Historic downtown Blountville is gearing up for weekend events / An Open Letter to Ms. Lunelle

From: HK Edgerton [hk.edgerton@gmail.com]
Date: Fri, Jun 22, 2012 To: siegels1 [siegels1@mindspring.com]

Dear Ms. Lunelle,

I don't know if it was a good idea for these wonderful folks headed by Ms. Sheila Hunt of the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism in Blountville, Tennessee to schedule me to speak at their Historic Re-enactment, 30 minutes before a Lincoln Re-enactor is to speak.

Somebody better help me, because I come to tell the Southern side of this tale, and it don't look good for Lincoln; no matter how hard the Puritans continue to try and shore up his image while tarnishing the good names of the honorable people from the Southland of America. Even now, here in the 21st century with the help of Hollywood in making this criminal into a Vampire slayer, and of course, the Confederate soldier, and our homeland is the brunt of this lie. Not Saturday afternoon at the courthouse in Blountville. God bless you.

Your brother,

HK

**************************************************

From: Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism [shelia.hunt@sullivancountytn.gov]
Date: Thu, Jun 21, 2012
To: hk.edgerton@gmail.com

Coming June 22-24, 2012!
THE CIVIL WAR: BATTLE OF BLOUNTVILLE 2012 RE-ENACTMENT

Historic Blountville, Tennessee

4TH ANNUAL BATTLE OF BLOUNTVILLE RE-ENACTMENT

June 22-24, 2012

BLOUNTVILLE, TN - Now in its fourth year, the 2012 Battle of Blountville Re-enactment will be held June 22-24, 2012 on the grounds of the historic Sullivan County Courthouse in downtown Blountville, TN. Sponsored by the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism and the Lt. Robert D. Powel Camp #1817, TN Sons of Confederate Veterans, the heritage tourism event is an educational endeavor with a special focus on Civil War history. The event is free and open to the general public.

Re-enactors will begin setting up camp on Friday, June 22 from 5 PM to 9 PM, and camps will open to the public at 9 AM on Saturday, June 23. This year's event will include an increased number of re-enactors and participants from across the region. Participating reenactment units include:

• 4th / 59th Tennessee, Co. B
• 8th Tennessee Infantry, Co. C
• 12th Tennessee Cavalry, Co. B
• 19th Tennessee Infantry, Co. B
• 31 Tennessee Infantry, Co. D
• 37th Virginia Infantry, Co. E (as the 13th Tenn. Inf.)
• 46th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, Co. K
• 50th Virginia Infantry
• 39th Kentucky Infantry
• 61st Tennessee Light Artillery
• 79th New York Infantry, Co. A
• 79th New York Infantry, Co. H

With an emphasis on children's education, this year's event will also include an all-new Scavenger Hunt for children interested in learning more about the Civil War. This special event will run from 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturday. Forms for the Scavenger Hunt will be available at the Registration Booth near the old Sheriff's Home located on Hwy. 394 behind the old Sullivan County Courthouse.

Morning events on Saturday and Sunday will include Military Demos for Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery. Saturday events will also include Tours of the Old Deery Inn from 9 AM to 5 PM. A Children's Civil War Story Hour will begin at 10 AM at the Anderson Townhouse on the Great Stage Road, with stories provided by Dr. Nancy Hamblen Acuff and music accompaniment by CanJoe John and Jim Graybeal. The group will also provide a special Civil War Story-telling Hour for all ages at 1 PM on Saturday in the Anderson Townhouse. Known for her splendid story-telling interwoven with historical events, Dr. Acuff delights young and old with her special Civil War stories.

Saturday events will also include a "Street Skirmish" at 12:30 PM, followed by the Battle of Blountville Re-enactment at 2 PM.

"Meet General Robert E. Lee" will take place at 1:30 PM on Saturday in front of the old Sullivan County Courthouse. Kentucky educator and historian David Chaltas does a superb job in his portrayal of General Lee. Saturday afternoon events will also include a 3 PM presentation by H. K. Edgerton, an African-American Confederate Historian and Activist. Mr. Edgerton's presentation will be followed by "Meet Abraham Lincoln" at 3:30 PM. Both events will take place on the southeast portico of the Sullivan County Courthouse.

Civil War Period Music will be presented by Dr. John Van Arsdale (CanJoe John) at 4 PM on Saturday in the Community Park. Known as the "world's most unique musician", Dr. Van Arsdale has the experience and expertise of designing and hand-crafting perfectly functional and very beautiful musical works of art in every "canceivable" way.

Especially unique to this year's event, "The Main Street Social and Civil War Period Dance" will take place on Sat. from 7 PM to 9 PM on the main street (Great Stage Road) in front of the Historic Sullivan County Courthouse in downtown Blountville. The event will be presented by the 1860s Living History and Dance Society which is comprised of a large group of families who offer demonstrations on fashion, dress and dance from the Civil War time period. The authentic period dance will be accompanied by CanJoe John and his period Civil War group.

Sunday's events include a Period Worship Service at 10 AM led by Rev. Jim Woods of the 31st Tenn. Infantry. The service will be held at the Community Park behind the Sullivan County Courthouse. Sunday's Battle of Blountville Re-enactment will be held at 2 PM on Great Stage Road in front of the courthouse.

Period sutlers include Dutch Fork Depot, a full-line military sutler from York, South Carolina, offering reproductions of actual Civil War attire such as uniforms, leathergoods, canteens, suspenders, boots, jackets, shirts, pants, belts, brass, and other period items. Sutlers also include Vacant Chair Photography Studio, a family-owned business passionate about art, history, and wet plate photography, along with Tennessee Quiltworks who will display quilts specially made of Civil War Reproduction fabrics. Be sure to see the Civil War Laundress in the camps! Rocky Top Sutlers will also be on hand with a full line of Civil War items.

Food vendors include Good Time Concessions, Mama's Lemonade and others providing hotdogs, hamburgers, barbeque, Polish sausage, tacos, curly taters, funnel cakes, deep fried oreos, shaved ice, kettlecorn, cotton candy, and more.

The Registration Booth will be open to the public beginning at 9 AM on Saturday and Sunday.

The event will conclude at 3 PM on Sunday, June 23, 2012.

Additional event information available at www.facebook.com, Battle of Blountville Civil War Park and Reenactment.

For further details, please call the Sullivan County Department of Archives and Tourism at (423) 323-4660.