The Battle of Blue Springs Planning Committee was told Tuesday that the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial will be this year's sponsor for the battle's "Education Day" on Oct. 10, making a $13,000 contribution.

The committee also was told about plans for a "shootout" reenactment on the streets of Greeneville on Friday evening, Oct. 10.

That event will be capped by a downtown promenade and "meet the Generals" event at the General Morgan Inn that evening.

The downtown events are intended to promote both the Civil War battle and the Johnson bicentennial, said Jim Allen, director of the Battle of Blue Springs reenactment.

Civil War reenactors who take part in the Battle of Blue Springs each year have been active in promoting the Johnson bicentennial through a number of events all year.

"It's been a win-win for all concerned," said Bill Ringel, the battle reeanctment's assistant director.

Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, said the bicentennial committee made a proposal to use National Park Service funding that was already set aside for education.

"We think it's a good use of the money for lots of reasons," Watts said, but primarily because it will help educate local citizens. She noted that the curriculum for the battle's "Education Day" has been re-written to put more focus on Johnson's role in the Civil War and its aftermath.

Watts said that "hands-on living interpretation" of an historical event "is rare in any community," and is done very well by those involved in the Battle of Blue Springs.

She said the Blue Springs reenactors are especially good at communicating their own excitement about the Civil War period to the children who attend education day.

Attending the battle and seeing so many adults -- dressed in period costumes, with horses, cannons and other equipment -- reenacting aspects of something that actually happened here is exciting for anyone, especially children, Watts said.

Seeing all this and learning about a local aspect of American history makes the children "realize that they live in a special place," with a special connection to an important period.

And, she noted, "Not many towns have a president."

Watts said she visited the battle reenactment last year and was impressed with both the professionalism and knowledge of first-person interpreters. "They're really good at what they do," Watts said.

She said the battle's annual strong emphasis on education was also impressive to National Park Service officials.

This year's reenactment will take place on the 145th anniversary of the Oct. 10, 1863 Civil War battle that took place in and around Mosheim.

For the 15th year, the primary sponsor of this year's reenactment will be the Town of Mosheim, Allen said.

Allen told the committee on Tuesday that he was still waiting for confirmation that Greeneville Police Chief Terry Cannon had approved the "shootout."

Allen told The Greeneville Sun on Wednesday that Chief Cannon had approved holding the shootout on Depot Street, but not on Main Street, as had been requested.

He said Chief Cannon pointed out that Main Street is a state highway, which would have created too many re-routing problems and approvals, Allen said.

Allen asked reenactor representatives from the 19th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate) and the 79th New York Infantry (U.S.) to provide eight to 10 soldiers each for the event.

He said he envisioned about a dozen reenactors from each side taking part in the downtown shootout.

But Bill White, who reenacts with the 1st East Tennessee Battery, a federal artillery unit, said considerable interest had already been expressed by those who had heard that a downtown skirmish was possible.

White predicted that many reenactors would be enthusiastic about the chance to participate, especially if bus transportation to and from the event is provided.

White said artillery reenactors normally do not bring rifles and pistols to Blue Springs, but have been talking about bringing small arms this year, so that they can take part in the downtown event.

Allen said he could see no problem with increasing the numbers, if interest is high.

The Blue Springs planning committee was also told that the first installment of what will be a $13,000 total contribution by the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial to the battle reenactment effort has been received, and that the total contribution will be $13,000.

Allen told the Sun that the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Steering Committee received the funds from the National Park Service.

He said $7,525 will be used for Education Day supplies and support, $2,200 for advertising, $800 for transportation expenses, and $2,465 for transportation "scholarships" to pay for fuel for school buses bringing children to the event.

He said each school that attends will receive between $100 and $150 to help offset fuel costs.

Children, teachers and parents are not charged for attending education day on Friday, and in fact receive one free ticket to either Saturday or Sunday's reenactments.

The annual event begins with Education Day on Friday, Oct. 10, and will feature battle reenactments on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12.

This year, Allen said, Friday's activities will be called "The Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Education Day." He said Daniel Luther, an employee of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, will be on hand and in period clothing to give a short presentation as Johnson to each school group.

In all, nine "education stations" are planned.

Allen said 844 school children had registered for Education Day as of Tuesday, not counting 46 Boy Scouts who have registered to camp on the John I. Myers farm near Mosheim, where the reeactment will be staged.

In addition, he said, 645 reenactors have registered, and he thinks the final total will be about 800.