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Work Day: Many volunteers clean up Perryville Battlefield

April 02, 2006|LIZ MAPLES

PERRYVILLE - Union Capt. Wayne Peters and 1st Sgt. Frank Wells laid down their weapons and took up chain saws and axes Saturday. The Civil War re-enactors left their blue uniforms in the closet and put on their blue jeans to join more than 50 volunteers at a cleanup of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site.

"We feel a part of preserving history," said Wells, who along with Peters belongs to the 14th Kentucky Light Artillery unit. "It's important to preserve history (because) it's so easy for it to be erased ... paved over for a shopping mall."

On Saturday what stood between an accurate depiction of history and volunteers was a grove of trees. The battle was fought on Henry P. Bottom's farm on Oct. 8, 1862. At that time historians believe the farm was clear of trees. Not far from the war museum there are opposing cannons on top of two hills.

In the last several decades a stand of trees has grown up blocking the vista between the cannons. The volunteers cut down the trees, saving a few for a rail-splitting demonstration that will take place in June.

In other parts of the battlefield, more volunteers, re-enactors and Boy Scouts were busy on projects. Some painted cannons and others flagged holes in the fields. Bob Koepplinger, park maintenance supervisor, said the holes will be filled so horses of cavalry re-enactors will not be injured.

The cleanup day, called Park Day, is sponsored by the Civil War Preservation Trust and the History Channel, in conjunction with Take Pride in America.

Koepplinger said that many of the projects could not have happened without the help of volunteers. Another cleanup is scheduled for September before the national Civil War re-enactment Oct. 7 and 8.

Peters and Wells say they would much rather have spent their Saturday helping to preserve the battlefield than at a mall or watching a ball game.

"We're trying to keep history alive," Peters said.

They are looking forward to the October re-enactment. Peters said he was here in 2002 when more than 24,000 re-enactors took to the battlefield, and it was so real that he had moments, split seconds, when he forgot what time period he was living in.

During the 1862 battle more than 40,000 Union and Confederate soldiers clashed and more than 7,500 were killed or wounded. The battle ensured Kentucky remained under Union control for the rest of the war.

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