It is a commonly held belief that the Civil War is still being fought between the North and the South – two geographic regions which are different in so many areas, from culture to agriculture.
While that statement may be hyperbole, at least one aspect is still true today. The Civil War ended more than a century-and-a-half ago, but the Civil War reenactment is alive and well today.
From Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Vicksburg, Mississippi, bankers and bartenders, chiropractors and college students, schoolteachers and shoe salesmen discard modern dress in favor of the blue and gray uniforms of their forefathers to have a go at reliving history.
Every year, on the last weekend in August, Richmond joins their ranks – reenacting the historic Battle of Richmond which took place on August 29th and 30th, 1862.
The two-day event (this year, August 24th and 25th) attracts not only reenactors from around the country, but historians as well to the city’s Battlefield Park.
With good reason, as the Battle of Richmond was the second largest Civil War battle in Kentucky, after the Battle of Perryville. And while it wasn’t the largest, it did hold another distinction.
“The Battle of Richmond was the most decisive victory (for the Confederacy) that either side had during the entire war,” says David E. Jones, assistant director for Visit Richmond and a past president of the Battle of Richmond Association.
This lop-sided clash took place between a mostly inexperienced Union battalion under General William “Bull” Nelson and a seasoned Confederate force fresh from the Battle of Shiloh commanded by Major General Edmund Kirby Smith. When the dust settled, the casualty count was 5,353 for the Union army and 451 for the Confederates.
Lest you get the idea that the two days is all about fighting, Jones explains that the reenactment involves much more.
“There will be one hour of “battle” on both days from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.,” says Jones. “That’s when the armies engage each other using real muskets and real cannons, but naturally, not real ammunition.”
The “battle” is exciting for the spectators, but there’s so much more to keep them busy when the gates open at 10:00 a.m.
The camps of both the Union and Confederate armies will be available for inspection, showcasing what camp life was like during the campaign. Soldiers will march and drill in preparation for battle, but the non-fighting side of camp life will also be on display.
Period artisans such as blacksmiths and weavers will demonstrate their skills; suttlers will offer period wares including clothing, household goods and military equipment for sale; the Berea Dulcimer Group will perform, and exhibits will educate visitors on everything from medical practices and instruments of the day to cavalry protocol.
Other activities slated for the event include guided walking tours of the battlefield; a Civil War postal display, and book signings by Paul Rominger (The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky) and Ronald Wolford Blair (Wild Wolf: The Great Civil War Rivalry).
The only place attendees are likely to leave the 19th century behind is in the food vendors who will take a distinctly more 21st century approach in what they have to offer.
A special treat will be the Vintage Baseball Game between the Georgetown Gentlemen and the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on the 24th, the game will be played using Victorian-era rules. It’s likely to be a “hit” with the several thousand people expected to be in attendance.
Stick around on Sunday and you will be able to attend an 11:00 a.m. period service at Mt. Zion Church, which during the battle was used by the Union army as a field hospital.
The reenactment is an exciting reminder of those two sweltering August days in 1862, but Jones sees it as having a dual purpose.
“While the Battle of Richmond historic site is open to visitors year-round, the annual reenactment gives us a unique opportunity to showcase our history in a very interactive way,” he says.
“It allows us to engage with folks who might not typically seek out historic sites and hopefully entices them to check out some of the other things we have here in the area.”
For more information about the Battle of Richmond Reenactment and other attractions, go to visitrichmondky.com
Battle of Richmond Reenactment
