"Perryville Battlefield visit" Topic

This past weekend I went to Perryville. This is a state run park and is very much off the main travel routes, about an hour drive west of Lexington, KY.

Virtually nothing has changed from the time of the battle, no built up areas, few monuments, almost no cannons. Nice small museum with some nice displays.

The number of undulating hills across the battlefield is incredible as you can lose visibility often at ranges of a 100 yards.

There are plenty of markers on lots of walking trails with great information on them. A very quit an out of the way experience unlike Gettysburg or Antietam.

And for 79th PA, Joe I saw this at the museum

link

And this marker

link

For us Ohio guys, this is the closest (3 hours) large battlefield that can be done in a single day.

Kim

I was at the 160th battle reenactment. Every time there was a rifle volley you could hear it echo 5 times. Kind of eerie in the early morning darkness. Plus, it got COLD that night!
It's a very well preserved battlefield, one of the best I've visited.
Cheers!

Did many Re-enactments there in the 80's and early 90's, then a few living histories. Yes, well preserved and the preservationists have bought a lot of land up. One position they purchased was the 35th's position on the field.

Friends found some bullets by a stone wall just off the state park site.

Can get darn cold there in October. Saw one poor kid in a KY Cavalry unit riding his horse in the early morning with frost on everything, he walked over a wooden bridge and the horse slipped on the frost covering. They both fell off the bridge and the horse fell on him, breaking his back. Sad.

Locals used to bring a band in on Saturday nights during reenactment weekend in the 80's. All the locals came down. Actually a pretty good time.

Have not been there in over 20 years.

35th
First the 35th's color at Chickamaga are on tattered display at the Butler County Historical Society in Hamilton Very nice to get that close to the colors.
P-ville has been enlarged/preserved. If you check Darryl Smith's blog on the Western Civil War he is part of a yearly symposium in Oct. at the Park site. Usually runs three days with detailed walks at critical parts of the field. Being a Butler county boy its a favorite day trip, H

Ferd thanks. If I remember right, they have a color up in Columbus as well. Done many a living history down your way. Used to do Glendower mansion every year up until a couple years ago. We are part of The Ohio Valley Civil War Association, the 35th was the founding member of the group. But as with many groups around since the late 70's, we are getting old and not getting enough youth anymore.

The 35's colors in Columbus were a gift from Steve Millet (as in Millet auditorium}. I saw them hanging in his parents house when we were in college. They are pictured in Francis Lord's 1st volume of civil war collectibles – last page I think. Of course my g-g-paws in the 6th out of Cincinnati, Same army and same Corp. Huzzah H

👍

Our local group of battlefield trampers went there a few years ago. A great pace to visit; and we found the staff at the battlefield to be helpful and very enthusiastic.

Thanks Kim, I appreciate it. I have to try and get my kids there this summer.

My GG Grandfather was in Company D, so I imagine that he knew William Woodward. My relative sustained a wound to one of his knees during this battle.

It is a fantastic site well preserved and with a helpful staff. The last time I was there was 11 years ago I was a Military Historian and took my detachment for the re-enactment we used the "battle" as an opportunity to train in post battle interviews.

We were roundly welcomed by both sides as we integrated teams in both armies, we were invited to the period meals that happened after the battle.

As Ferd mentioned, there is an annual Perryville event for those wanting a deep dive into the battle: link