Richmond, Kentucky

Gentlemen,
I would like to open a discussion about the potential of the annual event at Richmond, Kentucky.

Thankfully in 2001, the event organization was turned over to one that has a better idea of what an authentic event is. Mr. Chris Propes took on the task of getting the Richmond event off the ground authentically. I attended in 2002 and was sorely disappointed. I can honestly say that I have never been to a less enjoyable or less authentic event. Two days were spent camping and fighting in a field maybe the size of a football field alongside cavalry covered in neon yellow kepis and attrocious outfittings.

Since I go to school in Richmond, some pards and I reluctantly looked into the event again, for a season wind-down so to speak. After getting with Chris about the event for 2003, I became a tad excited about it. It had turned out that Chris decided to stage an authentic weekend re-creating the battle at Richmond. The Rebs were to camp campaign style three miles outside the main site and break camp early in the morning to begin the march toward town with fighting along the way (as per the 1862 battle). All participants, mind you, were to be by invite only.

Though Chris has the right ideas, the event hasn't had enough experience or publicity with authentic living historians. Half of the Rebs I camped with could not have been by invite due to their terrible disorganization and neglect for safety. No weapons inspections were held, and we began our march about a mile in the opposite direction we supposed to in a late summer downpour. ("No Presbeteryian rain either, but a genuine Baptist downpour"). Not to mention that no fighting took place on the march because our disorganization and blind manuevering disabled the Yanks to engage us properly. Sorry Billys.

Anyway, enough bashing. The truth is that I had an enjoyable time in 2003 because of the change in attitude and effort portrayed by Chris Propes. The event at Richmond has the potential to rank as a very good spot for a later season "must" on the schedule of reputable organizations. It was good to see Paul Calloway and some members of the WIG in attendance fighting for the Union that weekend too. So, word has seeped out to a few, but it needs to make its way around.

Again, this event has GREAT, GREAT potential and all it needs is some help. The landscape appears much as it did in 1862 through the rolling hills of central Kentucky tobaccoo fields. The battle history marks a small, but nonetheless significant piece of the Perryville campaign.

My suggestion to you boys that are intersted in helping out to make this event better, get with Chris Propes and let him know you're on board. Call him. E-mail him. And let him know that you would be honored to attend the Richmond event and do your part in correctly living the history of Richmond, Kentucky in August of 1862!

http://battleofrichmond.org/default.htm

Chris Propes: blackfaceminstrel@yahoo.com

Pards, Thank you for hearing me out and for your interest,

[Matthew.Rector]

I agree,
An authentic event at Richmond, Kentucky could potentially be great.

I attended the 2003 event on the Federal side. If you blinked, you might have missed us! While disappointed with the event, I have certainly seen worst events than here. With the right planning, backing and support, an authentic event at Richmond could work. Even if it meant having two separate events. Having one for the mainstream and a better one for those more inclined with authenticity. I believe it would be worth trying.

Considering the lay of the land, preservation efforts would really be good here too. Anyone that attended the event will recall being in viewshed of “Battlefield Estates” and their golfcourse. I’m still sickened by the sight.

I hope the 2003 event at Richmond didn’t turn too many people off to future events here. If you haven’t seen a more mediocre event than the 2003 one, then PERHAPS you haven’t been in the hobby long enough or maybe you have just been fortunate enough to attend more authentic events exclusively. It could have been really worse than what it was.

I, for one, am not ready to give up on a potentially good event held at Richmond, Kentucky. I hope it will happen.

I agree with Matthew totally. Preservation is one of the important aspects of this event I failed to mention. What is left of the original ground reflects what it most likely did in 1862. However much of the ground has been taken over by the Bluegrass Army Depot which we can nothing about.

But houses and golf courses have been a threat to this place and it would be great to see sophisticated opposition to that. Madison County is one of the fastest growing regions in Kentucky and the battlefield is being overlooked.

The event in 2003 was not toally bad, which is what restored my hope in it. It had obviously come a long way since 2002.

- Jim Conley
Bluegrass Rifles

[Matthew.Rector]

Bluegrass Army Depot is actually closing in the not so distant future I believe. It is my understanding that The Battle of Richmond Association and the DOD might have an understanding of some sort in regards to transfer or selling of property. Not sure if I read this or heard it somewhere. In other words-that information may or may not be totally correct. The portion of the battlefield that is currently being "used" by the Army is on the National Register of Historic Places.

