New Updates
• Two videos and six stories were added to the Multimedia page on January 6, 2009.
• Nine stories and four videos were added to the Multimedia page on December 16.
• A video was added to the Multimedia page on October 27.
• Five articles were added to the Multimedia page on October 27.
• The calendar was updated on May 29. 24 articles and 6 videos were added to the Multimedia page.
• A video report was added to the Multimedia page on Apr. 25.
News Updates
Battle Of Blue Springs Plans Taking Shape
Source: The Greeneville Sun
by Tom Yancey
Date: 2008-09-11
The Battle of Blue Springs Planning Committee was told Tuesday that 452 Civil War reenactors have pre-registered for this year's 145th anniversary battle, to be held Oct. 10-12.
Jim Allen, the event's director, told about a dozen people gathered at Mosheim's Town Hall for a planning meeting that more reenactors will pre-register by the end of the month, if history is any guide.
He said the total as of Tuesday included 33 cavalry reenactors, 156 artillerymen, 161 infantry and 26 headquarters reenactors, as well as six "period suttlers," who typically wear period costumes and sell uniforms and equipment to reenactors themselves.
In addition, 10 food vendors have pre-registered, he said, noting that registration for food vendors is now closed.
Darlene McCleish, the retired teacher who coordinates education day, said 754 students had registered as of Tuesday. Registration is to be limited to 1,000 students, as it was last year.
McCleish said most of the students are from Greeneville and Greene County public schools, but the Tri-Cities Seventh-day Adventist Academy has also registered, as well as home school groups and a school from White Pine.
Tea, Or No Tea?
John Ravenum, of Cumberland Gap, said that one of the ladies who was to have coordinated the formal ladies' tea on Saturday is recovering from a heart attack, and several other logistical problems have surfaced that may force the tea to be scaled back or canceled.
The tea was to have included a presentation on the elaborate ladies' clothing of the period. No final decision was made.
Various options were discussed, including canceling the tea but upgrading the refreshments at the Saturday evening camp ball for reenactors, or having less elaborate refreshments at a scaled back morning event and not calling the event a "tea."
In years past, the event has been as formal and elaborate as possible, and very popular with the wives and daughters of reenactors, who wore period clothing to the event, and also popular with the public, who watched. Several said they would like to see the tea preserved if additional help can be lined up.
String Band At Ball
Allen said the 52nd Regimental String Band, a popular musical group from Memphis, will be part of the festivities on Saturday, including the camp ball.
The camp ball is billed as a "fall cotillion" and will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. in the open air at the shelter at Mosheim Elementary School. Instruction in period dances will begin in the evening, he said.
This event will be for registered participants only, though Allen said some provision will be made for spectators.
Male participants typically wear dress uniforms and women wear period fashions.
Allen said arrangements have been made with Charter Media to have cable television ads in Knoxville, Sevierville, Morristown, Jefferson County and the Tri-Cities. The budget is $4,000, Allen said, which Charter has agreed to double as an "in-kind" contribution.
In addition to promoting the battle reenactment itself, the ads will cross-promote the 200th anniversary Andrew Johnson celebration this year.
Carlos Whaley, who represents the reenactment committee in the overall Johnson effort, said Daniel Luther, an interpreter/guide with the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, will portray President Johnson at the battle reenactment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Boy Scouts Participate
Allen noted that, for the first time this year, up to 200 Boy Scouts in various age groups will be allowed to pre-register and camp next to the Confederate and Union reenactors at the John I. Myers Farm where the event is held each year.
Camping will cost $10 per person, he said, and include admission to all events and a discount on the embroidered commemorative patch.
The patch features a pup tent and Confederate and U.S. flags of the period.
The patch will be available for sale to school children on Education Day, and any that have not been claimed by Boy Scouts by Saturday afternoon will be available for sale to the public.
Click here to go back to all news articles.