Enthusiasm Shown For New Richmond, Ky., Battlefield
By Kathryn Jorgensen
June 2002

RICHMOND, Ky. — “Our goal is to be number one,” says Bob Rumpke, executive director of the Battle of Richmond Association (BORA) which was formed last year to coordinate preservation activities.

For years there was no activity in the county relating to the Battle of Richmond, but that has changed. Since last November’s $564,764 purchase at auction of an 1824 homestead and 62 battlefield acres excitement has been building as BORA gears up to interpret the battle and welcome heritage tourism and its economic benefits.

In mid-May BORA and the Madison County Historical Society hosted a living history weekend at the property, now known as the Barnett-Gibbs-Herndon Farm. The farm, which is six miles south of Richmond, was in the thick of one phase of the Aug. 29 and 30, 1862, battle and the house was used as a field hospital. The property includes a slave cabin, icehouse, smokehouse, barns, two ponds and the Barnett family cemetery.

According to Rumpke, who is also executive director of he Richmond Chamber of Commerce, residential development surrounds the farm, which led the Civil War Preservation Trust to designate the battlefield as one of the country’s 10 most endangered battle sites.

A Battle of Richmond Heroes $1.5 capital campaign has been launched to repay benefactors who loaned the purchase money and to begin work on creating a battlefield park. Rumpke says the focus is on interpretation and development of a museum and visitors center using the farm and a house and battlefield land to be donated by the federal government. The government acquired the property when the original large farm was broken up when the Army created the Bluegrass Supply Depot in 1942.

A leadership cabinet of philanthropists and Civil War enthusiasts will “lead the charge” for the fundraising campaign. Rumpke is optimistic that TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act funds will be awarded, leaving the local people to raise $80,000 in matching funds.

He is pleased that Madison County officials have “fully embraced” the Richmond Battlefield project and will add a line in their budget for preservation, possibly $30,000 to $50,000 a year.
The Madison County Historical Society has applied for an American Battlefield Protection Program grant to develop an interpretation plan for the farm and other county battlefield sites.
More than 150 people have paid dues to join BORA. The group has produced a membership brochure, published its first news letter and co-hosted the recent living history weekend. The free event included a school day for more than 600 students and aimed to educate people about the battle.

The living history was held at the Barnett-Gibbs-Herndon Farm. BORA rents out the house but may use its historic rooms for special events such as the living history and a recent reception.
On Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, the second annual Richmond battle reenactment will be held near Mt. Zion Church in Madison County. Battles will be held both days, as well as camp life scenarios for spectators.

“Overall the whole project is going very well,” says Rumpke. Richmond, with 27,000 population, is the biggest city in the county and the battlefield is between Richmond and Berea, a popular tourist spot. The battlefield is right off the Interstate in a region with many historic sites.

Richmond is the state’s second-largest Civil War site and Rumpke says, “I feel this can be the best Civil War site in Kentucky, in terms of attendance.”

To make donations or for information about the Battle of Richmond Association write 201 E. Main St., Richmond, KY 40475 or call Rumpke at (859) 623-1720.