RECEPTION AND BALL
honoring
GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 6:00PM – 9:00PM
WHERE: Historic Jefferson College
Washington, Mississippi Territory
SPONSORS: The Natchez Trace Parkway Association (NTPA)
Visit Natchez
Historic Jefferson College
BACKGROUND:
Following the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, and upon his return to Nashville, Tennessee, receptions and dances were held for General Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel Donelson Jackson. One such gala event was held in Washington, MS, on April 24, 1815.
In commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, the Natchez Trace Parkway Association (NTPA), www.natcheztrace.org , the nonprofit friends group to the National Parks Service, would like to partner with the City of Natchez, Natchez businesses, Visit Natchez, and Historic Jefferson College to offer a reenactment of this gala event for Natchez citizens.
The event at Historic Jefferson College will be the first of four events along the Natchez Trace Parkway from April – July, 2015, commemorating General Jackson’s triumphant return to Nashville. The final event will occur at The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, on July 3 & 4, 2015, ending the nationwide Bicentennial of the War of 1812.
The Natchez Trace Parkway Association is proud to bring to conclusion this American Bicentennial Event. The City of Natchez has already played an important role in the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 through hosting the Natchez Trace Parkway Association’s “RETURN TO NASHVILLE, BECOMING OLD HICKORY” Living History Initiative in April, 2013
EVENT SCHEDULE
General Public
Friday, April 24, 2015
7:00AM – Reveille
9:00AM – Morning Colors
9:00AM – 12:00Noon – Educational Initiative for schools. Open to the public.
4:00 – 5:00PM – Parade through downtown: King’s Tavern to Bowie’s Tavern.
5:00 – 5:30PM – Address on the bluff to the citizens of Natchez – Gen. Jackson.
5:30 – 7:30PM – Re-enactors have dinner at local restaurants.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
7:00AM – Reveille
9:00 – Morning Colors
9:00AM – 4:00PM – Encampment open to the public.
Educational Stations, 9:00AM – 2:00PM
10:00 – 10:30AM – “Speech of an Indian” Presentation and book release by Chickasaw Elder, Robert Perry – West Wing Parlour. Book signing follows.
10:45AM – 12:00 noon – Panel discussion. Tony Turnbow, moderator, West Wing The Role of Adams & Jefferson Counties in the creation of a New American Spirit
12:00 – 1:00PM – lunch
1:00 – 3:00PM – Period Dance Lessons – West Wing Dining Hall
2:00 – 5:00PM – free time for re-enactors. Prepare for evening event.
5:30PM – Evening Colors – (Evening participants encouraged to attend)
6:00 – 7:00PM – Reception, heavy hors d’oeuvres
6:30PM – General Jackson, Rachel, & Andrew Jr. arrive by carriage. A brief speech
by General Jackson, followed by the invitation to dance.
7:00 – 9:00PM – Grand Ball
Sunday, April 26, 2015
7:00AM – Reveille
8:30 – 9:00AM. Period Worship Service. Open to the public
9:00AM – Retiring of Colors – Event Closes
THE GRAND BALL
Saturday, April 25, 2015
6:00 – 9:00PM
- Upon arrival, guests will need to walk from the designated parking area to the West Wing. Golf cart transport will be available all evening for those needing assistance.
- Soldiers will escort & assist guests.
- Food and beverages will be available in the West Wing Parlour beginning at 6:00PM. Cash bar.
- The Ball will be held in the West Wing Dining Hall or Refectory. Music will be provided by the Booneslick Strings from St. Charles, Missouri. The dance will be called by Mr. Martin Aubuchon, of Dance Discovery/St. Louis, Missouri.
- Andrew Jackson will be portrayed by Grant Hardin of Hampton, TN.
- Rachel Jackson will be portrayed by mezzo-soprano, Lester Senter Wilson, who will perform for General Jackson during intermission.
- The dances will be simple so that all guests will feel comfortable to participate. Mr. Aubuchon and Ms. Jeanne Anderson will assist participants. Dance lessons will be held from 1:00 – 3:00PM on Saturday.
- Cost – $40.00/person. Purchase tickets by contacting Visit Natchez at 601-446-6345 or 800-647-6724
- Effort is being made to make this as period correct as possible. Please help in this effort.
- Period dress is suggested, but not required of the general public. DO NOT LET THAT KEEP YOU FROM COMING !!!
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS
- Those wishing to stay in a hotel will be responsible for making their own arrangements
- HOST HOTEL – Vue Hotel & Restaurant. 130 John R. Junkin Dr. Block of 20 rooms, discounted to $89.00 + tax/night. Vue is locally owned. Go to vuehotelandrestaurant.com and use Group Code 11116. Or, call 601-442-9976 or 888-946-4727 and say you are with the event sponsored by the Natchez Trace Parkway Association.
CONTACTS
Bryant R. Boswell
Event Coordinator
Immediate Past President, Natchez Trace Parkway Association
601-845-7994 (H) 618-978-7317 (C)
Mr. Adam Gwin
Local Arrangements
President, South MS Chapter, Natchez Trace Parkway Association
601-807-4088 (C)
“SPEECH OF AN INDIAN”
By
Robert Perry
Book Release – 10:00AM, Saturday, April 25, 2015
Historic Jefferson College
Washington, MS
SYNOPSIS FROM THE BACK BOOK COVER: A storyteller carries a bag of memories and forever seeks new tales. Stories have lives, too. If someone doesn’t share the story, it dies. Unless, like in this case, at least some fragment of the narrative remains. Within these pages you will find the storyteller discovers a published 1824 speech that a 19-year old Chickasaw man gave at Jefferson College (MS) commencement about survival on the wild frontiers of America. The story, long dead, begged for life. Strange that the speaker and storyteller had the same surname and were Chickasaw.
The Chickasaw people were removed from Mississippi in 1837 to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The author from Oklahoma knew about James Perry, who founded Perryville. Yet to be discovered: Perryville would have been Perry Town except that James Perry knew that town existed near Natchez, MS. His descendants had come from there. Everywhere the author turned, some new exciting bit was added to the chronicle. Engulf yourself now in the pages of the full fascinating narrative that has been skillfully woven together.