Grade Levels:

4-12

Length:

30 minutes

Taping Rights:

Unlimited

MARC Record:

Downloadable

Web Site:

KET Online

Teaching Materials:

See Below

On October 8, 1862, Kentucky’s largest Civil War battle was fought at Perryville. The battle, in which an estimated 7,500 men were killed or wounded, marked the last major attempt by the Confederacy to claim Kentucky. After the Southern troops retreated from Perryville, Kentucky stayed firmly in Union hands for the duration of the war.

In this field trip, students will see both modern reenactments of pivotal moments in the battle and some of the genuine artifacts that can still be seen more than 140 years later. The program also takes a look at how the legacy of that bloody day has changed Perryville itself.

The Perryville field trip allows students to

• tour Union and Confederate army camps.
• join the cavalry, infantry, and artillery as they prepare for battle.
• hear how the original participants described the battle.
• see bullet holes and bloodstains from the original battle at the preserved site, now a state park.
• discover artifacts on an archaeological dig.
• see how Perryville Elementary students have made a business out of history.

This field trip first aired on March 19, 1999.

Program of Studies
Social Studies: Cultures and Societies, Historical Perspective