Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site will commemorate the anniversary of the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky during the weekend of Oct. 4-5.
The weekend will include military demonstrations at 2 p.m. both days. There will also be speakers, living history interpreters, interaction with the soldiers in camp life demonstrations, antique and period vendors and food vendors. A special program on the “Life of the Soldier,” focusing on camp life, will be conducted both days. The park museum will also be open.
Admission for this event is $10 per person; children 10 and under are free. Gates open at 9 a.m. both days. Guests should expect to walk and may want to bring chairs. Perryville Battlefield is 45 miles southwest of Lexington.
The Battle of Perryville on Oct., 8, 1862, was the largest and bloodiest engagement of the American Civil War fought within Kentucky’s borders. Thousands of soldiers were engaged in a desperate battle that left nearly 7,500 men killed and wounded.
The significance of the battle was considerable and not only affected the state, but also the nation. The engagement was a Confederate victory. However, Southern forces were unable to maintain a military presence in the state and eventually withdrew into Tennessee. The initial battlefield victory ultimately turned into a tactical loss as Union forces occupied the state thereafter.
Story provided by Kentucky Department of Parks
