Neither rain, nor mud could deter
re-enactors from Battle of Sacramento

By DON WILKINS
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

Neither the rain nor the mud could deter the hundreds of Civil War re-enactors from taking part in the May 17 annual Battle of Sacramento.

Re-enactor Bill Sanders of Louisville has been faithfully attending the Sacramento battle since 1996. Sanders, who was encamped with the Confederate Fifth Kentucky, Company B unit, spent his time providing rifle demonstrations to anyone who wanted to know how it felt to hold and aim a nearly 10-pound Civil War rifle.

“This is hands-on history,” Sanders noted. “For me, it’s eight mini-vacations to help take off the pressure.”

Sanders also participates in other Civil War battle re-enactments such as Perryville, Gettysburg and Antietam.

Re-enactor Steve Knoph, who was in the same company as Sanders, traveled from Louisville as well. Knoph said he began re-enacting two years ago as a way to spend more time with his 23-year-old son.

“My son was interested in doing this, so it kind of became our thing,” Knoph said. “We’re just learning as we go.”

Although the actual Battle of Sacramento was fought on Dec. 28, 1861, the re-enactment always has been held on the third weekend in May to attract both the crowds and the re-enactors.

The event recreates the skirmish between the Union forces, led by Major Eli Murray, 3rd Kentucky Cavalry, and the Confederates, led by Lt. Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest. And near the battlefield is a memorial dedicated to the 12 soldiers – 10 on the Union side and two on the Confederate side – who died there.

Wendell Miller, chairman of the Battle of Sacramento Re-enactment Committee, estimated 600 re-enactors attended despite the rain.