On the Farm - Perryville civilian event

[chad greene]

Perryville Battlefield Living History Program
“On the Farm - A Kentucky Horse Sale”
June 19-20, 2010
During the last 200 years Kentucky breeders produced some of the greatest thoroughbred, standardbred and saddlebred horses in our country’s history. Perryville’s 2010 On the Farm program will recreate a 19th century horse exhibition and sale.

Horse Sales and the bluegrass
Kentucky’s horse culture is deeply rooted and has been a viable industry within the Commonwealth during the last 200 years. An Antebellum horse industry thrived in the state supplying the nation with a large percentage of horses. The Civil War disrupted this industry as Kentucky suffered from warfare’s continuous drain on the state and its resources. Instability in the Bluegrass during the war prompted many prominent horse breeders to remove their stock from the state and ship them north. Valuable horses were taken by irregular cavalry forces that were continuously raiding the countryside. Several famous race horses and valued breeding stock were stolen and either ransomed back to the farm owner or “ridden to death.”

Saratoga, New York began to rise in prominence as the horse industry shifted north. Horse sales, racing and breeding became a prominent industry in many northern states; however, the manner in which these operations were carried out differed from the traditional Kentucky methods that were employed before the Civil War.

After the war ended, horses were returned to the Bluegrass; however, the horse industry was forever changed. After the close of hostilities many prominent horse breeders hosted large sales and races at their estates throughout Kentucky. One of the most prominent horsemen in Kentucky was Alexander J. Alexander, who owned Woodburn Farm in Woodford County, Kentucky. Mr. Alexander’s sales were legendary and attended by everyone throughout the countryside and occasionally visitors from abroad. These horse sales were the first of their kind and they established the spring sale season in Kentucky. This spring sale season still exists today in the Bluegrass as the Keeneland Spring Sale. The following exert describes Woodburn Farm’s 1869 spring sale:

“The sale took place in a beautiful grove carpeted with the richest blue-grass. All around in every direction the ground was covered with conveyances of every description, and moving throngs of people, intermingled with whom were to be seen a large number of fine equine stock, mostly young colts, each led by its appropriate groom.

As usual this sale was largely attended by gentlemen of wealth and distinction, breeders of fine stock, sporting gentlemen, gentlemen of the press, and in fact, persons of all classes, from all parts of the country from New York to Texas. Quite a number of the ladies also graced the interesting occasion with their charming, civilizing and refining presence. The number of gentlemen from other states was unusually large. Among the distinguished personages present were Gen. John C. Breckenridge, Gen. Custer, Hon. G.W. Woodward, of Pennsylvania; Gen. Harding, of Tennessee; Col. M.H. Sanford of New York; Col S.D. Bruce, of New York: Charles Lloyd, Esp., of New Jersey; Hon. T.J. Megibben, of Kentucky and a great crew of others, too numerous to mention in a brief resume like this.”

The sales were very much like bazaars. The sale incorporated many different aspects of life during the period, including an odd mix of politics, gambling, religion and food. One of the most important features of the event was the preparation and serving of the traditional “Burgoo.” Burgoo has been associated with Kentucky horse events since the Civil War and can be purchased today at the Keeneland Race Course. It is known world wide as a traditional Kentucky dish, although the recipe varies from cook to cook. The Lexington Herald Newspaper describes the burgoo served at Woodburn Farm and its preparer - the famous “Burgoo King.”


Impression
Historic impressions are to be maintained throughout the entire event.
This event’s impression will be post Civil War civilians and U.S. military only and semi-immersion. All participants are encouraged to do first person, but may develop a third person conversation with the visiting public. This will allow the visitor to better understand the scenarios. Interaction between guests and participants is highly recommended.

Opportunities to Participate
Participants will portray visitors to a large “Bluegrass Farm and Stock Sale.” Scenarios will include a mock horse auction, horse races and a horse show with prizes awarded. Participants are encouraged to bring other animals to trade or sell. Chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, hogs and sheep were often sold or traded at these gatherings.

