OMOS Troop 123 BSA

Battle of Perryville

Oct 15, 2001

In October 1862, 20,000 Union Troops began a 9.5 mile march to Perryville, KY where they engaged Confederate forces in what was to become the largest Civil War battle fought in Kentucky.

Kentucky was in a middle of a drought and the weather was hot. Creeks and streams were dried up. The troops had to March without water.

On the weekend of October 5th, 6th, and 7th; members of Troop 123 attended the annual Battle of Perryville re-enactment.

We arrived at Perryville State Historic Park on Friday evening and set up camp in the middle of a rain storm. A couple of our members almost went para-sailing as a wind gust caught the rain fly they were trying to set up. One of the "soldiers" there for the re-enactment was heard to say that he felt sorry for the scouts trying to set up tents and flies in the rain because all he had to do was lay out his bedroll, get wet, and shiver all night.

One of our goals was to try to experience part of what those soldiers of long ago endured. With that in mind we hiked the "Dry Canteen Trail" on Saturday morning. We had no control over the weather so instead of unduring heat and thirst we had cool to cold temperatures and overcast to rainy skies. Nevertheless we endured and completed the hike.

The afternoon was spent touring the different encampments and displays set up through the park and of course we had a great view of the battle re-enactment, or at least those that chose to defer lunch for about an hour did.

I did turn cold on Saturday night and we were treated to the sight of a heavy frost on the grass and on the outside and inside of the tents when we woke up on Sunday when we packed up to return home.

Everyone had a great time.