Conflict at the Crossroads

 

Bardtown's own Kentucky Home Guard Brass Band playing at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.

Mike Pawul

Friday, November 15, 2024
Join us for a night of
Civil War era music with the Kentucky Home Guard brass band!

Come immerse yourself in the music of a regimental band, and learn more about the significance of music to soldiers on and off the battlefield.

Visitors should bring a blanket, chairs, and dress for cooler weather. Each concert performance will last approximately 1-hour.

Restrooms will be available inside the Visitor Center.

The museum, film, and book shop will be closed at 4 PM.

 

A Civil War cannon firing demonstration at Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument.

NPS

Saturday, November 16, 2024
Join us for our third annual
Living History event,
Conflict at the Crossroads!

A history lovers dream! Come out to Zollicoffer Park for a living history day commemorating the Battle of Mill Springs. Ranger talks, battle walks, historic weapons demonstrations, blacksmithing, a living history encampment, and kids activities to round out a full day of fun.

 

Event Details

Date and Time of Event

November 16, 2024
From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Location

Zollicoffer Park 
1100 State Hwy 235, Nancy, KY 42544

Cost

The event and all programs are free to the public. 

Activities

Civil War Encampment

Wander through rows of A-frame tents and feel what it was like in a camp. Meet and talk to soldiers as they answer questions about what life was like serving during the Civil War.

Toys and Games

Have fun learning and playing new games with friends and family, surrounded by a Civil War camp. See what toys and games children played with before the age of electricity!

Dress Like a Soldier

What did soldiers wear and carry with them day-to-day? Talk with a National Park Service Ranger and take a closer look at uniforms, food, personal items, and other things that soldiers would have carried. 

Blacksmith

The heat of the fire, the sound of the hammer, come meet our local blacksmith and see what it was like to make metal items from scratch. Ask what he's making and maybe you'll even learn about a special tool used for flintlock muskets during the Battle of Mill Springs!

Music

Dance and sing along to music of the time! Learn something new about an old song, and enjoy singing some classics with friends and family. 

Programming

The King of Battle: Artillery Drill and Firing Demonstrations

Experience the power and awe of Civil War artillery. Listen to the cannons roar and learn from a Park Ranger about the training Civil War artillerists went through, as well as the significance of artillery to the story of the Battle of Mill Springs. 

A Soldier's Life: Army Drill and Musket Demonstrations

The crack of muskets. The smell of powder. Learn from a Park Ranger about life in the army and the training of Civil War soldiers, as well as the significance of small arms in the outcome of the Battle of Mill Springs.

From Flint to Breech: The Evolution of Civil War Small Arms

From the spark of flint against steel to the snap of a percussion cap, learn about the changing technology of small arms in the Civil War. Listen to a Park Rangers as they dive into the technological differences between the flintlock musket, percussion cap musket, and sharps rifle, and how those differences impacted the outcome of the Battle of Mill Springs. 

Schedule of Events

Friday November 15, 2024

• 5 p.m. Kentucky Home Guard Concert - Join us in experiencing the music of a Civil War regimental band. More information about the concert is located lower on this page. The first concert begins at 6:00PM; second concert begins at 7:30PM.

Saturday November 16, 2024

• 9 a.m. Camp Opens – Walk among soldiers as you explore a Civil War camp. Interact with them to gain a better understanding of their lives.

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Musket and Artillery Demonstration – Experience the roar of cannons and the fury of muskets during the first of three demonstrations.

• 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Battlefield Tour – Explore the battlefield with a ranger as they guide you through the events that occurred on January 19, 1862.

• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dress Like a Soldier - Talk with a National Park Service Ranger and take a closer look at uniforms, food, personal items, and other things that soldiers would have carried. 

• 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Civil War Music - Listen to the songs of the Civil War era.

• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Evolution of Small Arms -  Listen to a Park Rangers as they dive into the technological differences between the flintlock musket, percussion cap musket, and sharps rifle, and how those differences impacted the outcome of the Battle of Mill Springs. 

• 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Battlefield Tour - Traverse the field with a ranger to discover more about the events of the battle.

• 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Civil War Music – An encore presentation for songs of the Civil War era.

• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Musket and Artillery Demonstration – A final bellow will sound over the battlefield, marking the last demonstration of the day.

• 4 p.m. Camp Closes and Battlefield Tour – Survey the battlefield with a ranger during the final tour.

 

Concert Details

Date and Time

Friday, November 15, 2024.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive between 5:00 and 5:30PM. Each concert is 1-hour long.

First concert: 6:00PM
Second concert: 7:30PM.

Location

Visitors will watch the performance from the lawn in front of the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center. The performance is conducted on the patio in front of the entrance to the Visitor Center.

Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument Visitor Center is located at:
9020 West Highway 80
Nancy, KY 42544

About the Band

Kentucky Home Guard Band

The Kentucky Home Guard Band (Bardtowns, Kentucky) is representative of the many small bands that were attached to Union military units stationed in Kentucky throughout the Civil War period. Consisting of eleven brass players and a vocalist, the band plays music popular from the American Civil War, and also a number of pieces by Stephen Foster, who was popular with both Southern and Northern audiences. The band performs in period dress with many historic instruments that date to the Civil War period. Performances by the band include comments on each piece played, with historical notes to put them in context. The Kentucky Home Guard Band have performed at several National Park sites, battle re-enactments, and Civil War programs.