RICHMOND —
(Editor's note: This is one of a series of stories the Richmond Register will be publishing about the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Richmond, which will be reenacted Aug. 25-26.)
The Rev. John G. Fee made a lot of waves in Madison County during the mid-1850s.
The Bracken County native established a village he would call “Berea,” initiated a church and a school and based his institutions upon the gospel of “impartial love” and a foundation of uncompensated emancipation of all slaves.
Emancipation was not a topic embraced by all Madison Countians, particularly well-to-do slaveholders in the Richmond area.
In December 1859, Fee’s followers were confronted by a group of 63 armed men who threatened to drive the Bereans out of Madison County.
Although the ardent abolitionist's group left, they returned after the Civil War and Fee founded what was to become Berea College.
Louisville’s Obadiah Ewing-Roush portrays Fee as part of the Kentucky Chautauqua series sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council.
On Sunday, Aug. 26, Ewing-Roush will give new life to the fiery Fee at Mt. Zion Christian Church as he delivers the 11 a.m. sermon at the Civil War Church Service that’s part of the Battle of Richmond Re-enactment Weekend.
This year’s Saturday-Sunday event commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Richmond, conducted Aug. 29-30, 1862.
At least 300 re-enactors are expected to participate in the battle re-enactment at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Also, a special re-enactment is set for Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the Bluegrass Army Depot.
The Sunday morning re-enactment is sponsored by the Army Depot and, for the first time, will be conducted on depot property where part of the actual battle took place.
Portrayals of Abraham Lincoln, Gen. U.S. Grant and presentations on Civil War music, period stories and sketch artistry will be held in a presentation tent during the weekend.
The First Kentucky Brigade Band will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday and a Ladies Social is set for Saturday morning.
Boy Scout troops will conduct opening ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday and a special Court of Honor will be conducted at 4 p.m. on Aug. 25.
With interior renovation being conducted at the Pleasant View big house, the BORA Gift Shop will be open in the renovated Slave Quarters.
Living history programs will continue throughout both days and a hot-air balloon exhibit will feature information concerning the use of observation balloons during actual battles.
All events and activities are free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call BORA Managing Director Paul Rominger at 859-248-1974 for additional details. He also can be reached via e-mail at fruitjar63@aol.com.
The Battle of Richmond Association was formed in 2001 to preserve the history and heritage of the Civil War Battle of Richmond.
The battle was the second largest in Kentucky and the most overwhelming Confederate victory of the entire war.
Local News
Related Photos
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Obadiah Ewing-Roush will portray Berea founder Rev. John G. Fee at 11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 26, at Mt. Zion Christian Church.
Ewing-Roush to portray John G. Fee at Civil War re-enactment weekend
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