***ATTENTION BATTALION***
A Message from Col. Caldwell:
While we’ve been busy for several months in preparation for the “The Long Road Home,” the past couple weeks have almost maxed us out! With a huge amount of last minute registrations, meetings and the recent workshop, we’ve been absolutely swamped.
And speaking of the workshop; it was well attended by commanders and their respective staffs, as well as many others who have intimate roles in planning and organizing the event. At one point during the meeting, I looked around and gauging from those in attendance, could easily estimate a total of 2,000 years of re-enacting experience in the room! Your interests were well represented and I’d say that everyone left with the feeling that “The Long Road Home” – 150th Appomattox will be truly special and to that end, we’re looking forward to having you as a part of it. Remember, this event being hosted by the Appomattox Historical Society is totally separate from other activities taking place in Appomattox County. Our rules and regulations are posted on our website and any rules from other events do not apply to ours.
Now, This might be the last update before the event so with that in mind, there are a number of things to cover. Let’s get started.
1) Please take a few minutes and browse our website of www.appomattoxhistoricalsociety.org and not just today but from now until you leave for Appomattox. With a thorough review, I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for, from date and time when re-enactors can begin to arrive to a GPS address that will take you to the driveway leading into the site. Event rules, impression standards, activity schedules, and so on are all on the site, so you will be aware of all of that. Please take a few minutes before arriving to review them
A full list of everyone registered, alphabetically and by unit is listed as well as the site map. Please don’t expect the site map to show positions of woodpiles, water buffalos, port-a-johns, etc.. Your planners have been involved with such events for many years and will certainly place these items in appropriate places and if – per chance – you can’t find them after arriving, we’ll be happy to point them out.
The speakers tent, the tent housing authors, the 22 sutlers plus food vendors will all be in the same general area and a number of tractors/wagons will be offering rides to and from camps to these places. And if you choose to walk, it’s not really that far; the physical exercise might do most of us some good. This winter has not been kind to me and I certainly could stand to take some air out of the spare tire that has formed around my mid- sectionL
Speaking of sutlers; most of them will be on site by Wednesday so that will give you time to shop before the event.
Starting Thursday morning, a number of busses will begin a free shuttle service for any and all persons to various locations/events in the Appomattox area. So those who arrive early and choose to visit the National Park, the Museum of the Confederacy or the many quaint shops and/or other items of interest in downtown Appomattox will have the opportunity to do so prior to the official opening of our event. Remember, no weapons will be allowed on any of these vehicles, nor at many of the other locations.
And while on the subject of busses, all such vehicles commissioned to ferry anyone to or from any events or activities within the county during the week of April 6th through 12th will be required to park in the large “Thomasville” parking lot located at the intersection of US Rt 460 and VA Rt 26 when not in actual use. This requirement was set out by the county planners at a recent meeting and must be adhered to in order to reduce the possibility of vehicles parking at inappropriate locations when not in the process of transporting persons. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
2) The re-enactor entrance gate will be open the following dates and times:
Tuesday April 7th 12-Noon to 11PM
Wednesday April 8th 7AM to 11PM
Thursday April 9th 7AM to 12 – midnight
Friday April 10th 7AM to 12 - midnight (Closed from 2PM to6PM – for battle)
Saturday April 11th 7AM to 11PM (Closed from 9AM to 1PM – for battle)
Sunday April 12th 7AM to 10AM
If you are a registered re-enactor and present yourself at the re-enactor gate during these reasonable times, we’ll see to it that you get on the field! If you think you’ll have trouble remembering these times, print off a copy and bring it with you. These times must be adhered to in order to host an orderly event. Please don’t ask to be an exception. Remember, there are no walk-ons and anyone using the name of Al Stone to gain an advantage will be met with the response “who’s Al Stone”!J
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday there will be a one-way loop traffic pattern through the event site and onto VA Rt 26 and US Rt 460. There will be plenty of signs and volunteers to direct you. After the event opens to spectators, though, only spectator traffic will be allowed through the VA Rt 26 entrance. Please be alert to the route change and follow the signage and/or direction of event workers. During hours the event is open to the public, unless there is some compelling reason to allow your vehicle on-site, you will be asked to load your gear on a tractor-pulled trailer to transport it to your site. As mentioned, we’ll get you on the field!
