Boyle officials explore national status
for Perryville’s Civil War battlefield

Mill Springs already wants to go that route. Now, Perryville seeks the same direction.

Boyle County officials announced recently they want to explore national park status for the Perryville Battlefield. Read more

Gilbert named interim executive director
of Mill Springs Battlefield Association

David E. Gilbert, a long-time supporter of Mill Springs battlefield activities, has been named interim executive director of the Mill Springs Battlefield Association succeeding Stephen McKinney.

Gilbert assumed his new duties April 4 and is responsible for daily operations of the museum/visitor’s center, preservation and land acquisition of battlefield property. Read more

Bugle editorial
Really … was Battle of Gettysburg
all that decisive, important?

Civil War historians sometimes debate whether or not the Battle of Gettysburg, fought July 1-3, 1863, was decisive.

First, some facts, although historians differ as to numbers …
Read more

RichardsLegacy
Civil War was Reid’s passion,
teaching it was his fulfillment

Educator Richard Reid put a lifetime of experiences into a subject he loved – the U.S. Civil War.

And, as a result, he was richly honored for it. He was named Kentucky’s Outstanding History Teacher of the Year in 1986 and many of the students he taught often remarked that he had “made history fun and interesting for me.” Read more

‘We don’t glorify war…’
Telling story, educating public provides
understanding to what actually happened

Without a doubt, those of us who enjoy studying the American Civil War are a different breed. How many people, when taking their daily hike, would drive 50 miles to walk across a battlefield? How many would take their family on vacation, only to visit seven battlefields, the Museum of the Confederacy and Appomattox Courthouse? And who would wear a wool uniform in August in order to honor those who fell 150 years ago? Read more

Commentary in Baltimore Sun
Tariffs, not slavery, was cause
of Civil War, commentary states

Arthur Hirsch‘s recent article about the Battle of Gettysburg reveals a disturbing ignorance of the political dynamics that brought this nation to a war that 150 years later remains the most cataclysmic event in our history (“A defining day relived,” July 2).
Read more

Paducah’s National Quilt Museum
exhibiting authentic Civil War quilts

In the turmoil of the Civil War, when the North fought the South and brother confronted brother, there was a utilitarian common denominator.

That was the quilt.

From July 12 through Oct. 8, Paducah’s National Quilt Museum is exhibiting “From the Pieces of a Nation: Civil War Period Quilts,” an exhibit featuring more than 30 quilts made during the war years.
Read more

Sister O’Connell, Sisters of Charity gave
care, healing to wounded at Richmond

Sister Anthony O’Connell, a nurse with the Sisters of Charity in Cincinnati, was somewhat of a legend during the Civil War.

In the medical field, she was respected for her knowledge and skill. To the wounded, she was an Angel of Mercy. And, to those in military command, she wasn’t one with whom you should lock horns.
Read more

Kentucky’s Civil War leaders...
Gen. Hood considered brave, aggressive;
but also reckless, which led to downfall

Confederate Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness.

Arguably one of the best brigade and division commanders in the Confederate Army, the Owingsville native became increasingly ineffective as he was promoted to lead larger, independent commands late in the war. Read more

Is it a painting? No, just a special photo
from Kentucky photographer Mark Six

The first thing you notice about a Mark Six photo is that it looks like a painting.

Multiple exposures of a subject matter are combined into a final single image, which makes an image appear much closer to what the human eye sees.

It’s a photo process called HDR (High Dynamic Range) that provides a wider, richer and deeper range of colors. The process is easier to accomplish with single dimension or non-moving objects, but Six makes it happen with Civil War re-enactors and scenes.
Read more

News in Brief...
150th commemoration of attack
on Frankfort scheduled June 7, 2014

State Historian James Klotter will be the principal speaker at the 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the attack on Frankfort. The June 7, 2014 event will feature three living history camps, Confederate cavalry, the 36th Enrolled Militia and artillery.

Additional speakers will be Kentucky Library Senior Archivist James Prichard, Scott County Museum President Lindsey Apple and Gerald R. Smith.

All activities will take place at Gippy Graham Pavilion, the Sullivan House and the Civil War earthen forts at Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill. Read more

Congress made Civil War culprit
for initiating federal income tax

Who do you blame for initiating the federal income tax?

The U.S. Congress is the responsible party and the Civil War is proclaimed to be the reason.

On Aug. 5, 1861, Congress passed a Revenue Act that greatly expanded the government’s taxing authority, including the imposition of the first income tax. Read more

More than 1,800 attend festivities
at Camp Nelson’s Civil War Days

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” gushed Gracie Lawrence, who was witnessing her initial experience at Camp Nelson.

The former Kentucky resident who recently relocated to Nicholasville from El Paso, Texas, noted that she had “learned a lot” by listening to re-enactor Clark Morgan and being a witness to what Civil War living history was all about. Read more

Owner of famous Macauley Theatre
had fascinating Civil War career

Louisville’s premiere theater of the late 19th and early 20th century was the Macauley Theatre, which was located on the north side of Walnut, now Muhammad Ali Boulevard between Third and Fourth Street.

Built by the architectural firm of McElfatrick and Sons at the cost of $200,000, the theater opened on Oct. 18, 1873. Although originally run by Bernard Macauley, debts forced him to sell the playhouse to his brother John Macauley. Read more

New online portal provides assistance
with historic transportation projects

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has partnered with the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office (KHC) to create a new online portal that allows users to browse federally funded KYTC projects with a “Section 106” component.

The arrangement allows requests for participation as consulting parties in such projects. Read more