Each gentleman will be assigned a persona and allotted funds for the weekend. These funds will be used to purchase horses, participate in racing and other scenarios. Ladies will also be assigned a persona however, those who intend to invest in horses and horse activities will need to have a gentlemen agent present to purchase horses. You may request an alter-ego of a certain social status; however, once slots are filled we will assign the alter-egos on a first come – first served basis. .

Ladies are encouraged to attend the auction and races. Ladies who are properly mounted or have a driving cart may participate in an organized ride by the Crimson Ladies Riding Society. Additionally, food items and hand work will be exhibited and judged for prizes.

Although this is not a county fair it will be very much a bazaar atmosphere so merchants and entertainers are welcome.

Available Impressions
These are some suggested impressions: farm owners, breeders, farm managers, grooms, stable boys, artists, trainers, horse agents, jockeys, farmers, ladies riding club, visiting guests, merchants, gamblers, and entertainers. The sales were a gathering place for everyone in the county. Impressions can range from society elite to farm laborers and their families. When developing an impression keep in mind that the Civil War had only been over for 4 years and many of those involved in the “horse business” served on opposite sides during the war.

You will receive information on your persona before you arrive for the event either via email or postal package. Participants will receive the living history packet at registration.


Registration
Registration is required. Please see fee schedule below. Registration closes on June 4, 2010. Register on-line at www.perryvillebattlefield.org click on - On the Farm under Events. You may also return form by mail with fees enclosed. All registration fees go to the Friends of Perryville Battlefield.

Fee Schedule: $15.00 per participant.
Children under 12 free.

We are looking forward to your participation at Perryville Battlefield. We hope to make your experience here educational as well as enjoyable. Please visit our website at www.perryvillebattlefield.org for event information and registration.
Beverly Simpson (markbeve@bellsouth.net). You may also visit the civilian discussion forum http://groups.yahoo.com/group/perryvillecivilianevents/
Thanks,
Chad Greene

[yankeebelle]

We are about three weeks away from Perryville on the Farm. Anyone thinking of attending needs to get their registration in by the first of the week.

Paypal is available at www.perryvillereenactment.org.


Beverly Simpson

[flattop32355]

I had fun. How about you?

First time acting the civilian. Boy, it felt funny!

[hanktrent]

Bernie and I had fun. How about you?

Hank Trent
Speaking of funny, here's a link for Bernie: Coyotes in Kentucky: How they got here.
hanktrent@gmail.com

[chad greene]

All,
Just wanted to say you to all who attended and worked on Perryville’s On the Farm weekend. We had a great turn out and made over 500.00 for the Friends of Perryville Battlefield. There were numerous visitors to the park and it was a successful weekend for all. The heat was MISERABLE, but we endured. I had a great time and really enjoyed seeing all he horses and the mule and draft horse teams were great! A special thanks to Beverly Simpson who organized the event and to the Perryville Battlefield staff, who worked to set everything up and put the finishing touches on the event.
Now on to the fall event and we hope to see you there – October 2 & 3 – early registration is only $7.00 so get registered. For more information on that event please visit www.perryvillebattlefield.org
Thanks Again,
Chad Greene

[Spinster]

'Splaining to Bernie about selective hearing was funny, as he would have to either 'not hear' the coyotes, (as they would have not been present in 1869), interpet them in his head as 'wolves' (as they were still present in the area at that time) or -------------Chad's gonna have to go to work in 'animal control' before the next event .

The wide variety of correctly documented roles available was a wonderful thing. Since our particular area seemed to be 'grand central station' for folks with modern questions, maintaining first person was more challenging.

Here was an event where being 'ladylike' made the impression easier--it was appropriate for me to listen quietly while the men discussed farm business ----that is, when I was not complaining about wanting to go home to Missouri.

More difficult was maintaining the servant/hired help/upper class line---I didn't have a problem asking Mr. Trent to bring up the water, but I would forget to send him for dishpans, or allow him to wash dishes. Part of this was due to the lack of a female servant who would have done the last task, and part of this was due to a recent modern agreement within our little working circle of who does what ---and since I'm pretty useless for the heavy work of the wagons and mules, I'm assigned to dishwashing, and general cleanup of food.

