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The Battle of Aiken
Information for Media, Photographers, and Reporters

Media, Photographers, and Reporters:

Welcome to the Battle of Aiken. We are pleased that you want to come out and join in the festivities. Hopefully this will help in answering some of your initial questions. Please understand that we are inundated with persons every year wanting special access to the Reenactment. For this reason, we asked that all news and media personnel, photographers, and reporters contact our Media and Advertising Coordinator prior to arrival. Failure to do so will result in you being asked to purchase tickets for you and your party at the gate and directed into general parking. You will be asked to provide credentials to verify who you say you are. For that reason, only official media representatives who have prior approval will be received by the staff of the Media Coordinator. Everyone will still be required to adhere to our restrictions as to where you may and may not go. No one is allowed to be on the battlefield or beyond the specator lines without prior approval during the actual Reenactment. This approval must come from the Overall Commander of the Reenactors. No one is allowed to solict or offer to sell photographs without applying for and receiving permission from the Battle of Aiken Committee. Some of the Reenactors will not want to be interviewed or photographed, please ask first. Please work with us to respect the wishes of the Reenacting Community when they are at our site. Anyone in violiation of these or any of the rules, regulations, and guidelines for the Battle of Aiken and Hardees Corps will be escorted from the site. Thank you for working with us and we look forward to seeing you here.

Press Release - Battle of Aiken:

1865 LIVING HISTORY EXHIBITS AND BATTLE REENACTMENT THE BATTLE OF AIKEN

The 1865 Living History Exhibits and the Battle Reenactment for the Battle of Aiken will be held February 24, 25, and 26, 2012. This will be the 18^th Annual Reenactment and the 147^th Anniversary of the Battle of Aiken. This Living History Exhibit will take place at the Confederate Memorial Park, 1210 Powell Pond Road, Aiken, SC (Exit 18, I–20). These events are being sponsored by the Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee Camp # 1575, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

This Battle of Aiken was fought between the forces of General Hugh Kilpatrick (USA) and General Joe Wheeler (CSA) in defense of the City of Aiken and to stop the march to the Mills in Graniteville, SC and the Confederate Powder Works in the City of Augusta, GA. This Battle of Aiken was fought on February 11 and 12, 1865 and was the last victory for the Confederacy in the War Between the States.

On February 24^th , there will be School Day presentations. The Students will have an opportunity to "Talk with the Generals and the Ladies of the Confederacy". These Living History presentations will be composed of first person accounts of some the Great Generals of the Confederacy and the Ladies of the Confederacy. General Robert E. Lee, David Chaltas a noted author and playwright, will be joined by Mrs. Jefferson Davis, Mrs. General JEB Stuart, General A. P. Hill, and others, to provide this presentation. General Lee and Mrs. Davis will be available for book signings and additional functions throughout the weekend. In conjunction with this presentation, there will be self guided tours through the Living History Camps to observe living conditions of the soldiers in 1865 where student will have the opportunity to interact with other Living Historians and Military and Civilian Reenactors of the era.

On February 25^th and 26^th there will be Battle Reenactments involving Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry Soldiers. The Living History Exhibits with Reenactors, an Engineer Group, and other period personnel may be seen on the self guided tours. A period Medical Unit will be here to explain and demonstrate how they performed their surgeries and medical duties in 1865. These medical personnel have expanded their support of the Reenactment and exhibit, to include a surgical and hospital scenario.

On Saturday night there will be an Artillery Battle and Night fight. If you have never seen one, this will be an experience you will never forget. At 8:00 PM on Saturday evening, a band will provide music for a period dance for everyone’s entertainment and enjoyment.

Great food and shopping will be available on site all weekend. Our vendor spaces (Sutler and Food) are filled to overflowing.

The gates for the exhibits open each day at 8:30 AM. Plan to arrive early and stay late. Parking is limited. Wristband will be sold at the gate. There is a charge for admission on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be $10 for ages 13 and above, $5 for ages 6 to 12, and children 5 and under are admitted free. There will be no advance ticket sales. Additional information may be found at www.battleofaiken.org.

Point of contact for this event is 2012 Advertising and Media Coordinator.