THIS IS FROM THE FCD BULLETIN BOARD...

Here is your opportunity to post all the rumors that are going around and get answers straight from the top.  No BS, no agenda, no playing games - just straight answers to your questions regarding rumors, innuendo and outright fabrications regarding the Corinth event.

I'll toss a few of the more inflammatory ones out there to start:
The Corinth event is going to be cancelled.

A: No, this couldn't be further from the truth.  The final Letter of Agreement between the NSA and the Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council is in the process of being signed and should be in place by June 1, 2005.  The event is in place and on track. For the first time the NSA has drafted a Letter of Agreement outlining the rights and responsibilities of the NSA and any of our event co-sponsors. This is something that should have been in place long ago, but wasn't.  Only due to the dilligent efforts of Generals Moore and Dolive do we now have a standard agreement that we can use for this and all future events in order  to protect our rights and provide fiscal accountability.
I heard the the Corinth SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) wanted to cancel the event.

A: There were a lot of rumors and strange statements coming out of one of the Corinth SCV camps. That camp (Col. Wm. P Rogers #321 SCV) was one of the "original" event sponsors, but as of now have determined that it is in their best interests to not be involved as an official sponsor or partner.
What is the money generated from the reenactment going to be used for?

A. First of all, the expenses of staging this event will be in the range of $150,000+ and this is on the "inexpensive" side of the event production ledger. This is because of negligible land costs and the fact that not a great deal of underbrush, etc. needs to be cleared.  The money raised from spectator ticket sales, parking and concessions will revert to the Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council, the official "toursim" entity in Corinth.  By their charter, they cannot keep the money for themselves.  The proceeds after expenses will be given to civil war preservation projects in the greater Corinth area.  Chief among this is major repair and restoration work on the famous Verandah House that served as residence and HQ for at least 8 Federal and Confederate generals during the civil war. This is all spelled out in the Letter of Agreement between the NSA and Corinth Tourism Council.
Yeah, but how can we be sure of that?

A. The Corinth Tourism Council is required to provide us with a certified statement by the end of the year on the disbursement of all the funds as well as the specific expenses incurred in staging the event.  We will publish that information on the NSA web site.
How big is the site?  I hear its on the small side.

A. The site is about 600+ acres with another 300 acres available just north of the main site.  This is slightly larger than the Perryville battlefield site. The site contains rolling hills, ponds, creeks, cleared land and some very nice wooded areas.  The wooded areas are free from undergrowth and make nice areas for campaign camping.
Why are the Confederate impression standards so tough for this event?

A. First of all, there have been no changes to the First Confederate Division impression standards.  We are using the standards as posted on the First Confederate Division site for the past couple of years. The DIFFERENCE is that now the impression standards are going to be enforced.  Although not 100% historically correct for the Corinth campaign, anyone who meets the regular FCD impression guidelines has nothing to worry about.  You're good to go!  For those who want to make an extra effort to develop a specific impression of a unit being portrayed at Corinth, we've posted that information on the "Corinth" section of the NSA site and encourage those that wish to do so. What we ARE doing is enforcing General Moore's order the Federal Sky Blue issue trousers not be worn by Confederate troops at this event.  The reason: It is historically incorrect. There is no historical record of any Confederate Troops wearing Federal issue sky blue trousers during this campaign.
But I heard that the Confederates captured Federal uniforms at Iuka just a few weeks before and were therefore wearing Federal uniforms - including Federal Sky Blue Issue Trousers - at Corinth a few weeks later.

A. This has been cussed and discussed for months. We have studied virtually every record of what happened at Iuka - including official records of what the Confederates really captured (mostly foodstuffs and 600 pair of enlisted shoulder scales and 200 knapsacks), to descriptions of what CS troops were wearing when captured at Iuka just two days later (brown or butternut uniforms with black stripes on the trousers) to what the CS troops had been previously been issued and when...  We will soon be posting much of this on the "Corinth" section of this site.  We cannot use conjecture to assume anything regarding clothing, uniforms and equipment.  Until someone comes forth with definitive evidence that CS troops were wearing Federal issue sky blue trousers, they are incorrect and will not be allowed at Corinth.
Yeah, but I have heard that some CS troops were issued sky-blue trousers.

A. Yes they were, and these are correct.  There is a difference between the sky-blue or blue colored jean trousers issued to some CS troops and FEDERAL ISSUE SKY BLUE TROUSERS.
I heard that the CS Provost will be at the event site entrance inspecting for hand sewn buttonholes on jackets and shirts.

A. Its rumors like these that necessitate posts such as this. I don't have any idea where this one came from, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, hand sewn button holes are historically correct, and Yes, we'd eventually be thrilled if every man in the FCD had correct button holes - and correct uniforms and gear. BUT, no one is inspecting button holes - let alone the Division Provost - and no one is getting sent home because he has machine sewn buttonholes. Whoever started this rumor, please give it a rest!
Will there be inspections?

A. Most likely. And they will be done in your company, battalion and brigade by your officers.  A few units may be inspected by the Division commander or the Division Acting Inspector General - but that is just part of regular army life.
What about camping? What are the camps going to be like?

A. Van Dorn / Price's Confederate army was on campaign. Our scenarios are going to mirror an army on campaign. There will not be any "death marches," but some units may find themselves moving camps during the event.

There are excellent areas for both Federal and Confederate campaigners.  The Federal Campaigners will be at a "remote" site about 3/4 mile from the main Federal camp - which is a garrison camp in the town of Corinth as per history.  These campaigner Federals will portray the Federal troops coming into Corinth from outposts as the battle developed. They will "march to the guns."

The Confederate camp will be on the "far side" of the site in order to replicate the CS army approaching Corinth.  CS campaigners will be adjacent to the regular CS camp.  ALL Confederates should consider "packing light" for this event.

There is a sketch of the entire site on the "Corinth" section of the NSA site.
What can I read to study the Corinth Campaign?

A. There are few books or articles on the Battle of Corinth. The best is probably Peter Cozzen's "The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth" published by the University of North Carolina Press and available from Amazon, Borders, etc. Blue&Gray Magazine covered these battles in their Summer 2002 issue.
What is being done to get the Confedreate and Federal numbers more equal?

The two opposing sides had about equal strength at the original Battle of Corinth (about 23,000 each).  General Moore has ordered that only those units that are official members of or are officially affiliated with the First Confederate Division may participate as Confederate at Corinth.  If you want to come to Corinth and are NOT a member of or affiliated with the First Confederate Division, we welcome your participation as Federal.