[hanktrent]

'Splaining to Bernie about selective hearing was funny, as he would have to either 'not hear' the coyotes, (as they would have not been present in 1869), interpet them in his head as 'wolves' (as they were still present in the area at that time) or -------------Chad's gonna have to go to work in 'animal control' before the next event .

Did any of y'all in the tents overhear the whole drunken "coyotes buying transcontinental train tickets" conversation? Good lord, that's the most fun I've had in a while.

Bernie and I weren't tired yet, the poker game broke up too early, so we were talking about everything under the sun after y'all went to bed--everything from how inventions had changed the world in our lifetime, to how all the Clays were inter-related, to the fact that Bernie better not tell Mrs. Clay he fought for the wrong side at Vicksburg, to... I'm not sure what all we covered. Something about Mrs. Clay's husband's crazy brother Theodore, the moon-man hoax from the 1830s, how to travel to Woodburn Farms from Lexington, negroes getting the vote, how your husband "Owl" Russell got his nickname, how Ashland itself (not Ashland-on-Tates-Creek) was bought by Kentucky University and they were planning to use the house as a museum full of bones and things...

I was hoping that there would be someone portraying a non-Clay that I could hang out and gossip with, who was interested in talking about period stuff, and Bernie's choice of role as a purchasing agent turned out to be perfect. I haven't had that much fun in a long time.

Plus some of the In-the-Van folks got to see me around horses and judge for better or worse how you think I'll do there.

And a special thanks to the "Clay family" for letting me act as their hired hand and look after their horses. It was just enough to do to keep from being bored but never enough to make me feel overworked in the heat--actually I didn't really notice the heat, but I was drinking water like crazy and getting mega-electrolytes from peanuts and blackstrap molasses gingerbread.

Afterward, I told Bernie that now he can see why I don't actually drink at events--no way could I remember all that trivia if I wasn't sober.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Spinster]

I only heard bits and pieces, as I would drift off, and struggle to wake back up, like I did as a child when the women were talking about something *interesting* around the stove in the next room.

I was also interested in how far the effects of the smudge pot reached--yet another experiment we will need in a month. I'd left off any other repellant to that purpose for the weekend, and seem to have only gained the bites from those blasted ants falling from the trees.

I can't say I was *miserable* in the heat--in fact, if I could buy that weather for August, I believe I would--a short hard rain every other day, cool nights, and humidity that wasn't as bad as some. I learned that I won't be trying to get by with just a half blanket come August.

Blackstrap molassas gingerbread-----somehow I believe I could sell that idea to those who just can't keep switchel down. Either that, or I'll suddenly have more fellers who just can't stand switchel......

As for In The Van duties--I got into the routine at Vincenes a few weeks prior--water the animals, feed the animals, shovel the manure, water the animals..........pretty much an endless loop--just like you did.

[flattop32355]

Hank, I still say I heard coyotes Friday night, period correct or not.

This was my first shot at playing the part of a civilian instead of military at an event. That got topped off by not finding out what role I would play until shortly before the event, and that didn't get dressed out until after I got on site.

Now, one might think that such circumstances would be highly distressing: Walking blindly into an immersion/first person intensive event, doing so in a style not tried before, not knowing beans about the role to be played, and knowing little more about horses (the main focus of the weekend) than that the front end has the teeth and the back end.....Well, never mind about that.

I reenforced a lesson learned from before, and leaned a new one:

1) Moving into period mindset for two days is not a matter of jumping off a high cliff and trying to touch bottom. It's more like getting into a nice hot tub, easing into the role and settling into the rhythm up to about neck high. It's not about forcing conversations on subjects about which one has little knowledge or experience, but of drawing into the common subjects we share with our ancestors of daily life and what's happening around us.

2) The process is made easier by having good people around you. The "cast" that made up the Clay family and its employees blended together well, feeding off each other's leads and never trying to over-reach or press beyond the others' reach. It was truly a joint effort, made by people intent upon supporting each other throughout the scenario.

It was a most pleasant experience. My hat is off to all who made it so.