Civil War Living History Day will resume at Richmond Battlefield Park on Saturday, April 27 after a coronavirus-related hiatus.
Battle of Richmond curator Philip Seyfrit said pre-COVID-19, the event was extremely popular, drawing crowds from the community and local schools.
This event is not a reenactment of the Battle of Richmond, but rather introduces guests to what daily life was like for people living in 1860s Kentucky during the Civil War era.
Seyfrit said the event is aimed at helping people learn about history in an interactive and engaging way, and they can also try out historical activities such as cooking and weaving.
Seyfrit pointed out that while people won't be riding horses or walking long distances, there are important lessons in immersion.
“This is a way to go back in history,” the curator said. “We can't do exactly what they did, but we can get as close as we can. This gives people a little idea of what life was like for his day in Kentucky during the Civil War.” It only shows.”
However, those who visit also have the opportunity to experience the “Soldier's School” program hosted by the famous Civil War reenactment group, Western Federal Blues.
Seyfrit says this will allow patrons to learn not only how the soldiers were trained, but also how they spent their days.
“You can't gather your guys together and line them up and expect them to go from A to B in order. They can't expect someone who has never held a weapon before to know how to load a weapon.” This shows you how they did it,” he explained.
Soldiers of the time fought in the Battle of Richmond on August 29 and 30, 1862, pitting experienced Confederate soldiers against raw Union troops.
“The Confederates were able to outmaneuver the Union troops in green, and as a result nearly all of the boys in blue were killed, wounded, or captured. “It was one of the most complete victories achieved over the other side,” Seyfrit said.
The curator added that the obvious lack of internet and mobile phones meant that the way soldiers at the time spent their time and communicated with loved ones during times of conflict was very different from before. .
In addition to the ongoing demo, the ca. 1824 Pleasant View home is also available for tours.
History buffs can visit the preserved house that was occupied by the Kavanaugh Armstrong family during the Battle of Richmond and served as a hospital for a long time afterwards.
There is no admission fee for this event, Seyfrit said. However, the Fight for Richmond Association welcomes donations of individually wrapped Lifesaver candies for the “Fight for Richmond Become a Lifesaver” campaign.
Civil War Living History Day will be open to the public at Richmond Battlefield Park on Saturday, April 27th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Richmond Battlefield Park is located at 1564 Battlefield Memorial Highway (US 421), just south of Richmond.
For more information about this event, call 859-248-1974 or 859-200-0433. Please feel free to leave a message.
