Civil War events | Genuine Kentucky

Civil War Days at Columbus-Belmont State Park Oct. 7-9, 2016

August 22, 2016 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

If you’re into history as much as I am, you’re probably already reaching for your calendar. This is something you won’t want to miss.

Columbus-Belmont State Park will host the 26th Annual Civil War Days Oct. 7-9.

The weekend will include battle re-enactments, history and museum tours, soldier camps, entertainment, food and more. Admission is free.

This three-day event will begin on Friday, Oct. 7 with Education Day. There will be cannon and rifle demonstrations, life of a soldier and dance instruction. Students, scouts and groups are encouraged to participate, but everyone is invited to attend and take a closer look at history by taking a step back in time.

The opening ceremony will take place Friday evening with food and entertainment. Cannons will fire from the bluffs to end the ceremony and then there will be a ghost walk through the Confederate earthworks with lanterns lighting the way.

There will be events all day on Saturday with guest speakers and the Kentucky HistoryMobile will be on site.

The Civil War Ball on Saturday night will feature music and dance instruction. The band for the evening will be The 52nd Regimental String Band.

Shopping will be set up on “Sutler Row,” where there will be tents set up with clothing and accessories. There will be a Beautiful Belle and Handsome Gent contest before the dance and a Best Beard and Scraggly Beard contest during intermission.

Sunday will begin with a morning service as well as a memorial service in Columbus Cemetery.

The battle re-enactments will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They will feature guns firing, cannons blasting, horses running and tents burning.

The Civil War Days event is co-sponsored by Columbus-Belmont State Park, Civil War Days Committee and the Hickman County Judge Executive’s office/Hickman County Fiscal Court. The park is located in far western Kentucky at the junction of highways 58, 80, and 123. For more information, contact the park office at 270-677-2327 or email cindy.lynch@ky.gov or visit www.parks.ky.gov

Battle of Sacramento Reenactment and Events May 15-17, 2015

May 15, 2015 by Joi Sigers 2 Comments

The Battle of Sacramento was one of the battles of the American Civil War fought here in Kentucky. The battle took place on December 28, 1861 in Sacramento.

The Confederate cavalry (led by Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest) numbered between 200 and 300. Forrest’s troops attacked and defeated a Union force of 500 under Major Eli H. Murray.

Continued beneath the picture.

Each year, Sacramento puts on a Civil War Reenactment to end all Civil War Reenactments. Seriously, I believe they top themselves each year.

The festivities begin today (Friday May 15, 2015) and carry through Sunday. All the information you need can be found at the Battle of Sacramento’s Website. Read about the history of the Battle of Sacramento, check out the schedule and events, look at the awesome photographs… but most importantly, get yourself to the beautiful little town of Sacramento and watch history come to life!

New Historical Marker to Recall 1864 Attack on Frankfort

May 30, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Although this event has expired, there is always something to see and do in Kentucky. Visit our Kentucky Events page for up to the minute happenings and be sure to check out our Things to Do in Kentucky page.

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will dedicate a new historical marker that recalls the June 10-11, 1864, attack on Frankfort by Confederate cavalry under the command of Gen. John Hunt Morgan.

The June 7 ceremony will be at 3 p.m. EDT at Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill as part of the Capital City Museum Civil War Sesquicentennial event, The Assault on Frankfort. The marker later will be installed on the 200 block of Broadway near the First Christian Church.

The attack on Frankfort was Morgan’s last raid. Fort defenders included a small force of militia and volunteers, including Gov. Thomas Bramlette, future U.S. Supreme Court Justice John M. Harlan and Gen. D.W. Lindsey. The defense succeeded, and a June 11 attack on the city from the south side failed. The Confederate troops retreated to Georgetown.

The marker dedication coincides with several other KHS activities occurring in Frankfort on June 7, Boone Day, which marks the day in 1769 that Daniel Boone first saw the land that was to become Kentucky. The event also is a birthday celebration, commemorating statehood day, June 1, 1792. President Lincoln’s Own Band, a Civil War-period band, will perform at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History at 11 a.m. followed by a noon luncheon and panel discussion featuring award-winning novelist, poet and farmer Wendell Berry; Dr. James Klotter, state historian; and KET’s Renee Shaw.

$10 (at door) provides access to all Boone Day activities, exhibits, and tours (except lunch and panel discussion). $30 members; $40 non-members provides access to lunch and panel discussion (reservations and prepayment required), along with all other activities, exhibits, and tours. For luncheon reservation, due by May 30, contact: Julia Curry, 502-564-1792, ext. 4414.

Visit the KHS website at history.ky.gov for details on these and other Boone Day activities taking place at the Center for Kentucky History.