BORA BULLETIN
Battle of Richmond Association Newsletter

Vol. 7, No. 2                                                   July 2008
 

Month-long program
BORA stay-cation begins Aug. 15

With gasoline prices skyrocketing, the Battle of Richmond Association (BORA) is offering a stay-at- home August vacation that's affordable for the entire family.

BORA's stay-cation begins with an Aug. 15 living history event in downtown Richmond, continues with an authentic Civil War encampment in Berea Aug. 16-27, a celebrity golf tournament at Battlefield Golf Course Aug. 22 followed by re-enactment weekend Aug. 23-24 at Battlefield Park. All activities, with the exception of the golf tournament, are free and open to the public.

The Living History program, sponsored by BORA and downtown Richmond merchants, is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. at the Courthouse with six presentations on tap. An authentic Civil War encampment follows at Berea's Chestnut Street Park co-sponsored by BORA and Berea Tourism.. At 10 a.m. on the 16th, dedication of the historical marker citing Berea's role in the Battle of Richmond will be conducted.

BORA's third annual Preservation Classic Celebrity Golf Tournament, sponsored by Peoples Bank, is scheduled at Battlefield Golf Course with a number of Kentucky sports celebrities participating in the best ball scramble. Registration and a continental breakfast begins at 8 a. m. with a shotgun start scheduled at 10 o'clock. The entry fee is $90 per player and $350 per team with proceeds supporting the Battle of Richmond Association and the Sue and Roy Kidd EKU Scholarship Fund.

The Seventh Annual Battle of Richmond Re-enactment weekend, sponsored by Madison Bank, follows at Battlefield Park. Re-enactments are scheduled each day at 2 p.m. with living history events continuing throughout both days.
For more information, call BORA Managing Director Paul Rominger at 248-1974 or e-mail him at pdrominger@netscape.com. For golf tournament information, contact BORA President George N. Ridings at 661-3289 or e-mail gridings@bellsouth.net.

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CWPT honors Clark with leadership award

Madison County Judge Executive Kent Clark has been presented the Civil War Preservation Trust's (CWPT) State Leadership Award for his efforts in preserving and protecting property where the 1862 Battle of Richmond was fought.
The national honor, announced in April at the CWPT annual conference in Springfield, Mo., was presented to Clark May 9 at the Battle of Richmond's Living History program at Battlefield Park. The award, made of glass, features the CWPT logo and is etched with a personalized commendation.
The award, given annually since 200l, recognizes "all that Judge Clark and Madison County have done to help protect the Richmond battlefield and the recent acquisition of the 300-acre Combs property."
The Combs purchase, completed in 2007, increased preserved property where the battle was fought to some 600 acres. Funding for the $2.1 million project was made possible from grants provided by the CWPT, Commonwealth of Kentucky and the American Battlefield Protection Program.
In presenting the award, CWPT President Jim Lighthizer said the Battle of Richmond effort "simply would not have been possible without Judge Clark's vision and leadership.

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BORA makes Manson papers
available at Berea College

The personal papers of a Civil War general who commanded Union troops during the 1862 Battle of Richmond are on display at Berea College's Hutchins Library.

Nearly 400 documents belonging to Brig. Gen. Mahlon D. Manson were made available at the library's Special Collections area this spring. The papers, which focus on the Mexican and Civil Wars, were donated to the Battle of Richmond Association (BORA) by Gen. Manson's great-great-granddaughter, Laura Manson of Dade City, Fla. One folder pertains entirely to the Battle of Richmond in addition to post Civil War affairs.

Manson's sabre, pistol, footlocker, field table and several pieces of personal furniture also are among the items donated. Paul Rominger, managing director of BORA, said the papers will be on permanent loan to Special Collections and the military effects will be housed in the Battle of Richmond Museum. He and other BORA representatives will in Virginia in August to pick up other Manson collectibles that are being donated.

Manson, a Crawford, Ind., druggist, served in the Mexican War and joined the Union forces in 1860. He commanded a brigade at an impressive victory at the Battle of Mill Springs (Jan. 19, 1862) and was promoted to brigadier general. At the Battle of Richmond (Aug. 29-30, 1862), Manson commanded the first infantry brigade and served as field commander of the U.S. Army of Kentucky in the absence of Gen. William (Bull) Nelson.

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Masonic memorial dedicated at center

More than 75 Freemasons and members of the Order of the Eastern Star have dedicated the Battle of Richmond Masonic Memorial at the Battle of Richmond Visitors and History Center.

The eight-foot gray granite memorial, featuring the Masonic square and compasses, was dedicated by five area lodges along with the Richmond Chapter No. 438, Order of the Eastern Star.

The monument honors members of the Masonic fraternity, both Union and Confederate, who fought at the Battle of Richmond Aug, 29- 30, 1862.

Three of the six generals at the battle were members of the Masonic fraternity - Confederate Brig. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, Arkansas; Brig. Generals Mahlon Manson, Crawfordsville, Ind., and Charles Cruft, Terre Haute, Ind.

Another known Freemason was Col. William Link, Fort Wayne, Ind., commander of the 12th Indiana Volunteers, who was mortally wounded.

The memorial is thought to be only second of its type on any Civil War battlefield.

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Nearly 500 attend living history event

Nearly 500 students packed Richmond's Battlefield Park recently for the seventh annual Living History Days program.

The May 8-9 event, sponsored by the Battle of Richmond Association, attracted 458 students from seven area schools. Sand Gap middle school from Jackson County had 86 students attend and three Madison County institutions - White Hall, Daniel Boone and Glen Marshall - attracted 77, 76 and 70 respectively.

Youngsters experienced Civil War-era life through some 12-15 stations of activities and demonstrations that were conducted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Among the Living History activities and demonstrations at Battlefield Park were Civil War music, archaeology, period clothing and flags, stories about War Between the States personalities and infantry and cavalry demonstrations.
Clark-Moores Middle School teacher Sharon Graves was coordinator for the event and was assisted by 37 students from her classes.
 

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BORA seeks $1 million in campaign's final phase

The Battle of Richmond Heroes Capital Campaign, an effort designed to further preserve the history and heritage of the 1862 Civil War Battle of Richmond (Ky.), enters its third phase in 2008 with a goal of $1 million.

The final phase of a campaign that began in 2003 seeks to obtain funds that will finalize projects for the Battle of Richmond Association's Battlefield Park. Monies are being sought to:

     o finish interior renovation projects for buildings that survived the battle,
     o establish a battlefield museum,
     o provide additional interpretative signage and,
     o renovate one of the few remaining slave quarters buildings in Kentucky.

Paul Rominger, managing director of the Battle of Richmond Association (BORA), said accomplishment of the campaign's Phase III will facilitate a grand public opening of Battlefield Park, the key area where the Battle of Richmond took place. Initial campaign goals totaling $4.1 million - phases I and II -- have been realized.