2) FRIDAY April 10th: Spectator gates will open at 8:30 AM . While Appomattox county schools will be closed that week, schools outside Appomattox County have contacted us and will begin arriving between 9 – 9:30. At least 6 living history stations will be set up in the immediate area of the speakers tent and sutlery’s. If you’d like to participate in any of these stations, let us know and Ms. Amy Beechler , the lead coordinator for all living history activities, will be happy to include you. A special meeting is planned for 8PM Thursday evening under the large speaker’s tent, during which time final volunteer positions for this activity will be assigned.
The battle of Appomattox Station will take place at 4:00PM and a special outdoor showing of the History Channel documentary titled “April 1865” will begin at8:00PM in the Activities Tent, after which will be a gigantic artillery night fire. Estimated spectator departure time is 10:00 PM, so it looks to be a busy day for all present; not to mention the many re-enactors who will be arriving throughout the day and evening.
3) A large ice truck will be positioned near the spectator gate and will be dispensing bagged ice throughout the event. Additionally “gators” will make ice runs around the site at various times each day. An emergency medical tent will be positioned at the edge of the living history camp and an ambulance will be on site during each battle. A “Lost & Found” department will also be hosted and announcements will certainly be made if a parent decides to lose a child. Being a parent/grandparent/great-grandparent, I can truly understand the desire to run away at times and “jine the Cavalry” but rest assured, you’ll not be allowed to unload the young-uns at this event; we’ll have enough to clean up as it isJ
4) Under normal circumstances, the Industrial Park has few human visitors, therefore it has become the permanent home to a number of non-domesticated animals such as rabbits, turkey, deer and – yes – bears! (notice I started with the smallest animals and ended with the largest so as not to scare you off immediately). Food left lying about will most certainly bring out the bears as was learned at last year’s event. SO, please keep all food put away and trash in plastic bags in an effort to reduce their undesired participation in the event. Trash will be picked up early each morning and if necessary, additional pick-ups can be arranged.
6) Arrangements have been made for 2 Sheriff’s deputies to be on site, however, your units are encouraged to provide your own provosts on a full time basis.
7) The spectator gates will open at 8:30AMon Saturday and Sunday with a Tactical commencing around 6:00 AM on Saturday and continuing up to the time of the full battle at 11:00 AM. Several significant activities will be held in the activities tent throughout the day: see schedule posted on our website of www.appomattoxhistoricalsociety.org for more information on them. One such activity set for Saturday at 10:00AM is a ladies fashion show. If anyone desires to participate either by donning period clothing or in other ways, they are encouraged to attend a meeting under the large speakers tent on Friday at 6:00PM.
8) Again I’d like to mention that while we’ve done our best to get everyone’s e-mail address on the list, in some cases, the e-mail addresses have not been included on the form and in others, it’s not been legible. In an effort to spread the word, please forward this on to your friends who are planning to attend. But in doing so, please remember that registration has been closed. In fact, the registration form has been removed from the website. In checking, you’ll find only the “Waiver” form which was left for those folks who haven’t sent in their waivers yet. If you fall into this category, you still have time to make a copy and submit it prior to your arrival; it will reduce your time at the entrance gate. Or you could make one and have it ready when you arrive.
9) While preparing this missive, the question came across my screen about water troughs for horses. We will not be providing water troughs for horses or the 2 mules expected. You will need to bring your own such items. We will be providing water and 1 bale of hay per horse per day. I urge everyone to peruse the event rules and regulations where we’ve attempted to provide insight on the normal concerns and issues of any event, including the necessity of having valid negative Coggins papers upon arrival at the site. These animals belong to you, therefore it’s your responsibility and without these papers, your horse will not be allowed on the site!
10) And finally, I’ve been asked to advise everyone to avoid using VA Rt 6 in Nelson County in coming to the event – especially if you’re towing a trailer. The road is not very accommodating to such vehicles and should be avoided!
I hope this missive has provided enough information to satisfy your needs but if not, and you have a question or two, please feel free to drop me a note and if I can’t answer you properly, I’ll find someone who can.
Anticipating Appomattox, I am
Respectfully,
Al
