Narrated by Paul Patton
New Civil War Sites video tells Kentucky’s Civil War story

Perhaps there’s no better place for an overall experience of the Civil War than in Kentucky.

That’s the message of a new video that’s being introduced this spring by the Kentucky Civil War Sites Association.

The 10-minute presentation, in a capsulated form, explains how the border state of Kentucky pitted neighbor against neighbor as the bitter conflict touched every community and nearly every home and family. The historical account of war in the Commonwealth is explained from its beginning in Western Kentucky and its sweep of the entire state all the way to the mountains of its far eastern borders.

Narrated by former Gov. Paul Patton, the video points out that in nearly every Kentucky community there’s some reminder of the Civil War from historic homes, monuments, museums and exhibits to re-enactments of key battles and living history events.

The video also focuses on the places that are preserved, where they can be found and the stories they tell.

Some 100,000 Kentuckians joined the Union Army during the war and another 40,000 enlisted as Confederates. And, in the end, approximately 30,000 Kentuckians lost their lives during the conflict.

“Kentucky’s Civil War heritage is among the best in the nation,” according to Mary Kozak, chair of the Kentucky Civil War Sites Association.  “This video will enable us to effectively tell that story.”

She pointed out that Kentucky has “more than 60 battlefields and sites and a wealth of historical figures who were prominent during the war.”

Roger Stapleton, military heritage director of the Kentucky Heritage Council, echoed Kozak’s comments, noting that Kentucky’s Civil War sites and attractions are located throughout the state.

“We have eight battlefields and sites in Kentucky’s Western Region, 11 in the Southern, 38 in the North Central area and six in the Eastern sector,” Stapleton said. “Two future presidents were involved at Kentucky battle sites – Gen. U.S. Grant (Paducah) and Col. James Garfield (Middle Creek) – and Nathan Bedford Forrest made his first cavalry charge at Sacramento. Kentuckian John Hunt Morgan was a prominent figure in Civil War history and, of course, both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were natives of the Commonwealth.”

Video footage includes re-enactments and still photos from a variety of battlefields and sites. Other footage was shot at Frankfort’s Fort Hill Civil War park.

Civil War locations throughout the state will be provided copies of the video to show to visitors, civic clubs and organizations. A 25-minute version also will be provided to television media.

In addition, Kozac said the video will be made available for sale at gifts shops at Civil War battlefields and sites.

The Kentucky Civil War Sites Association was formed in 2009 for the purpose of telling the state’s Civil War story and promoting the Commonwealth as one of top places for history enthusiasts to visit.