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JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 5, 2024 – Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site is hosting the annual Spring Drill featuring the Turner Brigade Civil War reenactors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20. This is an annual training event for the brigade and will give visitors the opportunity to interact with and learn from the reenactors.

In conjunction with the Spring Drill, there will also be a rededication ceremony commemorating the addition of a new historically correct carriage of the site’s Woodruff gun cannon.

The records of the 1864 battle confirm several Woodruff guns present. Recent research found the cannon had been erroneously displayed on a standard field gun carriage. A historically accurate carriage, unique in design and function compared to other cannons of the time, was constructed for the site.

During the reenactment, representatives from the park will be available to provide more information about the Woodruff gun cannon and to answer questions about the research and story behind this piece of history.

The training drill runs from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch on your own. At 1 p.m., the rededication ceremony begins. All activities are free and open to the public, and there is no need to register.

For more information, please contact the museum at 573-546-3454 and speak to Brick or Bryan. The Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site is located at 118 E. Maple in Pilot Knob.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Civil War reenactors stand beside two cannons with an American flag flying between them.

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