+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | Chickamauga and  |   | P.O. Box 2128     |
|                            | Chattanooga      |   |                   |
| U.S. Department of the     | National         |   | Fort Oglethorpe,  |
| Interior                   | Military Park    |   | GA 30742          |
|                            |                  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | Sam Weddle        |
|                            |                  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | Public            |
|                            |                  |   | Information       |
|                            |                  |   | Officer           |
|                            |                  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | \(423\)           |
|                            |                  |   | 752-5213x113 -    |
|                            |                  |   | Phone             |
|                            |                  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | \(423\)           |
|                            |                  |   | 752-5215 - Fax    |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

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height="0.7201388888888889in"}

##### Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park NEWS RELEASE

September 30, 2008

For Immediate Release

**"The Life of a Cannoneer" Living History Programs**

**at Chickamauga Battlefield**

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park announces a weekend
of special artillery Living History demonstrations on Saturday, October
4, and Sunday, October 5, 2008. These programs will include not only the
firing of cannons, but will also include demonstrations of horse teams
positioning artillery on the battlefield. An artillery camp will be set
up in the Kelly Field, where battery crew members will demonstrate the
work required to make a Civil War army's long arm effective in the
field. Activities will include blacksmiths and farriers utilizing a
fully functional traveling forge to shoe horses and keep iron tires on
carriage wheels; a saddler performing the work necessary to keep the
harnesses of more than 100 horses in shape; and a woodworker
demonstrating the complexities of keeping the mostly wooden carriages
battle ready.

All support providing and maintaining stock and equipment to the
artillery was critical to success, but difficult in the mountainous
terrain where the Campaign for Chattanooga unfolded in 1863.

Follow the "Special Program" signs from the Chickamauga Battlefield
Visitor Center to the program areas.

[Program Schedule]{.underline}

**Saturday, October 4**

**All activities are in camp Kelly Field (NEAR THE KING MONUMENT),
except the 12:00 PM at Dyer Field and the 4:30 PM at Viniard Field**.

8:30 AM Fatigue Call

8:30 AM Saddler Demonstration

9:00 AM Artificer Demonstration

9:30 AM Blacksmith Demonstration

10:00 AM Quartermaster Demonstration

10:30 AM Drill Call and Static Firing Demonstration

11:00 AM Boots & Saddle Harnessing Demonstration

12:00 PM Mounted Firing Demonstration (Dyer Field)

1:00PM Fatigue Call

1:00 PM Saddler Demonstration

1:30 PM Artificer Demonstration

2:00PM Blacksmith Demonstration

2:30 PM Quartermaster Demonstration

3:00 PM Drill Call and Static Firing Demonstration

4:30 PM Mounted Firing Demonstration (Viniard Field)

**Sunday, October 5**

**All activities are in camp Kelly Field (NEAR THE KING MOUNMENT),
except the 12:00 PM will be at Dyer Field**.

8:30 AM Fatigue Call

8:30 AM Saddler Demonstration

9:00 AM Artificer Demonstration

9:30 AM Blacksmith Demonstration

10:00 AM Quartermaster Demonstration

10:30 AM Drill Call and Static Firing Demonstration

11:00 AM Boots & Saddle Harnessing Demonstration

12:00 PM Mounted Firing Demonstration (Dyer Field)

In addition to the battlefield demonstrations, a special display of
artifacts associated with Loomis' (Van Pelt's) Battery A, 1^st^ Michigan
Light Artillery will be featured at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor
Center. Battery A was captured in the woods just north of Winfrey Field
by the Confederates during fighting at Chickamauga on September 19,
1863. The display includes dozens of photographs of members of the
battery, as well as two images of the battery undergoing its initial
training in 1861. One of Battery A's original ten pound Parrott Rifles,
present in the field at Chickamauga in 1863, will also be on display.

The Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center is open from 8:30 AM until
5:00 PM.

For more information, contact the Visitor Center at (706) 866-9241.