Today in History:

Battle of Richmond, Ky. Civil War Re-Enactment on 153rd Anniversary


Battle of Richmond, Ky., Civil War Re-Enactment 
on 153rd Anniversary of the Battle



    The Civil War will again invade the rolling hills of Madison County in late August.
    Commemorating the 153rd anniversary of the battle, the annual Battle of Richmond Re-enactment will be held on August 29 & 30, at Richmond Battlefield Park off of US 421 south of Richmond (1546 Battlefield Memorial Highway).  Hours are 10 AM until 4 PM each day, with battles scheduled for 2 PM.
    The Battle of Richmond Visitors Center, located at the intersection of US 25 and 421 just north of the park, is the perfect place to start your visit.  Hours for that weekend will be 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
    Children are highly encouraged to attend, but please leave your four legged friends at home.  There will be numerous events scheduled throughout the day.
       There will be a small fee for parking.  All funds will go back into battlefield preservation and interpretation.  The event is sponsored by the Battle of Richmond Association, in cooperation with the Madison County Fiscal Court’s Dept. of Historic Properties.
    The Battle of Richmond Association will also be seeking donations for a cannon and other equipment to be placed on the grounds of the Battle of Richmond Visitors Center.  The association has a goal of $20,000.00, and as of August 1st was nearly half way there.
    Mt. Zion Christian Church, located just ½ mile north of Richmond Battlefield Park, will be conducting a period worship service at 11 AM on Sunday.  The service will feature J.W. Binion as a Confederate chaplain.  The church served as a hospital during and after the fight.  
    The Battle of Richmond, fought on August 29 & 30, 1862, was an integral part of an advance into Kentucky by the Confederacy in hopes of winning Kentucky for the south.  This campaign culminated with the Battle of Perryville in early October 1862.
    The Battle of Richmond pitted Union Major General William “Bull” Nelson’s forces against Confederate Major General Edmund Kirby Smith’s troops.  The battle, fought in basically three phases, climaxed with the Federal forces being routed after a fight in the Richmond Cemetery.  The remnants of this shattered Union force were captured in masse north of Richmond on the Lexington Road.  The Battle of Richmond was a resounding Confederate victory.
    Since 2001, the Battle of Richmond Association has help save over 500 acres of pivotal battlefield land in and around Richmond, as well as providing high quality educational and recreational events.  The association relies entirely on donations and memberships for funding.
    For more information, log on at battleofrichmond.org, or write the Battle of Richmond Association, 101 Battlefield Memorial Highway, Richmond, Ky. 40475, or call 859-248-1974 or 859-624-0013.

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For photos or an electronic copy, please call 859-624-0013.