate’s diet will be extremely Spartan during the weekend.
************************************************** ******************
Put yourself there. Who are you? What activities, pastimes would I be doing?
************************************************** ******************
Any questions, comments, please email Rick Joslyn at rsjoslyn@aol.com or call 706.444.7412.
MANDATORY MEETINGS.
Mandatory meetings will be held Friday night in the Fort. These meetings will be explaining the interpretive program and delegating specific assignments to participants.
The Federal Garrison, civilian employees and day-visitors will meet in the Mess Hall, at 9pm. The Confederate Officers will meet in the Visitors Center, at 10pm. The entrance gates to the Park are locked at 5pm daily. We will have a gate sentry posted to admit participants on Friday. Once you arrive for the meetings Friday night, you will not be allowed to leave the Park until conclusion on Sunday afternoon unless you have made prior arrangements.
FIRST PERSON IMPRESSIONS.
When living history programs are portraying historic events at historic sites, first person portrayals can not be assumed lightly. Can you prove the person you are portraying was actually there; what did he do there; etc.?
We have good documentation on the CS officers. Many left diaries and accounts.
Many of the Confederate participants have assumed the personage of one of the real Immortal 600. They will be called by his name and be identified as him throughout the weekend.
Unfortunately, it is not the same for the Federals. Yes, there are databases with basic service records of the 157th New York (enlistments, wounds, deaths, muster-outs). But their time at Ft.Pulaski is poorly documented when it comes to individual soldiers. A further complication - individual companies were detailed to Hilton Head and were engaged in active service in probes along the South Carolina low country. In December 1864, half of the regiment was on detached service. But our sources do not list which companies were absent, or when. Therefore, except for a few key officers, accurate first person among the Federals is impossible. That is why we are asking for generic impressions of men serving from rural Cortland and Madison Counties, New York. The Federals should be familiar with the service record of the 157th. Eric Tipton has posted some very good research that should be a big help at http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9252.
First person begins at the conclusion of the Mandatory Meetings. We expect conversations and behavior to be accordingly.
INTERTRETIVE PROGRAM.
During public hours (9am-5pm), a highly organized interpretative program will be guiding visitors through the fort. The program will consist of a number of scripted vignettes stationed throughout the fort, showing some key episodes of the Immortal Six-Hundred. Visitors will be collected and briefed on the IM600 history before their tour, and debriefed after. The groups will be lead by experienced docents in period dress. The vignettes are all using "fourth wall" interpretive techniques, where the visitors observe the happenings in a room as if the fourth wall has disappeared. The visitors see the participants; participants DO NOT see the visitors. The docent sets the stage, the visitors see the vignette, the docent leads the group to the next station. Think of this technique as the one used by Dickens in "The Christmas Carol"; Spirits lead Ebenezer to observe phases of his life, but Ebenezer could only communicate with the Spirit.
While the groups are walking between vignettes, they will see the fort garrisoned with soldiers performing all aspects of daily activities. The last vignette is the prison, where the group is lead into and through the prison casemates. They will see the prisoners at close hand, seeing the whole spectrum of prison activities (more on this later, the literature is full of details). Be thinking of what to say to each other, not what to say to the visitors. As far as ALL participants are concerned, participants do not see, or interact with, the visitors. That is the docent’s job. The visitors will be told this before they enter the fort.
In between group tours, visitors have free range of the fort. If you are asked a question, please respectfully, and quietly, direct them to the nearest interpreter. After the fort closes to the public, all post activities will continue.
The prisoner-of-war experience is an important story. 400,000 soldiers, North and South, were prisoners as part of their military experience. This event is focusing, with a laser beam, on the Immortal Six-Hundred. The prisoner-of-war story can become highly politicized and emotional, particularly here in Georgia. So the interpretative program demands accuracy and balance in its telling.
The dates we will be portraying are mid February 1865. The event was moved earlier than its usual date to coincide with the time of year the IM600 were present at the fort. However, the interpretive program will be showing the whole story of the IM600 at Fort Pulaski (21 Oct 64-6 Mch 65). The garrison troops, the 157th NY, were chosen because they were stationed at the fort for most of this period (21 Oct 64-22 Feb 65). More importantly, it allows us to show the unique relationship between prisoner and guard, one of mutual respect. Neither side wanted to be where they were. This was not the case with early and later guards.
MEALS.
RATIONS:
US Garrison - regulation issue. Served in the Mess Hall during normal mealtimes.
CS POWs - cornbread and pickled onions. Cornbread issued as corn pone. The onions will be served from a barrel. Served in the prison.
All participants need to bring their own plates, cups and tableware. Individuals will be responsible for cleaning them; tubs for washing will be provided.
NO FOOD WILL BE PREPARED OUTSIDE OF THE MESS HALL.
GARRISON UNDERGROUND ECONOMY:
The Post Sutler will have a stock of canned goods (vegetables, fruits, meats) and foodstuffs (fresh fruits and pies). Men in the US Garrison may purchase these items when off-duty. The Post Commander has the discretion to extend sutler privileges to the CS prisoners.
PERSONAL ITEMS.
Fort Pulaski provides a unique setting to bring personal items prohibited from field events. All quarters are under roof and indoors. Although the Federal Garrison will have guards posted (and one of their duties is to watch our stuff), each participant is ultimately responsible for the security of his own property.
The fort has wooden bunks and wooden beds (wood slats). Straw is provided.
FEDERAL GARRISON:
Quarters will be crowded; men will be double-bunked.
Extra blankets
Mattress ticking
period lamps
mess kit (plate, tableware, tin cup)
Activities: books, newspapers, games, dice, cards, musical instruments, carving knife and stuff to whittle, etc.
POWs:
Quarters will be crowded; prisoners will be double-bunked.
canteens not allowed (they will be confiscated)
carpet bags or Confederate-made knapsacks
knock-to-gather furniture (stools, tables)
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES:
period cots (if you have one)
period tables and chairs
MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
Please e-mail to me ANY special medical conditions or medications you are taking. The Confederate’s diet will be extremely Spartan during the weekend.
************************************************** ******************
Put yourself there. Who are you? What activities, pastimes would I be doing?
************************************************** ******************
Any questions, comments, please email Rick Joslyn at rsjoslyn@aol.com or call 706.444.7412.