cannon on battlefield

Electronic Field Trip to Perryville

The Battle of Perryville marks the last major attempt of the Confederate States of America to claim Kentucky. Learn how this battle changed this town forever by exploring what happened on that tragic day, October 8, 1862. The field trip includes descriptions of what life was like for soldiers in 1862, reenactments of war, and an archeological dig with high school students.

Grades Levels 4-12
Resource Types: Video, Quiz and Quiz Answers

Electronic Field Trip to Perryville

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Quiz

soldiers

What evidence is left in Perryville of the battle?

What artifacts were found at a dig of the J.J. Polk house?

How many soldiers fought at the Battle of Perryville?
A. less than 500
B. less than 4,000
C. more than 35 thousand

How many people were killed or wounded in the battle October 8, 1862?
A. 100
B. 7500
C. 10,000

What was the largest Civil War battle in the Commonwealth of Kentucky?
A. The Battle of Mill Springs
B. The Battle of Richmond
C. The Battle of Cynthiana
D. The Battle of Perryville

What is the significance of the Battle of Perryville?
A. This was the confederates last major attempt to claim Kentucky.
B. There were more casualties in Perryville than in any other battle.
C. This battle was in Lincoln’s hometown.

What is the name for the troops who fought on horseback?
A. Cavalry
B. Infantry
C. Artillery

What was the age of the average Confederate cavalry man in the Civil War?
A. 45
B. 32
C. 17

What might have prevented soldiers in 1862 from bathing?
A. drought
B. company rules
C. mosquitoes

What would soldiers do with hard tack?
A. Sleep on it.
B. Shoot it.
C. Eat it.
D. Wear it.

How would you describe the marching technique in 1862?
A. single file
B. shoulder to shoulder
C. scattered

What are two reasons for the Civil War mentioned at the beginning of KET Electronic Field Trip to Perryville?
A. issues regarding slavery and states’ rights
B. placement of railroad routes and telegraph lines
C. taxes and slavery

After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate forces…
A. installed a Confederate governor.
B. retreated from Kentucky.
C. surrendered, which ended the Civil War.

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Quiz Answers

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What evidence is left in Perryville of the battle?
Buildings: Most local buildings became field hospitals. Several of these buildings still show evidence of the battle today. Legend holds that doors were used as operating tables. It’s believed that blood stains are from the wounded soldiers. One home has soldier’s sketches and handwriting on the walls.

name

“sick and wounded were scattered about the country in houses, barns, stables, sheds or wherever they could obtain shelter…” -Union surgeon G.G. Shumard

Monuments: The State Battlefield State Park has a monument where a mass grave was constructed.

What artifacts were found at a dig of the J.J. Polk house?
Toys, pottery, bones, and nails were found on the archeological dig in Perryville.

How many soldiers fought at the Battle of Perryville?
C: It’s estimated that up to forty-four thousand soldiers may have fought in Perryville on October 8, 1862. The Confederate Army was outnumbered with between 16-thousand men while the Federal Army had between 22 and 28 thousand men.

How many people were killed or wounded in the battle October 8, 1862?
B: It is believed that more than 7500 troops were killed or wounded during the Battle of Perryville. Consequently, the small town of Perryville and other surrounding towns were left with the responsibility of burying the dead and caring for the wounded. Most local homes became field hospitals, some of which are still standing today. Some soldiers even left evidence during their recovery. (possibly put picture).

What was the largest Civil War battle in the Commonwealth of Kentucky?
D: The Battle of Perryville was the largest Civil War battle in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

What is the significance of the Battle of Perryville?
A: The Battle of Perryville was the confederates last major attempt to claim Kentucky. Before Perryville a group had attempted to install a confederate governor. The retreat and pursuit by union troops brought thousands of people to Perryville. Some historians say the confederates won a tactical victory at Perryville. It was a strategic loss. The confederate army retreated and Kentucky stayed firmly in union hands throughout the war.

What is the name for the troops who fought on horseback?
A: The cavalry is the name for troops on horseback. In KET’s Electronic Field Trip to Perryville, we join reenactors as they train like the 1862 cavalry would have. The training is called running of the heads because pistol and saber targets are set up in a course. Companies of soldiers would ride through to prepare for the battle. It was called running of the heads, because the targets were located were mens’ heads would have been.

What was the age of the average Confederate cavalry man in the Civil War?
C: Some people believe that the average Confederate cavalry man was 17 years old and weighed about 120 pounds.

What might have prevented soldiers in 1862 from bathing?
A: drought. In the fall of 1862, Kentucky had not had enough rain. Some even say the October 8 Battle of Perryville was about water. Perryville has some natural springs and not all were dry during the drought. This drought probably kept troops from bathing regularly.

What would soldiers do with hard tack?
C: Soldiers would eat hard tack, although some of them probably wanted to shoot it. Imagine the marriage of a HARD biscuit and a cracker. That’s something like hard tack. Some of us here at KET ate hard tack with reenactors. It is filling. We wouldn’t call it yummy. Hard tack would keep for a long time. Since soldiers didn’t have refrigerators or fast food restaurants, hard tack was easy food for troops on the go.

How would you describe the marching technique in 1862?
C: Soldiers followed Napoleonic tactics and marched shoulder to shoulder in 1862. The capacity of guns and artillery in Napoleon’s day made marching shoulder to shoulder the preferred method. With more powerful guns and cannon’s in 1862, this strategy resulted in many deaths. Many of the battle leaders in the Civil War trained at West Point where Napoleonic tactics were taught.

What are two reasons for the Civil War mentioned at the beginning of KET Electronic Field Trip to Perryville?
A: The beginning of the EFT to Perryville features a Union soldier and former slave discussing the importance of fighting against slavery for freedom. A Confederate drummer boy insists the War was fought over states’ rights.

After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate forces…
A: After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate forces retreated from Kentucky.

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