A fairly decent preservation plan was developed concerning the properties associated with the Battle of Richmond Kentucky. Mr. Conley posted The Battle of Richmond Association website above and that plan can be viewed there.

Mr. Conley, I misread your comment about the 2002 event. Got it confused with the 2003. I was not at the 2002...so I cannot comment on that event.
Sorry about that! I have heard similiar comments regarding this last year's event. So going with your statement, it sounds as if this event has already improved to some degree. Why not work to make it even better?

[Kate Vogel]

I think with the right sort of central leadership that there could be a few excellent opportunities for a handful of civilians. It has some potential to say the least.

Jim, weren't all participants supposedly there by "invitation only" last time?

Kate,
It is my understanding that all who were present at the 2003 event were there by invitation, but Chris lowered the bar because he wasn't getting the numbers he had hoped for. Too, he even set a limit as to how many could participate on both sides, and that number was not even near to being reached even after letting his guard down on who he would invite. Not to point any fingers or bad mouth any particular organization, but it was just my thought that if higher numbers of authentic historians were interested, this event could be very good.
- Jim Conley
Bluegrass Rifles

[Miche_Todd]

I'm going to jump in here on Chris's side, I know for a fact that he was up against some major problems from day one. The event had been VERY mainstream in the past, the mainstreamers were very reluctant to give up their foothold and still are. I know that a couple of people were attending the annual meeting from a local farb unit just because they wanted to "take back" the event. I know that Chris had to really show the battlefield association that the progressive community would be interested, I don't know if we succeeded or not!!!

What we may need to do is stage a completely separate event from the farbs, and that way we wouldn't have to compete with them for the approval of the association. I hate to say it, but we all know that farbs are very good at being squeaky wheels!!! I know there were several people, especially civilians that muscled their way in that had no business being at this event!!! I know on the civilian side that Beth Crabb really tried to do a good job, but with so many local units that couldn't accept the fact that they should actually be asked to submit an application rather than just be allowed in because of "who they were." It was virtually impossible. And some of the sutlers, eye ye yeh!!! There were a couple that were decent but the rest!!! Remember the SPAM? Yikes!

What I would love to see for this event for the civilians at least is the authority for the coordinator to be the "be all and end all" as far as who gets in, who stays there and what they do. I would also like to see the number of wall tents and farbery on the civilian side gone! A camp of convenience in which the civilians stay and then leave during the day, only to return at night would be so much better! No tent sitters!!! It really could be a decent event! Maybe just not on Labor Day weekend!!!

Miche' - Please sign all of your posts with your full name - Mike Chapman

Miche,
I agree with you totally. Chris is a heck of a guy and has had some trouble getting this off the ground. I'm not for turning anyone away from an event that has the right attitude and proper direction at what the event calls for. Gear is always something that can be lent out if someone needs a little help in certain areas of their physical impression. But to put your nose up and act as if this is a fight is wrong. If people want to go out and drain a few cases of beer over some plastic wrapped t-bone steaks, do it elsewhere. This isn't a camping trip for buds to come hang out and talk about child support and their wife's new car. I think many forget why this hobby began in the first place, REMEMBERING THE CIVIL WAR! No matter what aspect one comes into this growing hobby, we can all agree on that. If you don't want to do it right and follow the guidelines of what the event calls for, then don't bring up opposition to those that do.

[Miche_Todd]

Something that I find equally offense are the civilian reenactors that profess to be progressive, but in fact are just there to watch their hubbys!!! If you are truly progressive, 1) Develop an impression that is event specific. 2) Leave the wall tents, flys and kitchen sinks at home and 3) Do something other than just sitting under the tent talking about how bad everyone else's clothing is!!! It is people like this that give ladies that are actually making an attempt to have a good impression look bad! Those of us that want to try and be historically accurate get lumped into a mass with these tent sitters!! Sorry, I don't mean to offend or harp, but this is just something that really bothers me!!!

~Miche' Todd

[Kate Vogel]

"Remember the SPAM?"

How could we forget such a shining beacon of potted period meat ( an authentic 19th century reproduction, mind you) in the midst of a hot, muggy August afternoon?

Honestly, I'm going to be nicer in the New Year.